Jesus Calls His Disciples

Mark 1:14-20 and 2:13-17

After Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, He went into Galilee, and began to preach. He told the people that they were to be sorry for their sins and to believe the good news that He was telling them. Jesus then began to call some people to help Him. He was going to teach the ones He called for about three years so that they could carry on the work after He went back to heaven.

Jesus Calls Fishermen

One day, when Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two fishermen, Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter, and his brother, Andrew. They were throwing their net into the lake to try and catch fish. Jesus told them that, if they followed Him, they would be catching men and women for the kingdom of God instead of catching fish. Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed Him.

When Jesus walked a little farther around the lake, He saw James, and his brother, John, in a boat, making their nets ready to go fishing. Jesus called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat and followed Him.

Jesus Calls Matthew

One day, as Jesus walked alongside the lake, a large crowd came to him. Jesus began to teach them. When He walked along, He saw Matthew sitting at the tax collector's hut, collecting taxes. Tax collectors were hated by the people because they collected taxes for the Romans who had conquered them. If anyone caught fish, the tax collector would demand some to pay for their taxes and they usually added on extra for themselves. Jesus told him, "Follow me". Matthew got up, left his job, and followed Him.

Later on, as Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors were eating with Him and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw Him, they said to the disciples that, if Jesus was a good man, He would not be eating with sinners. They believed that they were good and that people like tax collectors were sinners and, therefore, they would not even speak to them. When Jesus heard them, He told them that sinners needed to ask forgiveness and that was why He had come. The Pharisees needed to be saved as much as the tax collectors but, since they did not come to Jesus and ask for forgiveness, He could not help them. We all need to have our sins forgiven and the only way we can have that done is to ask Jesus to forgive us.

Jesus Names His Apostles

We are not told how Jesus called all His disciples but many people followed Him. One day, Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to Him those He wanted. He chose twelve of His disciples and called them apostles. These are the twelve Jesus chose: Peter, James, son of Zebedee, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot.