January 25, 2026

Sermon Title:  “Jesus Picks a Few Good Men”

Scripture:  Matthew 4:12-23

(Other lectionary suggestions include Isaiah 9:1-4, Psalm 27:1 and 4-9, and I Corinthians 1:10-18.)

Matthew 4:12-23

Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee

12Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:  15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

          Several years ago, there was a movie starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson called “A Few Good Men.” Those words have been used by Marine recruiters for a long time. As Jesus picked his disciples, I figured he also was looking for a few good men! Today’s Scripture reading tells us about some of his choices.

          Did you ever wonder what it was like for Simon and Andrew, James and John, to leave their fishing boats and follow Jesus? According to British scholar N. T. Wright, “they were, in today’s language, small businessmen, working as families not for huge profits but to make enough to live on and have a little (left) over.” Fish were plentiful, and there were lots of potential customers:  soldiers, wayfarers, pilgrims, and pedlars. So, they weren’t rich, but they could always make a living. Says Wright, “Their lives were modestly secure, but hardly luxurious.” So, why did they leave everything and follow Jesus?

          Says Wright, “The answer can only be in Jesus himself, and in the astonishing magnetism of his presence and personality.” But there was MORE. Jesus healed a lot of diseases, and that ability brought people to him. And remember:  Jesus was more than simply a healer. “For him, the healings were signs of the new thing that God was doing through him. God’s kingdom – God’s sovereign, saving rule - was at last being unleashed upon Israel and the world, through him. How could this not bring healing in its wake?”

          Here’s a question for you, and I have mentioned it before...... Do you think Jesus spoke to his potential disciples BEFORE they actually dropped their nets and followed him? I kind of think that he DID speak to them ahead of time. It’s more romantic to think they followed him at once, but - as I said earlier - they were small businessmen, and it makes more sense to me that they did talk it over with their families before dropping everything and following Jesus. It’s a great story, but I think Jesus too had to have some idea of who his disciples were. Also, remember that Peter was MARRIED, and Jesus would have had to have known that.

          So, what do YOU think? Amen.

Pastor Skip