Did the Disciples know Jesus?

Matthew 4:18-20, Colossians 4:5-6

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Did the disciples know Jesus before they became disciples?

Almost certainly, yes. In the gospel accounts, we get Jesus approaching people, telling them to follow him, and immediately they leave everything, their jobs, their families, their homes, and embark on this full-time training for ministry with him. But we should assume that the gospels are selecting events so that we understand why these 12 men are following Jesus for the rest of the account. Instead, we should think that there was familiarity and casual teaching between Jesus and these men before they became full-time disciples. Some of them we know came from John the Baptist and were introduced to Jesus that way. But let me give you one of these accounts taken from Matthew, chapter four.

As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother, Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

But this would not have been the first time Jesus would have encountered these men. Why would they, leave their nets, leave their father, their business venture, their families at a moment’s notice to follow Jesus? Now, this takes nothing away from the Holy Spirit’s power in the word to say that Jesus saying, “Follow me,” was not this thunderbolt that brought about not only new spiritual faith, but a new commitment and direction in their life. And I would argue that seeing their callings that way gives us an unrealistic expectation of how people come to faith and grow in their Christian commitment today. We see people around us who might not have faith, and perhaps we would get the impression that if I just lay down the one good Bible passage, that’s gonna trump all of their unbelief and former habits, and they’re gonna immediately come to faith and become committed Christians.

Well, instead, we find a much more normal looking process of coming to faith, even though that is an instant moment. You’re either in the faith or out of it.

And also questions, skepticism, patience, love needed in that process. Also, from that moment of faith, there may be a growth in commitment that happens. Remember that Matthew was called from his tax collecting booth. He was still kind of engaging in this maybe sinful enterprise even though he knew who Jesus was and had faith in him. Maybe Jesus had been planning this active traveling ministry, and it was finally Jesus’ call that he was ready to go, and he wanted Matthew to come with him that impelled him and encouraged him to leave that profession behind.

So Paul gives us a good mindset to keep in mind as Christians as we deal with others who might be coming into or exploring the Christian faith. He says in Colossians 4,

Walk in wisdom in the way you act toward those on the outside, making the most of your opportunity. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you are to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5-6)

May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to see the eternal importance of some of your relationships, but also let your speech be seasoned with Jesus, crucified for our sins, raised so that we can have forgiveness for the past, peace with God in the present, and a living hope for the future.