The word “disciple” means “one who follows.” Jesus’ disciples follow Him. He says “Follow Me” and they do. Why? And, why just them? Jesus comes into contact with many others during His earthly ministry. Why doesn’t everyone, whom He comes into contact with, also follow Him? What are the reasons for this?
Why doesn’t everyone follow Jesus? The Bible records several instances, for example, when Jesus feeds thousands of people at one time (see Matthew 14:15-21, 15:32-38; Mark 6:35-44, 8:1-9; Luke 9:12-17; John 6:5-13). Why don’t they all follow Him? Why are they not all His disciples? Because they only see Jesus in a certain way. Jesus, for them, is only a means for receiving physical satisfaction. Jesus feeds thousands of people and the result, for them, is a full stomach. They fail to see the spiritual message in Jesus’ miraculous feeding. The Bible even records that, at the end of a miraculous feeding, the people want to make Jesus their “Bread King” (see John 6:15). They only see Jesus for who they want Him to be. They fail to see Jesus for who He is.
Why do Jesus’ disciples follow Him? What does Jesus do or say that compels, impels or propels His disciples to follow Him? Sometimes He does a miracle and they follow Him (see Luke 5:1-11). Sometimes He only says “Follow Me” and they follow Him. Sometimes Jesus doesn’t do or say anything and, yet, they follow Him, anyway. The reason for this is spiritual. Both disciples and non-disciples see Jesus in a physical way. He satisfies some physical need that they may have. Only disciples see Jesus in a spiritual way. For them, He satisfies some spiritual need that they may have.
Although Jesus says “Follow Me” to some whom He meets, He doesn’t say “Follow Me” to everyone He meets. This doesn’t mean that everyone cannot follow Him. They can. They choose not to. They fail to see Jesus in the spiritual way that His disciples do. This is what differentiates disciples from non-disciples and followers from non-followers.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali – to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
– Matthew 4:12-25
