Matthew 4: 18 – 22
18. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers; Simon called Peter and
his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
19. “Come, follow me” Jesus said, “And I will make you fishers of men.”
20. At once they left their nets and followed him.
21. Going on from there, his saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.
They were in a boat with there father Zebedee, preparing their nets, Jesus call them,
22. and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Matthew 4: 18 – 22
18. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers; Simon called Peter and
his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
19. “Come, follow me” Jesus said, “And I will make you fishers of men.”
20. At once they left their nets and followed him.
21. Going on from there, his saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.
They were in a boat with there father Zebedee, preparing their nets, Jesus call them,
22. and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
John like many of us had serious faults — faults with all their inherited and cultivated tendencies
to evil. As the youngest disciple, John was bigoted and hidebound. However Jesus, who sees the
heart, saw something special in teenage John. He did not look at John as a hot son of thunder,
but Jesus looked at John's potential as a loving leader. How did John change from being so bad to
being the best?
John yield himself fully to the softening subduing influence of the Master. Slowly, day by day he
entered into a fellowship with Jesus that was deeper, richer, and higher than any of the other
disciples. Finally at the last supper John was invited to sit at Jesus side. Selfishness was gone.
What a transformation!
I. John spent time with Jesus. (John 1:38, 39)
A. John spent more time with Jesus, 'Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith
unto them, what seek ye" They said unto him, "Rabbi, where dwellest thou? He saith unto
them, “Come and see” They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day:
for it was about the tenth hour. Andrew and John left John the Baptist early that morning
and spent all morning and most of the afternoon getting to know Jesus. The tenth hour,
that was about 4 in the afternoon when they left, and they were never the same.
B. John spent the time with Jesus and reaped a rich blessing. Do you have time for Jesus?
II. John sat at Jesus' feet and listened to Jesus' words!
A. John became a daily learner at the feet of Jesus. He sat at Jesus feet to discover and to
learn. To John the words of Jesus were full of freshness and truth and beauty. Can we
replicate that experience? In this blessed Sabbath day is it possible to sit at Jesus feet?
B. We sit at the feet of Jesus when we sit in front of His word , every morning. Let us sit
down and open His Word.
III. John fell in love with Jesus!
A. Maybe all of the disciples did. But John loved Jesus. John wrote in I John 4: 8 "Dear
friends, let us Love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been
born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is
Love."
B. John came to know Jesus because he fell in love with Jesus. If you fall in love with Jesus,
you'll never be the same.
IV. John Beheld Jesus Everyday
A. He was absorbed in contemplating Jesus. The King James Version says that we become
changed by beholding. (2 Cor.3: 18 KJV) We humans change into what we behold.
Meditate on Jesus. Reflect on Jesus. Read Jesus words in your Bible, Pray to Jesus. Read
inspired books about Jesus. Behold Jesus in nature and you will be changed.
V. John Followed Jesus Everywhere
A. We need to follow Jesus. When you associate with Jesus you become Christ – like. How
do you follow Jesus? Search the Bible to discover what Jesus preferred and then modify
your life accordingly. Pray that you will do Jesus’ will in all things because you love Him.
B. John did these things and what was the result? John became the apostle of love.
VI. Conclusion
John was in the court yard when all the other disciples were gone, during Jesus’ trial to
support Jesus. John went in. Peter lingered outside. It was John who let Him in. And
then while John waited for Jesus, Peter denied Jesus three times. John was the only disciple
who stood at the foot of the cross as Jesus paid the random for the sin of the world.
Jesus gave His mother to John.
John came to the tomb after Jesus was resurrected.
John entered into a fellowship with Jesus that was richer and deeper than any other of the
disciple.
Friends, the same Jesus who called John two thousand years ago is just as willing to call
His followers today. No matter what your character or how rough your background, Jesus
can use you. Jesus can make you into a sweet loving Christian. Jesus can make you a saint.
