| WEDNESDAY | January 9 |
Discipleship With Jesus
From the very outset of His public ministry, Jesus had disciples. He appeared on the first-century Jewish scene as a disciple-gathering teacher in the tradition of both Greek and Jewish teachers. There were also points of contact with John the Baptist since John baptized Him in preparation for His mission.
As in both Jewish and Greek traditions, Jesus had disciples who followed Him everywhere, who listened to His teaching, and who imitated Him (Matt. 5:1, 2; John 1:35-40; 2:1, 2).
Carefully read Matthew 4:18-20; then (going back over Sunday's and Monday's lessons) compare the ways in which one came to be a disciple of Jesus, of the Greek teachers, and of the established rabbis. What things did they have in common? What things were different?
"Until this time none of the disciples had fully united as colaborers with Jesus. They had witnessed many of His miracles, and had listened to His teaching; but they had not entirely forsaken their former employment. The imprisonment of John the Baptist had been to them all a bitter disappointment. If such were to be the outcome of John's mission, they could have little hope for their Master, with all the religious leaders combined against Him. Under the circumstances it was a relief to them to return for a short time to their fishing. But now Jesus called them to forsake their former life, and unite their interests with His. Peter had accepted the call. Upon reaching the shore, Jesus bade the three other disciples, 'Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left all, and followed Him [Matt. 4:19, 20]."—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, pp. 246 -249).
What has Jesus called you to give up in order to follow Him? What has your response to that call been? Might you still be holding onto something that is standing in the way of a full commitment to the Lord?
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