You Can Be a Disciple - Come and See

Peter, James and John; Fishermen

Peter, James and John were known as the closest Disciples of Jesus

They went with him and became leaders in His ministry

They also did great miracles, healed sick people, cast out demons, even raised the dead

But who were they and how did they become His disciples?

And who are you? And could you become His Disciple?

Why or why not?

Do you consider yourself a “Disciple” of Jesus?

Luke 5:1–11 NKJV

1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

So, They started out as Fishermen

this was a popular occupation back then

It was a skilled trade, a way to make money, to get things, earn a living

James and John probably became fishermen becasue their dad was in that business

Peter probably was friends with them, and so they formed a partnership and went into business together

They probably started out just working for their dad, but now they had boats and employees

Peter may not have been from a fisherman family

His brother Andrew was a Disciple of John the Baptist

John the Baptist was son of Zacharias, a Priest

jn1.3

John 1:35–41 NKJV

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).

So, maybe, Peter had a brother who was “religious” a practicing Jew

they may have been a religious family

Maybe their father wanted them to be ministers

But Peter went into the fishing business with his friends - maybe he left his calling

Maybe he failed in seminary school

maybe he got kicked out for running his mouth too much, or fighting

maybe he just couldn’t make the cut

maybe he couldn’t live up to the standard

maybe this is why he was so guilt aware when he said “depart from me”

He went after the things in this world first

Now Andrew is doing both -

He is a disciple of John, but he also is working with Peter in the fishing business

Maybe Andrew is having doubts about the future

Maybe he isn’t sure he will make it as a minister

But now, he met Jesus

Come and See

So, this day at the sea was not the first time Peter had heard of Jesus

His brother Andrew had already met Jesus -

Jesus invited him to “Come and See”

This is the same invitation Jesus makes to every one of us - come and see

Come away from your routine for a minute

put down your cell phones and video games for a moment

come away from your daily grind - games and goals, friends and fears

Come away from the thoughts of this day only, and look beyond the here and now

Come and see this Jesus for yourself

Forget, for a moment, everyone else, and consider Him. Who is He? How can you know?

Not who everyone else says He is.

Who does He say He is?

What does He say He is?

Who does He say that you are?

Andrew took the time to “come and See” for himself

So can you

Then he went running to his brother - he had something to say

Peter probably thought this was strange at first - but he listened

Put out a little from the Land

So, this day that Jesus showed up to preach on the beach, Peter had heard about Him

but he probably didn’t give it a lot of thought

He was too busy - building, leading, doing

So, Jesus told him to put out from the land a little

sometimes, Jesus needs to get you away from the crowd for a moment

Maybe He wants to get you out from the shore a little

out of your safe zone

away from your crowd of influencers

into the deeper things of God

So Peter says “OK”

He had no idea how big this little act was going to be

He thought he was the one in control

just “helping” the preacher - maybe out of respect for his brother

He didn’t even expect to catch anything when Jesus told him to let down the net

Depart from me

Suddenly, they had a huge catch, more than ever before - more than they can carry

This would be the biggest payday ever

But then he realized the truth - This Jesus, is the Messiah

he was in the presence of God

Then he remembered his own sinfulness - and was sorry - first step of repentance

Perhaps he recalled how many times he had fallen short

how many times he had rejected his calling

maybe he remembered getting kicked out of seminary

maybe he recalled being told he was unworthy

Maybe he remembered sinful things he had done

He knew he wasn’t fit to be in Jesus presence -

all those years of failure and doubt brought back -

Depart from me...

Do Not Be Afraid

Jesus accepted him

He could have gone to any seminary in the world to choose His disciples

He could have chosen from the highest high priests, the sharpest scribes, the most righteous Pharisees

He could have developed the most stringent entrance exam that was ever devised to get the best of the best for his disciples

after all the work they would do was, and is the most important mission in the history of the universe

But instead, He accepted these misfits and rejects

In the same way He wants to accept you and I today

In fact, God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise...

And He offered them an opportunity to do something that matters - for eternity

They Forsook all and Followed Him

They could have gone right back to their business

it even would have grown now with this great big catch -

They could have gotten right back into their “normal” lives

Or, they could become His Disciples -

And so can you

What are you doing that will matter in 100 years? Or even 100 days?

Are you wasting your life on Facebook and Snap-chat and your time on Fortnight and other useless games or frivolous endeavors?

fighting battles for nothing and building cities that don’t exist

Or worse, will you be ashamed of wasting your life chasing sinful lusts or covetous greed when Jesus appears?

Or, are you spending every day with eternity in mind?

walking with Jesus, as your best friend, and learning from Him

Overcoming evil, and doing good

Filled with the joy of the spirit from knowing Him

If not, today is your day.

Come and See

You have an invitation from Jesus “Come and See”

Get in the bible for yourself - a version you understand

Be in Church - and listen prayerfully to the message

Talk to Him directly in prayer

Watch and Listen, and expect a relationship with Him

Come taste and see that the Lord is good!