Stage Two: For The Sake Of Others

Matthew 4 verse 19-20

What is often overlooked about this text is the fact that Peter and Andrew were already disciples of Jesus (Matthew refers to Simon’s new name, Peter) when they were called to be fishers of men. After they have already followed Jesus for their own sakes, now they were being called to follow Jesus for the sake of others. In much the same way, God first calls us to follow him for our own sakes, so that we too may receive joyfully the salvation that comes in Christ Jesus. But eventually that call takes on the focus of becoming fishers of men.

Peter and Andrew at once obeyed the call. They dropped their ordinary profession and followed Jesus

Title: STAGE TWO! NOW, FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS!

Let me invite you into a land where nothing is done for you…ever. In this land there is no opportunity for trade or sale. If you want to eat, you must grow the food yourself. If you want to live in a house, you must build it. And forget about anyone ever teaching you how to build a house or tend a garden. You must figure that out on your own as well.

You might wonder how anyone could ever survive in such a land. If everyone looked out for only number one, you can bet in the land where nothing is done for you…ever, many people would perish. Eventually, the only people to survive would be those that somehow learned for themselves how to do what it takes to live in such a land.

One day, Jesus, the Savior of the World came to the land where nothing is done for you…ever. Only Jesus sought to change the rules. He taught anyone who has an ear to hear, that He is the way, the truth and the life, and that no one can come to the Father but through Him. He told them He had come to take away their sins. He called them to be his disciples and many who heard His Word became saved. But in this land where nothing was done for you…ever, no new disciples were made once Jesus resurrected from the dead. The world remained as it always was. The people still thought about only themselves. Even the great news of Jesus, could not move the people to serve others in the land where nothing was done for them…ever. No one bothered to witness for the benefit of others. No one else heard the good news that Jesus is Lord.

This is a sad story! Imagine Jesus dying on the cross, shedding His Holy and Innocent blood for the whole world, only to find that the whole world had not heard of His sacrifice. Imagine if the world did not hear because no one was willing to take the time needed to proclaim all that Jesus did and promised. Imagine knowing the good news and not wanting to share it with others. Imagine what the world would be like if the first Christians in our own world, believed that they were not responsible for sharing the good news of Jesus with others? Imagine that indeed.

In Matthew chapter 4 verse 18 and following we have before us what is best known as the “Calling of the first Disciples”. Most of us remember the story from our childhood. Jesus calls Andrew and Peter to be his disciples and it is at this time that Andrew and Peter become Christians. Or is it? You see, in truth, this is actually the second time that Andrew and Peter have heard Jesus speak to them. Their first meeting can be found in the Gospel of St. John. (John 1:41-42) “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” and Andrew then brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and said, ‘You will be called Cephas which means Peter’). We know then that Matthew’s account of Jesus calling Andrew and Peter is the second meeting between them because Matthew recorded Simons new Christian name of Peter. So what is going on in Matthew 4:18+ is, that Andrew and Peter, have heard the good news of Jesus Christ and now are being approached by Jesus for the second time.

I asked you to imagine what the world would have been like if the first disciples of Jesus did nothing but take care of their own needs. In a way, it appears that is what originally happened with Peter and Andrew. You see, we know they celebrated that fact that they found the Messiah, but no sooner did they receive the good news, then they went back to their everyday way of life. Why wouldn’t they go back to their place of work? In fact there is nothing wrong with doing such a thing. You and I can relate to their actions. We too have heard the good news that Jesus Christ is our Lord, and we too go about our business. We take care of the things we need to take care of, and most often we are content with this process. There is really nothing wrong with taking care of a little business. And Jesus certainly did not scold Andrew and Peter for wanting to get some work done. But if that was all there was to Christianity, could you and I be here today, worshipping Christ as our Lord? If just hearing the good news from the source were all that God wanted for us, would we not be living in a land similar to the land where nothing is done for you…ever?