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Back in our study of Christ's Early Ministry, in the first chapter of John, we saw how Jesus called His first Disciples, Philip, Peter, Andrew and Nathanael. Here in this lesson, we have recorded the calling of Peter, Andrew, James and John, described as his first disciples. It might be well,at this time, to review the 12 disciples and see what we know about each one of them. I have listed them in what I believe is the order in which they were called, acknowledging that in the study of the Gospels, it is not clear in what order they were called.
ANDREW - (John 1:40)
Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and is believed to have been the first called. The "sign" of Andrew is two crossed fish in the shape of the St. Andrews Cross (X). He was the first missionary, he went and called his brother, Peter, to Christ. He was a fisherman by trade. He had great faith. He worked behind the scenes. He thought it worth while to tell Jesus about the lad with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. He was the first foreign missionary in that he informed Jesus of the presence of "inquiring Greeks". He was crucified on a cross known as St. Andrews Cross (X). The Order of St. Andrew is an association of church ushers dedicated to being courteous to strangers.
PETER - (John 1:41)
Peter was led to Jesus by his brother Andrew. His name was Simon, son of Jona (John). Simon means obedient, Peter was impulsive. Jona means a dove, Peter was a tiger. He was often called Cephas which means a rock, but Peter was not that solid as he denied Jesus 3 times. He lived in Bethsaida and was a fisherman by trade. He was considered to be the leader of the disciples. He got the name Peter from Jesus. Peter was married. He is believed to have been crucified up side down. His sign is a up side down cross with crossed keys on the top. This sign is of Roman Catholic origin who believe that Peter holds the keys to heaven.
PHILIP - (John 1:43)
Philip lived at Gathsaida on the Sea of Galilee, beyond the Jordan which meant it was east of the Jordan. He was a friend of Peter and Andrew. He is believed to have been the one who, when asked by Jesus to become a disciple, asked for permission to go and bury his father first. He had an "unassuming" perhaps backward disposition. He introduced his friend, Nathanael, to Jesus. He had charge of the provisions for the 12. He was slow to grasp the relationship between Jesus and the Father. He witnessed the crucifixion. He died a violent death at Iliorapolis, location and mode of death not known. His sign was a basket with the Roman numeral for 5000 ( V ) on the handle, indicating his involvement in the feeding of the 5000. The basket was symbolic of his job as keeper of the provisions for the 12. Sometimes a cross with two loves of bread are used as his sign.
NATHANAEL (Bartholomew) - (John 1:45)
Nathanael was a mystic, inclined to meditate. He hesitated to accept Jesus because of His Nazareth background. He was led to Jesus by Philip. His home town was Cana which was close to Nazareth. He had a frank, honest spiritual nature. In spite of his early prejudice about Nazareth, being open minded was one of his better characteristics. He was crucified in Armenia. His sign was 3 flaying knives or one flaying knife laying on a bible
JAMES, THE SON OF ZEBEDEE - (Luke 5:10)
Often called "James the elder" or "James the major". He was a fisherman and the older brother of John. His mothers name was Salome. He came from a prosperous family. He, along with his brother John, was called "Sons of thunder" and Sons of anger". He had a fiery and impetuous nature. He asked for a special place when Jesus came into His kingdom and was reprimanded by Jesus for not knowing what he was asking for. He was beheaded. His sign was the Pilgrim's hat and staff or 3 hay stacks which was the symbol of Pilgrimage.
JOHN, THE SON OF ZEBEDEE - (Luke 5:10) (the Beloved Disciple)
John was the younger brother of James and his mother was Solome who may have been a sister to Mary the mother of Jesus. He, like his brother, Had a fiery impetuous nature. He, like his brother, was one of the "inner circle" along with Peter. He was present at the "raising" of Jairus' daughter, at Gethsemane and at the Transfiguration. He leaned upon the breast of Jesus at the Last Supper. He was believed to have been the youngest of the disciples, He was present at the cross and was entrusted, by Jesus, with the care of His mother, Mary. He was the first to believe in the "resurrection". He is believed to have written the 4th. Gospel and the 3 Epistles of John. It is believed that he lived until he was 100 years old, exiled on the Isle of Patmos where he was caught up into heaven and witnessed all that he wrote in the Book of Revelation. Some believe he died a natural death others believe he was killed by Jews in Palestine around 70 AD. His sign is a chalice or cup with a serpent in it. Tradition says that John was saved from being poisoned by the Lord when it was offered to him in a chalice.
MATTHEW (Levi) - (Luke 5:27)
Matthew was the brother of James the less. He lived at Capernaum. He entered the service of Rome as a tax collector. He was called by Jesus from this despised position and he gave a great feast as the result of this and Jesus attended. He wrote the Gospel according to Matthew which is recognized as the most authoritative and complete record of the life of Christ. It is believed that Matthew died a natural death. His sign is three money bags, because of his former position.
THOMAS (Didymus, meaning twin) (Luke 6:12-16)
Thomas was unjustly called "doubting Thomas" because of his desire to see the scars in the hands of the resurrected Lord. He often showed courage and loyalty to Jesus. Thomas appeared to have spiritual limitations but after the resurrection, he became a missionary to Parthia and India where he was put to death and buried. Crossed spears was Thomas' sign sometimes in a square, sometimes in a cluster of arrows.
JAMES - (the less, son of Alphaeus) (the younger) (Luke 6:12-16)
This James may have been a brother to Matthew. He was a member of a remarkable Christian Family. His mother, Mary, went along with Mary Magdalene and Salomia to anoint the body of Jesus on Easter morn (Mark 16:1) It is believed that he may have been stones to death. His sign is the carpenters saw, not because he was a carpenter but because he may have been sawed asunder in martyrdom.
SIMON - (the Zealot) (Luke 6:12-16)
Very little is known about Simon. He was a "Zealot", which meant he was a member of the Jewish Nationalistic Party, at least he was before becoming a Disciple. He was crucified at the age of 129. His sign is an open book with a fish laying in the center.
THADDEUS - (sometimes called Jude, Lebbaeus, or Judas) (Luke 6:12-16)
He was born in Edessa and was baptized by John the Baptist. He remained with Jesus until just before the crucifixion, when he returned home to evangelize the Syrians and the Armenians. He suffered martyrdom and was buried in Beirut. His sign was a ship with a carpenters square and a boat hook. It is believed that he and Simon did missionary work together that required trips by boat.
JUDAS ISCARIOT - (Luke 6:12-16)
Judas was the only Disciple who was not a Galilean. He came from the rugged area in S-E Judaea. He was treasurer for the group. He held the belief of most Jews of that day that the Messiah would set up an earthly kingdom and he believed that he would be the treasurer of that kingdom. When it became obvious that this would never be, he betrayed Jesus to Caiaphas, the Chief Priest, for 30 pieces of silver. He later went out and hung himself. His sign was the hangman's noose.
The above is a brief resume' of the 12 Disciples in the order in which I believe they were called. There is no Biblical determination of some of this and scholars do differ on the order of their calling.
Let us continue with our study of Luke's account of the calling of four of these disciples and recorded in Chapter 5:1-11.
Notice that Luke tells us of the large crowds that followed Jesus and completely surrounded him making it very difficult for them to see Him let alone, hear Him. They were pressing him to the limits of the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, when He looked out from the shore and saw to boats of fisherman. One belonged to Peter and Andrew and the other to James and John. As the boats came into shore and after the servants left, Jesus requested Peter to lend him his boat that he might row out from shore a short distance and use it as a pulpit where He could speak to the people and they would hear Him. Peter took Jesus a short distance from the shore where Jesus sat down and taught the people.
Notice Luke calls the lake, the Lake of Genes'aret. John refers to it several times as the Sea of Tiberias. Sometimes it is referred to only as "the sea" or "the lake". In the Old Testament, it is called the Sea of Chinnereth.
We know it better as the Sea of Galilee. This lake was 13 miles long, north and south, and 8 miles wide. Its surface was 680 feet below sea level. It was as much as 200 feet deep in places.
It might be well, at this time, to attempt to explain the difference between the first chapter of John and the sixth chapter of Luke concerning the calling of the first disciples. Most scholars believe that the calling of Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael, in John Chapter one, was the first calling, but, it was not a calling to complete dedication, forsaking everything else and that these four men along with James and John had accompanied Him on various missions prior to this but were now called to a full time commitment. Most believe that Jesus had known these men from the time of His baptism by John the Baptist.
When Jesus finished teaching the people, He told Peter to row out into the deep water and let down his nets. Now Peter and Andrew had fished all night and hadn't caught anything, but Jesus urges them to try again. Now these men were expert fisherman and could have given Him many excuses why such an effort would be fruitless, but they didn't. They did not hesitate to do as the Master said. What a difference it makes in the success of our efforts if it's the Master's will. Notice their obedience paid off, when they raised the net there was more fish than the boat could hold and they signaled to James and John to come help. All were astonished at the catch, but Peter was particularly impressed. He fell upon his knees in front of Jesus and suggested that Jesus depart from him as he was a sinner and did not deserve to be in the presence of a Man of God. Again we see something that is becoming increasingly clear, those upon whom Jesus is about to bestow some great favor, He first humbles.
Jesus must have talked at great length to Peter, Andrew. James and John, for now He calls them to "full time" service, giving up their trade, their families and to follow Him completely. This they did, and at a time when they had been most successful. Thus Christ often calls us to a task when we can least afford the time only then, if we do it, is there any merit.
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