Jesus called twelve ordinary men to be His disciples, and their response teaches us valuable lessons about faith and obedience. They were fishermen, tax collectors, and common workers, yet Jesus saw their potential and invited them to follow Him.
In Matthew 4:18-22, Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John while they are fishing. He says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately leave their nets and follow Him. Their willingness to leave everything behind teaches us about trust and surrender. They did not hesitate or question Jesus’ plan—they simply obeyed. This challenges us to examine how willing we are to follow Christ’s call, even when it requires sacrifice.
Matthew, a tax collector, is another example. In Matthew 9:9, Jesus calls him, and he immediately follows. Tax collectors were often despised, yet Jesus saw Matthew’s potential. This teaches us that God can use anyone, no matter their past. He does not choose people based on their status or reputation but based on their willingness to follow Him.
The disciples were not perfect. They had doubts and made mistakes, but Jesus was patient with them. Peter denied Jesus three times, yet Jesus restored him and used him to build the early church. Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection until he saw Him in person, but Jesus gently reassured him. Their journey reminds us that following Christ is a process of growth, learning, and transformation.
Just like the disciples, we are called to follow Jesus with faith and obedience. When we do, He leads us into a life of purpose and impact. Their stories encourage us to trust God’s calling, even when we feel unqualified or uncertain.
