050. Chapter 29 - The Calling of the Disciples

Chapter 29 - The Calling of the Disciples Matthew 4:18-22;Mark 1:16-20;Luke 5:1-11 Relation of the Gospel Accounts The independence of the Gospels is shown in the most convincing manner, when we begin the attempt to fit together into a chronological outline the opening of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. We can be sure that John, who wrote nearly a half century after the others, knew the accounts which Matthew, Mark and Luke had written. Yet he does not make the slightest effort to fit his surprising collection of events which they did not record into the outline of events which they offer. A few words would have sufficed to explain the relationship of the call of the fishermen by the Sea of Galilee to the preceding association of Jesus with the six disciples He had won at the Jordan a year before. But John makes absolutely no attempt to harmonize his account with theirs. He writes with complete independence, telling the story of Jesus’ life in such a way as to fill in the gaps left by the other three and yet making no effort to relate his account to theirs. As if this were not damaging enough to the radical Two-source Theory, there is the additional evidence furnished by the entirely independent account which Luke gives of this call by the seaside. His record of the wonderful miracle which accompanied their call is not even suggested in Matthew and Mark. And yet the critics are very sure that Luke copied from the two preceding Gospels. Luke records the conversation of Jesus in an entirely different way and states the call in language that is strikingly independent. The accounts of Matthew and Mark are very similar, but a close study will show differences even here, such as the mention of the hired servants of Zebedee in Mark which is omitted in Matthew. The Disciples at Their Old Tasks The six disciples who had accompanied Jesus from the Jordan to Cana, to Capernaum, to Jerusalem, through the Judaean ministry and now back to Galilee, seem to have scattered to their homes for a brief rest. There is no indication that they were present at the rejection at Nazareth. But now Jesus calls them from their labor at the Sea of Galilee to give up all outside work and give Him their whole time. They doubtless had started in with a will to help their families the moment they returned from the year’s labor with Jesus. They now relinquish this work at His call. One wonders how the family of Peter was supported. We know that he was married. He was a native of Bethsaida, but moved to Capernaum and had a home there which Jesus made His headquarters while working in the city. The manner in which the disciples went to work upon their return from the long evangelistic campaign in Judaea naturally causes one to meditate upon how the family of Peter managed during his absence. Doubtless some older brother, or some other relative, too old to attempt active campaigning for the Messiah, gladly took the added burdens at home that Peter might be permitted to give all of his time to assist Christ. The sons of Zebedee would be missed from their father’s fishing business, but he had hired servants to assist him even when the sons were at hand. The Call and the Miracle

Both Matthew and Mark represent Jesus as walking along the shore to where Peter and Andrew were casting their net into the sea, and further on, where James and John were in their boat mending their nets. Jesus called them to leave all: “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Their obedience was immediate and unhesitating. It is hard to understand such a peremptory call and acceptance without the account which John gives of their earlier association. Luke shows that there was much more to this important event in the lives of the disciples than is recorded in the other narratives. Luke describes the multitudes as so vast that they were pressing upon Him as He preached to them the Word of God. He records the fishing expedition which interrupted this ministry and which brought the miraculous catch of fish. The entirely different setting which Matthew and Mark give from that found in Luke seems to furnish a real difficulty. But Luke shows that the disciples had spent the entire night in unsuccessful fishing. The scene described in Matthew and Mark evidently occurred early in the morning. The expedition was just over and they were mending their nets. They answer the call of Jesus and abandon their work for Him. The crowds gather and Jesus preaches to them until a later time in the day. Then, in the midst of this ministry, follows the miraculous catch of fish. The question as to how the disciples could be out fishing later in the very day on which they had abandoned their occupation to follow Jesus is readily solved by a study of Luke’s account. He shows that Jesus requested the use of Simon’s boat because of the immense crowd. This natural pulpit enabled all to see and hear. Then when He had finished His sermon, Jesus commanded them to get the nets ready for a draught. If Luke’s account is chronological, this miracle may have occurred several days later, since he records the first miracles in Capernaum before describing this fishing expedition. The Setting of the Miracle This command of Jesus to turn from the ministry in which they had been engaged back to a fishing expedition must have seemed very strange to the disciples. Since they had failed in their effort the night before and doubtless needed food, it should not have seemed strange from the practical point of view. Peter registered the amazement and also the implicit faith of the group in his remark: “Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.” The command seemed strange in the light of the fact that they had thoroughly tested the fishing prospects and had failed. They were expert fishermen; they knew the best places and times to fish; they had visited their favorite haunts in vain. They knew that the night was the most favorable time and if the night proved that the fish were not to be found, it was useless to try in the morning light. The fishing on the Sea of Galilee centers about the northern end of the lake where the Jordan empties into the sea bringing a fresh supply of food for the fish. The cities grouped about the northern end of the lake doubtless found the fishing industry their chief source of income. The fish, today, are for the most part small (6 to 8 inches), but some are larger (12 to 18 inches). They are sold fresh in nearby markets or are dried for shipment.

Toilers of the Night

How often we feel like Peter that we have toiled all night and taken nothing, and further effort is worse than useless. In our personal struggles with temptations, we seem not to have gained an inch. In our effort to become more efficient and useful, we seem to make no discernible progress. In our attempts to serve, our kind words have been misunderstood, and our offers spurned or accepted without appreciation. In our vigilant evangelism, praying and watching for souls, we continually seem to toil all night and take nothing. And yet in the morning, Jesus comes again commanding us to launch out into the deep. Oh, for faith to match such a challenge!

Jesus knew that His disciples had toiled through the night without avail when He gave the command. Was He not present in the spirit as they toiled? Was He not praying for them? Why had He not given them aid from a distance the night before? This was part of the test. We must fail of our own might before we are willing to trust God. We must realize our own helplessness before we will give the credit to God. Their fruitless toil through the night gave Jesus His opportunity. How often we fail because we go forth in our own strength and leave out God! Is your life broken and discouraged? Hear the challenge of Jesus: “Launch out again into the deep.” Then comes the word: “Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” The Test and Confirmation of Faith

Although they found fish in such abundance on this expedition, this was not the primary objective of Jesus. He wanted to test and strengthen the faith of these disciples. He had just given a strong test in demanding that they leave their business and homes to follow Him and devote all their time to His ministry. They had gladly yielded obedience. Now when they are in the very midst of this ministry, Jesus suddenly ceases His preaching and commands that they go out to sea on a fishing expedition. They must have been puzzled at this, beyond all words. Thoroughly sated with the fruitless casting of the net through the long night hours, they are now commanded to undertake another fishing expedition at a time when it appears utterly useless. But their obedience is still immediate and implicit. The fact that their life-long experience and the whole night of toil foredoomed their attempt to failure made all the more impressive the remarkable miracle which followed. It was against the background of the most unpromising circumstances imaginable that the miracle was performed. It is no wonder that these experienced fishermen were so astounded. The Humility of Peter

Peter and Andrew lowered the net and when they discovered they had instantly caught such a multitude of fish that their nets were breaking, they hastily summoned their comrades, James and John, to come to their assistance with their boat. When the excitement of landing the enormous catch had passed and both boats were so full of fish that they were ready to sink, Peter, who had been doing some hard thinking while he worked feverishly at the nets, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Many take this to mean that Peter had been a wild, reckless person in his youth. But exactly the opposite is more probable. His humble confession is the natural reaction of a noble man who finds himself in the presence of God in a sense which he had not before realized. Isaiah’s confession at the time of his vision of God seated in majesty and holiness upon His throne did not mean that Isaiah had been particularly vulgar or blasphemous in speech because he said humbly: “I am a man of unclean lips.” It means rather his conscience was keen and sensitive. In the presence of God all men, no matter how noble they are, must cry: “I am a sinful man.” Could anything be more impressive than the manner in which the divine person of Jesus emerges in the Gospel narratives through the actual proof of His power and the recognition of His holiness and mysterious divinity by those who found themselves in His presence? Three things were essential in the experience of the disciples at this crisis in their relation to Jesus: (1) a recognition of the divine character of their Leader and the spiritual character of His mission; (2) a realization of their own sinfulness; (3) a complete consecration of themselves to the work of Christ. All this had been growing up in their hearts during the preceding months of association with Jesus. This definite call by the seaside brought an acute realization of these things. The miracle which accompanied the call confirmed their faith and devotion. Their whole understanding was inadequate and developed gradually after this time. Further crises arose in the ministry of Jesus, as at Caesarea Philippi and at the Mount of Transfiguration, when their growing realization of the character and program of Jesus became suddenly crystallized. These were times of lucid vision in the midst of groping through prejudice and false preconceptions to perceive the mystery of God’s Son in their midst and the kingdom of heaven being set up on earth.

Fishers of Men The apostle Peter did not really desire to separate himself from Jesus when he cried out: “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Separation from Jesus would have been the greatest calamity he could conceive. If he had wanted to separate himself from Jesus, he might have done so without protest. His cry means exactly the opposite of what he says. It is the extreme expression of humility as he declares himself utterly unworthy of remaining another hour in the presence of Jesus. It carries the agonizing appeal that in spite of his human frailty Jesus may permit him to remain in the company of One who reveals the purity and power of heaven. The answer of Jesus shows a complete understanding of Peter’s heart. The Master could discern the presence of the fish in the unseen depths of the sea; He could likewise perceive the unspoken thoughts and desires of the hearts of men. He quieted the distress of Peter: “Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” Thus the miracle confirmed their faith and enabled Him to confirm their call by this emphatic repetition of His promise to make them to be fishers of men. The word used here means to take men alive. Jesus continually used illustrations suggested by the experience of his hearers. The verb used suggests that their life work was to mean not death but life for those whom they should rescue.

Simon Peter The clear and very attractive portrait of Peter begins to appear in the Gospels with Luke’s record of this miracle. His life furnishes an admirable opportunity for tracing the results of association with Jesus. When we lay alongside the portrait of the simple fisherman by the Sea of Galilee that of the mighty apostle on the day of Pentecost and the days following when he faced and silenced the Sanhedrin itself, we can measure something of the influence of Jesus upon his life. The native courage of the man increased as the foundation of courage, which is faith, became more firm. It is true that the Jerusalem scholars sneered at him and his companions as ignorant and unlearned men. And this was after Peter had graduated and had his diploma and degree from the Master’s college. They scorned this training because it was not standardized, but the training Peter had received, plus the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, made him a giant. He had the truth in contrast with the false theories of the Jewish scholars. He had the courage to defend it with his life; they made a cowardly resort to physical violence. His sincerity shines with the brightness of the sun against their hypocrisy. He had the divine presence and help; they had but the might and power of men.

Character Analysis

Peter is often described as “a weak man who became strong.” He was a curious combination of weakness and strength like every other human being, but can he properly be called a “weak man”? This is rather the account of a strong man who became a giant. Even when Jesus met him, Peter was no weakling. The faults of Peter’s character are the faults of a strong man. What weakness is to be seen in Peter’s character? (1) It was not lack of courage. This is a fundamental lack of weak men. Peter was as bold as a lion. He was such by nature. Witness how he dared to step out on the water to walk to Jesus on that stormy night. See him draw his sword and attack a whole company of soldiers in Gethsemane. Study him in his hour of failure. It took a stout heart to venture into the very palace of the high priest. Behold his courage on Pentecost. (2) It was not lack of decision. Sometimes people are weaklings because they are vacillating. Hamlet and Micawber are classic examples. Peter was a man of action as well as words. He talked too much, but he was quick to make up his mind and act. He did not daily and hesitate. At Antioch he did show something of this attitude, but it is an exception. (3) It was not lack of will-power. He was stubborn and set of purpose. He was so strong-willed that he was turbulent. Jesus had to call him Satan for attempting to dictate a false course, or had to warn him he could no longer be His disciple if he did not yield to Jesus as He washed the disciples’ feet. At the Last Supper, he stubbornly insisted on his declaration that he would not deny Jesus. (4) It was not lack of intellectual acumen. Some people are weak because they are stupid. Men often talk today as if they would have learned much faster and developed more faith than did the apostles; but it is easy to work a problem in mathematics after you have seen the solution. Peter listened with avidity and gripped the great truths Jesus revealed. Every teacher knows he can grade a student by the number and quality of the questions he asks. If he tries to ask too many, some will be foolish. Peter’s remarks and questions occasionally went astray, but they reveal a keen intellect. (5) Peter was not weak in the direction of dissolute living. Brilliant men often mar their careers with astounding moral failures. The Germans have a proverb: “Bright lights cast dark shadows.” Some men are tempted to drink, some to lust, some to deceit, others to slander or to greed and dishonesty. “I am a sinful man,” said Peter as Jesus called him on the Sea of Galilee. But this does not mean a reckless, dissolute youth. It was the natural shrinking of sinful humanity in the presence of Deity. Peter was rash and indiscreet. He liked to think out loud — to speak first and think afterwards. He often had to repent hasty remarks, as on the Mount of Transfiguration, when he did not know what he was talking about. He did not always hold out. When sifted, his character revealed much chaff. But he was a strong man and he became one of the mighty figures of human history.