WE ARE STUDYING THE FOUR GOSPELS MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN TO KNOW THE LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST.
Matthew 1-3 and Luke 1-3 has been studied, we are now halfway through both Mathew 4 and Luke 4 and now we get to Mathew 4:11 and Luke 4:13 and we notice that there is one year gap, that gap is not addressed by either Matthew or Luke but by John in John 2-5 and we will fist look the Judean Ministry as it follow the logical order of time.
Matthew 4
The Judean ministry of Jesus, which lasted almost one year, is not discussed by Matthew. This one year period is covered in John 1-4 and fits between Mat_4:11 and Mat_4:12. Matthew takes us from the temptation directly to the Galilean ministry.
Luke 4
Between verses 13 and 14 there is a gap of about one year. During this time the Lord ministered in Judea. The only record of this ministry is in John 2-5.
We will start the Judean Ministry at;
John 2:1-11
The First Sign: Water Changed to Wine (2:1-11)
2:1 The third day doubtless refers to the third day of the Lord’s stay in Galilee. In Joh_1:43 the Saviour went into that area. We do not know exactly where Cana was situated, but we infer from verse 12 of this chapter that it was near Capernaum and on higher ground.
There was a wedding in Cana on this particular day, and the mother of Jesus was there. It is interesting to notice that Mary is spoken of as the mother of Jesus. The Saviour was not famous because He was the Son of the Virgin Mary, but she was well-known because she was the mother of our Lord. The Scriptures always give the pre-eminent place to Christ and not to Mary.
2:2 Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. It was a wise decision on the part of those who arranged the marriage to invite Christ. So it is still a wise decision when people today invite the Lord to their marriage. In order to do this, of course, both bride and groom must be true believers in the Lord Jesus. Then, too, they must give their lives to the Savior and determine that their home will be a place where He loves to be.
Notice need to be given to the fact that John tells us in verse two that;
“And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.” Joh 2:2
“His disciples?” we need to go back to Matthew and Luke to see who and where they come from. Matthew 4:18-22 tells us;
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. Mat 4:18-22.
So we can safely make the conclusion that;
E. Jesus Calls Four Fishermen (4:18-22)
4:18, 19 This is actually the second time Jesus called Peter and Andrew. In Joh_1:35-42 they were called to salvation; here they are called to service. The first took place in Judea; this one in Galilee. Peter and Andrew were fishermen, but Jesus called them to be fishers of men. Their responsibility was to follow Christ. His responsibility was to make them successful fishermen. Their following of Christ involved more than physical nearness. It included their imitation of the character of Christ. Theirs was to be a ministry of character. What they were was more important than what they said or did. Just as with Peter and Andrew, we are to avoid the temptation to substitute eloquence, personality, or clever arguments for true spirituality. In following Christ, the disciple learns to go where the fish are swimming, to use the proper lure, to endure discomfort and inconvenience, to be patient, and to keep out of sight.
4:20 Peter and Andrew heard the call and responded immediately. In true faith, they left their nets. In true commitment and devotion they followed Jesus.
4:21, 22 The call came next to James and John. They, too, became instant disciples. Leaving not only their means of livelihood but their father as well, they acknowledged the priority of Jesus over all earthly ties.
By responding to the call of Christ, these fishermen became key figures in the evangelization of the world. Had they remained at their nets, we would never have heard of them. Recognition of the lordship of Christ makes all the difference in the world.
Frederick Brotherton Meyer, a contemporary and friend of D. L. Moody and A. C. Dixon, was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic presents it to us this way;
Matthew 4:18-25
OPENING WORKS OF MERCY AND POWER
We must read the first chapter of John into the opening paragraph. Already the Lord had met with these first disciples in the Jordan valley; but they had returned to their homes and nets. Their prompt surrender was the result of the power over their hearts which the Master had already won. Their old craft was to be theirs still-only in a nobler form. The patience, courage, tact which had been elicited by their calling, were now to be enlisted in the service of souls.
The evangelist then groups together the broad features of the early Galilean ministry. It was a triumphal progress. Notice the reiteration of all, Mat_4:23. The words struggle to convey the wide comprehensiveness of Christ’s influence, even across the border. When the love of God came to our world in the person of Jesus, it immediately began to repair the havoc and damage which sin had caused. There was no hesitation or questioning where it was God’s will to heal. Let us always take that for granted for ourselves and others.
Luke 5:1-11 presents the calling of the first disciples this way;
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. Luke 5:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
Power Through Training Others: Disciples Called (5:1-11)
Several important lessons emerge from this simple account of the call of Peter.
1. The Lord used Peter’s boat as a pulpit from which to teach the multitude. If we yield all our property and possessions to the Savior, it is wonderful how He uses them, and rewards us too.
2. He told Peter exactly where to find plenty of fish—after Peter and the others had toiled all night without success. The omniscient Lord knows where the fish are running. Service carried on by our own wisdom and strength is futile. The secret of success in Christian work is to be guided by Him.
3. Though an experienced fisherman himself, Peter accepted advice from a Carpenter, and as a result, the nets were filled. “ … at Your word I will let down the net.” This shows the value of humility, of teachability, and of implicit obedience.
4. It was in deep waters that the nets were filled to the breaking point. So we must quit hugging the shore and launch out on full surrender’s tide. Faith has its deep waters, and so do suffering, sorrow, and loss. It is these that fill the nets with fruitfulness.
5. Their net began to break and the ships began to sink (vv. 6, 7). Christ-directed service produces problems—but what delightful problems they are. They are the kind of problems that thrill the heart of a true fisherman.
6. This vision of the glory of the Lord Jesus produced in Peter an overpowering sense of his own unworthiness. It was so with Isaiah (Isa_6:5); it is so with all who see the King in His beauty.
7. It was while Peter was engaged in his ordinary employment that Christ called him to be a fisher of men. While you are waiting for guidance, do whatever your hand finds to do. Do it with all your might. Do it heartily as to the Lord. Just as a rudder guides a ship only when it is in motion, so God guides men when they too are in motion.
8. Christ called Peter from catching fish to catching men, or more literally, “taking men alive.” What are all the fish in the ocean compared to the incomparable privilege of seeing one soul won for Christ and for eternity!
9. Peter, James, and John pulled their boats up on the beach and forsook all and followed Jesus on one of the best business days of their lives. And how much hung on their decision! We would probably never have heard of them if they had chosen to stay by their ships.
Frederick Brotherton Meyer, a contemporary and friend of D. L. Moody and A. C. Dixon, was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic presents it to us this way;
Luke 5:1-11
NEW CATCHERS OF MEN
Not their first call, recorded in Joh_1:35-42, but another which preceded their appointment to the apostolate.
The Lord always supersedes us. He superseded Peter in his command of the boat, which he had navigated since he was a lad. There is always a testing-point for the soul. Will you surrender the command and let Christ be captain? If so, in the teeth of great difficulties-for fish are not caught generally in the glare of day-He will fill your boat to the water’s edge. He does beyond all we asked or thought.
Christ will be in no man’s debt. If you lend Him your boat, He will return it filled with silver fish. The boats were filled; the upper room was filled with the Holy Spirit; and all Martha’s hospitality was well repaid when Lazarus was raised.
At the day of Pentecost when Peter’s net landed 3,000 souls, was not our Lord’s promise fulfilled? “Thrust out a little,”is the beginning of long voyages and fishing expeditions with Christ!
Tomorrow we will carry on with The Wedding at Cana
We thank William MacDonald (1917-2007) had, for more than forty years, written directly about the key issues of Christianity. Leaving a promising business career as an employed investment analyst with First National Bank of Boston “at the foot of the Cross”, he had travelled worldwide, proclaiming the unsearchable riches of Christ for the Believer’s Bible Commentary.
Please pray the Holy Spirit-The Paraclete will use these sermons and studies to bring many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
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