FOLLOW MORE

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of
Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will
make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. - Mark 1:16-18

We can say we believe something but are not necessarily sold out to it.

It's our prayer that the name Jesus is not just something that you're familiar to but
you'll get to know Him as your Lord and Savior.

Among the accusations of unbelievers to people of faith or religion is RELIGION IS BLIND, FAITH IS
BLIND. To give you a context the verses is from the book of Mark, written by Mark as dictated by Peter and
the book is known as the shortest gospel, the more direct account and full of action that is why this account
of Peter looks for simple and straightforward as this. Jesus calls, immediately Simon alongside with Andrew
followed immediately.

In our story today we will that faith isn't blind rather faith is informed and grown by the faithfulness and
grace of God and encountering him more and more.

JESUS WAS FIRST INTRODUCED BY HIS TEACHER AND BY HIS BROTHER

John the Baptist (his rabbi/teacher) declares
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin
of the world! 35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus
as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they
followed Jesus.
- John 1:29, 35

Andrew his brother said

40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus[k] was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He
first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
- John 1:40-41

Our Christian friends and loved ones can be God's instruments for us to know God more. Our Christian
friends and loved ones can be God's instruments for us to know God more.

JESUS MIRACULOUSLY HEALED HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a
high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left
her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.
- Luke 4:38-39
Luke's account is perceived to be the most orderly and chronological and from His account we can see that
before Jesus calls Peter to be one of His disciples one healing that most likely Peter himself witnessed and
well aware of. Jesus miraculously healed his mother in law.

God orchestrates opportunities for us to know Him more.

JESUS PROVIDED A MIRACULOUS (AND GRACIOUS) CATCH

he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And
Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They
signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats,
so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from
me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Peter was an experienced fisherman he's been doing pretty much nothing but fishing his entire life, then
comes this time that he labored all night and caught nothing. Then
comes Jesus, son of Joseph the carpenter giving Him instructions on how to fish.

Peter’s faith was far from blind, in fact Peter’s immediate response to Jesus invitation was the most
sensible and logical thing to do.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Who is Jesus for you? In what ways did you see Him work in your life?

In what ways (persons, circumstances, interventions) did you see God at work in your life?

What happened and how did you respond?