The Disciples Of John

Follow Jesus Christ

By

The Twelve Apostles

John's Three Disciples Follow Jesus

Among the followers of John were many men from Galilee. The most devout were Andrew, Simon, James, and John, with Philip and his brother of Bethsaida. One day as Andrew, Philip and a son of Zebedee, were talking with the harbinger, the Logos came, and John exclaimed, “Behold the Christ!”
And then three disciples followed Jesus, and He asked them, “What do you seek?”
And the disciples asked, “Where do you live?”

And Jesus answered, “Come and see.”

Regular And Active Disciples

The six were the most regular and active disciples of Jesus Christ. They were making earnest efforts, more than the other disciples. It was from the midst of the most diligent disciples that Jesus appointed the Twelve Apostles.

The Three Disciples Call Others
Afterward, Andrew called his brother Simon, saying, “Come with me, for I have found the Christ.”
When Jesus looked in Simon's face He said, “Behold a rock! And Peter is your name.”

And Philip found Nathaniel, whom Jesus renamed Bartholomew, sitting by a tree, and said, “My brother, come with me, for I have found the Christ! In Nazareth He abides.”
Bartholomew said, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?”

And Philip answered, “Come and see.”
When Jesus saw Bartholomew come, He said, “Behold an Israelite indeed in whom there is no guile!” Jesus described Bartholomew as an honest man without deceit.
Bartholomew said, “How can you speak about me thus?
And Jesus said, “I saw you as you sat beneath the fig tree over there, before your brother called.”
Bartholomew lifted up his hands and said, “This surely is the Christ, the king, for whom the harbinger has often testified.”

And John went forth and found his brother James, and brought him to the Christ. The six disciples went with Jesus to the place where He abode.

And Peter said, “We have for a long time sought for Christ. We came from Galilee to John. We thought that he was Christ, but he confessed to us that he was not. That he was but the harbinger sent forth to clear the way, and make the pathway easy for the coming king; and when you came he said, ‘Behold the Christ!’ And we would gladly follow where you go. Lord, tell us what to do.”

Challenges And Solidarity With The Christ

The disciples demanded to follow Jesus and obey Him, and Jesus said, “The foxes of the earth have homes, the birds have nests, but myself, the son of man, has no place to lay my head. He who would follow me must give up all cravings of the self and lose his life in saving life. I come to save the lost, and man is saved when he is rescued from himself – from spiritual blindness, ignorance and laziness. But men are slow to comprehend this doctrine of the Christ – His teachings, corrections, messages and warnings from God.”

And Peter said, “I cannot speak for any other man, but for myself I speak: I will leave all and follow where you lead.”
And then the others spoke and said, “You have the words of truth; you came from God, and if we follow in your footsteps, we cannot miss the way.” Then Jesus and the six disciples sat a long, long time in silent thought.

Those Qualified To Work In The Vineyard

And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go."

And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."

Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead." Matthew 8:18-22

Explanations:

1. The work of God requires sacrifice, in the form of selfless services.

2. Only those who have been chosen, destined and anointed can do the work of God. An ordinary person does not make himself a minister of God.

3. The ministers of God are what they are, whether ordained or not ordained.

4. Those who are called to work in the Lord’s vineyard have no excuses to give, for not doing God’s work. In every situation, it is God first.

5. All reasons and excuses for not doing God’s work are nothing but irrelevant excuses, which are unacceptable in heaven.