Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11, Fishers of Men (3)

Here is a simple outline description of the four disciples.

1.     John:

i.                   Born in Bethsaida. 

ii.                Bro of James the "Greater", younger son of Zebedee & Salome.  Apparently a family of some wealth.

iii.             Good education in Jewish way.

iv.              Disciple of John the B., then of Christ.

v.                 One of the inner circle of 3.

vi.              One of the "sons of thunder", an energy which broke out on occasion.

vii.           Yet also a dear friend of Jesus' as well as disciple.

a.     Leaned on His breast at Last Supper.

b.     Followed into the trial area after Jesus' arrest.

c.     Seems teamed up w/Peter after cross, Pentecost.

viii.        Human author of 4th gospel, 3 epistles & Revelation.

2.     James:

i.                   Son of Zebedee & Salome; older bro of John.

ii.                A fisherman, partners w/Peter.

iii.             One of the inner circle of 3.

iv.              With John called "Boanerges", "sons of thunder".

v.                 First martyr (Acts 12).

3.     Andrew:

Fisherman's House at Tel Bethsaida.

i.                   Greek name (from his name), from Bethsaida (Jn 1:44).

ii.                Originally a disciple of John the Baptist (Jn 1:40).

iii.             Known for bringing others to Christ: first Peter, then the boy with the loaves and fish, then "certain Greeks".  In other words, hes a nice guy, thinking of others. But a fisherman from Galilee.

4.     Peter:

i.                   A Jewish name (unlike Andrew which is Greek, indicating the mix in Galilee).

ii.                Of rough character, personality; boisterous.  And yet a fearful man.

Here is a lengthy quote concerning Peter, reflecting on what happened in Luke 5.

Alexander Balmain Bruce, The Training of the Twelve (p15f): This exclamation opens a window into the inner man of him who uttered it through which we see his spiritual state.  We observe in Peter at this time that mixture of good & evil, of grace & nature, which so frequently reappears in his character ... Among the good elements discernible are reverential awe in presence of Divine power, a prompt calling to mind of sin betraying tenderness of conscience, & an unfeigned self-humiliation on account of unmerited favor. Valuable features ... but ... Along with them were associated superstitious dread of the supernatural and a slavish fear of God.  ... the former element is implied in the reassuring exhortation addressed to the disciple by Jesus, "Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men."  Slavish fear of God is even more manifest in his own words, "Depart from me, O Lord."  Powerfully impressed with the superhuman knowledge revealed in connection with the great draught of fishes he regards Jesus for the moment as a supernatural being, and as such dreads Him as one whom it is not safe to be near, especially for a poor sinful mortal like himself. This state of mind shows how utterly unfit Peter is, as yet, to be an apostle of a Gospel which magnified the grace of God even to the chief of sinners. His piety, sufficiently strong and decided, is not of a Christian type; it is legal, one might almost say pagan, in spirit.

This is what Jesus had in these men.  Imperfect.  Desiring to be with Him.  The Bible tells us what Christ can do for and through imperfect people who desire to be with Him!