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THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

MATTHEW 4:18-25
Lesson #08
THE CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

  • Memory verse: Mat 4:19
  • Read Mat 4:18-25 Disciples of the King
    • Jesus began to choose his 12 disciples after the temptation in the wilderness. Therefore, this is the beginning of his earthly ministry.
    • Many of the disciples were blood relations to each other, and two were related to Jesus.
      • Simon Peter and Andrew were brothers.
      • James, son of Zebedee, and John were brothers.
        • These two were also cousins to Jesus.
        • The mother of James and John was Salome who was the sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
      • James, son of Alphaeus, and Matthew were brothers.
      • Philip and Bartholomew may have been brothers.
    • Why did Jjesus select 12?
      • There were 12 tribes in the Old Testament through whom God worked. The 12 disciples represent the New Testament work of God.
      • The number 12 in the Bible represents governmental perfection.
      • The 12 disciples will sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel in the millennial reign of Christ. (Mat 19:28)
    • Why did Jesus select these men? (1Cor 1:27-31)
      • Jesus called them, not because they were so special, but because of what they would become under his teaching.
      • His choice was made after a night of prayer. (Luk 6:12-13)
    • The group as a whole:
      • They lacked spiritual understanding when they failed to understand his parables and his coming crucifixion.
      • They were mutually jealous of position as to who would be the greatest in the kingdom.
      • They often lacked faith for which Jesus rebuked them, “O ye of little faith” (Mat 14:31).
      • They were weak and helpless during Jesus’ arrest and trial. (Mar 14:50)
      • There were no nobles in the list. There was no rabbi.
      • There was no one with great wealth.
      • Four were fishermen and one was a tax collector, both professions were looked down upon.
      • There was a great difference in temperament among the 12.
        • Peter was a man of action, bold and impulsive.
        • James and John had a boisterous character as Jesus called them sons of thunder.
        • John was a man of prayer with a loving heart.
        • Bartholomew was a deep believer always ready to confess.
        • Thomas was very skeptical and slow to accept the witness of others.
      • There was a great difference in political beliefs.
        • Matthew was a tax collector, a servant of the Roman government.
        • Simon, the Canaanite, was a Zealot who rebelled against Rome.
    • The organizational role and position of the 12 disciples:
Group #1 Group #2 Group #3
Peter (leader)

Man of rock

Always named first

Philip

(leader)

Always named fifth

James of Alphaeus

(leader)

Always named ninth

Andrew

Peter’s brother

Bartholomew (Nathaniel) Thaddaeus (Judas of James) (Lebbaeus)
James of Zebedee

Son of thunder

Thomas Simon the Zealot
John of Zebedee

Son of thunder

The beloved disciple

Matthew Judas Iscariot

The traitor

    • Group 1 is always named in the top 4. Group 1 was closer to Jesus in the ministry circle than the other 2 groups.
    • Of group 1 Peter, James, and John were the inner circle. John was the closest to Jesus. Therefore we see a pattern of leadership and discipleship established by Jesus’ example.
120 followers in the upper room
70 disciples were sent out
Group 2 Group 3
Group 1
Peter James
John
Jesus

 

    • Andrew:
      • His name means manliness. His occupation was a fisherman. He came from a family of successful fishermen. His father had a very large fishing business. Andrew and his brother, Simon Peter worked for their father. Rough and hardy fishermen were manly men.
      • Jesus would make him a man by God’s standards and not by men’s standards.
      • He was one of the first 2 disciples to join Jesus. He was a disciple of John the Baptist before he came to Jesus. Andrew brought his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus. He was the first missionary evangelist.
      • Bringing others to Jesus was characteristic of Andrew. He brought the boy with the loaves and fishes to Jesus. He introduced to Jesus some Greeks (Gentile proselytes) who were seeking Jesus. (Joh 6:8-9 Joh 12:20-22)
      • In the beginning, Andrew’s name was mentioned first before his brother’s.
        • But later Peter is mentioned before Andrew.
        • The name mentioned first in a list indicates importance or authority over others in the list.
      • Andrew is content to be in the background, but close to Jesus.
      • Andrew’s character:
        • He was approachable, kind, thoughtful, sincere, and humble.
        • He thought more of service than of reputation, more of the work to be done than of the position.
      • His life from non-biblical sources:
        • There is a long record of healings from disease, sin, and death, including raising 39 dead ship-wrecked sailors washed ashore.
        • He may have gone to the south coast of the Black Sea inhabited by pirates.
        • His travels may have included Russia and Scotland. A church in Byzantium (Constantinople) claims he founded the church.
        • He died by crucifixion on a cross shaped like an “x” at Patras in Greece in 60 AD. He hung on that cross for 2 days exhorting people to come to God.
    • Simon Peter:
      • His name was Simon Bar Jona which Jesus changed to Peter.
      • Simon = listening Bar = son Jona = John
      • Or Simon Johnson, a man who listened.
      • “Peter” = rock
      • Peter is a Greek name.
        • This is a strange name given for a man who was so unstable as Peter was.
        • However, Jesus saw that as Peter listened to the teaching of Christ, God would make him a man of rock, stable and strong.
      • He was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. Peter probably did not come immediately.
        • There are biblical indications that Andrew and Peter probably met Jesus several times before they gave up their fishing boat to join Jesus.
        • James and John were fishing partners who worked alongside Andrew and Peter.
          • Matthew says the call came to the four fishermen when they were fishing.
          • Luke says the call came when they were mending nets.
          • There may have been 3 calls before they followed.
      • Peter was not highly educated, nor was Andrew, James and John. However, Jewish boys did learn the scriptures and languages at the synagogue. Peter was able to converse in Greek as well as in Aramaic.
      • Jesus speaks more to Peter than any of the other 12 disciples, sometimes in praise and often in rebuke and correction.
        • He received the most severe censure of any of the others.
        • Peter’s character:
          • He was quick, impulsive, and impetuous.
          • He was quick to express his feelings and often spoke without thinking.
      • Peter’s life from biblical and non-biblical sources:
        • He was imprisoned by Herod Agrippa and was miraculously released (Act 12:17). He may have visited the church in Corinth (1Cor 1:12)
        • Other sources indicate he may have gone to Rome. (of course, the Catholic Church claims he was the first Pope.)
          • Peter’s death:
          • Peter was martyred (Joh 21:18) probably in Rome during the reign of Nero. Legend says he was crucified upside down because he felt he was not worthy to be crucified in the same way Jesus was crucified.
    • James, son of Zebedee (James the Great)
      • This James is a different James than the half-brother of Jesus who was also named James.
      • His name comes from the Hebrew name, Jacob, which has two meanings: (1) grasper or supplanter, and (2) God protects.
      • The second meaning more accurately describes what James became.
      • Evidently he, along with his brother John, were ambitious for his mother approaches Jesus to give them high positions in His kingdom. (Mat 20:21)
      • He had an all-consuming zeal and passion for Jesus.
      • James, and his brother, John, were probably cousins to Jesus.
        • Their mother, Mary Salome, was a sister to Mary the mother of Jesus. (Mat 27:56 Mar 15:40 Joh 19:25)
        • Salome was one of the first to believe in Jesus. She gave up everything for Jesus.
      • James was probably the older brother to John. Both James and John worked as fishermen for their father, Zebedee.
        • Zebedee had a prosperous fishing business with many employed in it.
        • He owned a house in Jerusalem as well as Galilee.
        • He was known to be a close friend of Caiaphas, the high priest. (Joh 18:15-16)
      • James’ character:
        • Jesus called him, as well as his brother, John, “Sons of Thunder” (Mar 3:17)
        • This was to picture what they became, a voice shaking the heavens and the earth (Heb 12:26)
          • However, his intensity made his wrath, intolerance, and bigotry stand out. (Luk 9:54)
          • He was resolute, vigorous, active, and forceful.
      • James’ life and death:
        • Fourteen years after Jesus’ resurrection, Herod Agrippa persecuted James and Peter. (Act 12)
        • James was the first of the 12 disciples to be martyred. Because the cruel death of James pleased the Jews, Herod seized Peter and cast him into prison.
        • James died 17 years after Jesus first called him to follow Him.
    • John, son of Zebedee
      • “John” means = a gift sent from God
      • He was the disciple Jesus was closest to and evidently had a special love for him. He is called the “beloved disciple“.
      • John was the younger son of Zebedee and Salome, a fisherman along with his brother, James.
        • John was also the youngest of the 12 disciples and the one who lived the longest life.
        • John’s father, Zebedee, evidently died after James and John first joined Jesus.
        • Later we find John’s mother, Salome, following Jesus. She had evidently sold the fishing business. John evidently inherited the family home from his father, for this is where he took Jesus’ mother, Mary, after the crucifixion.
      • John, and his brother, James were disciples of John the Baptist before coming to Jesus and giving up the fishing business. (Joh 1:35,40)
      • John was the first to see the fact of the resurrection of Christ. He was also the first to discern Jesus’ presence after the resurrection.
      • John had a more limited vocabulary than any of the other gospel writers. However, none of them made better use of language than John. He had the insight of a poet, and the foresight of a prophet.
      • John’s character:
        • He, too, was called “a son of thunder“.
        • Like his brother, James, he was intolerant, resentful of abuse and stern toward offenders.
        • However, Jesus changed John into the apostle of love.
          • In his Gospel and the 3 epistles, love is the theme.
          • More than 80 times he uses the word love in his writings.
          • John was a very humble man for his writings never mention himself.
      • John’s life:
        • He began his life of suffering and imprisonment with Peter in Act 4:3 but outlived all the others to die a natural death 30 years later. He died a free man in Ephesus.
  • Application:
    • What can you learn from this lesson about following Christ?
      • No matter what defects are in my personality or the failures in life, Christ can make something good of it.
      • He can change me and use me for his glory.

Homework

Matthew 5:1-12

  • Application of Mat 4
    • Remember that God has chosen you to be His disciple for his glory.
    • God has called every believer in Christ in the same way He called the disciples.
    • How do you know God has called you to serve Him?
  • Preparation for Mat 5:1-12
    • Read Mat 5:1-12
      • The word blessed means = to experience true hope and joy.
      • Explain each of the following beatitudes in your own words.
        • Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
        • Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
        • Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
        • Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.
        • Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
        • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
        • Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
        • Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  • Memory verse: Psalms 1:1

 

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