How Jesus’ Friends Responded

Mark 1:16-20; 5:18-20; 10:46, 52; Luke 5:27, 28

GOLDEN TEXT: “And he left all, rose up, and followed him.”—Luke 5:28

IN CONSIDERING the ministry of Jesus it should be kept in mind that he was engaged in a harvest work. In John the Baptist’s announcement of Jesus, recorded in the 3rd chapter of Luke, in addition to his repetition of some of the prophetic statements applicable in their fullness to the establishment of the kingdom at Jesus’ second advent, John points out the work which Jesus would presently engage in as being the separation of the “wheat” of the Jewish people from the “chaff.” The wheat were those who would respond to Jesus’ message and become his disciples. Such were “Israelites indeed,” those who had profited from their knowledge of the oracles of God and were awaiting the coming of the promised Messiah in humble and reverent anticipation.—Rom. 3:1,2

A wide difference is clearly manifest between the work which Jesus inaugurated and carried on for several years together with his disciples, and the general work of the Gospel age. Jesus was able to make an appeal to his hearers on the basis of the “Law and the Prophets,” with which they were familiar and recognized as authoritative. In the world-wide preaching of the Gospel since those days, it has often been necessary for the missionary to learn the language of those among whom he labored, and then gradually to displace their idolatrous or sinister misconceptions and build up instead a conception of the Creator as a God of love who offers forgiveness of sins and life from the dead through Jesus Christ, and finally, the “high calling,” the “narrow way,” the opportunity to suffer with Jesus that they might reign with him in the kingdom. This is appropriately represented as a “sowing work.” Jesus, on the other hand, in sending forth his disciples to be co-laborers with him in the Jewish harvest, said, “I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.”—John 4:38

In view of the foregoing, we find that the response to Jesus’ teaching was usually prompt and definite. Those who were Israelites indeed found in his teachings just that for which their experience, in endeavoring to keep the Law and gain life thereby, had prepared them. On the other hand, those who had profited by the Law materially, either as scribes or teachers or priests; those who sought honor of men and not of God, though outwardly professing great piety; those who had a high conception of the importance of Judaism, its temple, its forms and ceremonies, instinctively felt that Jesus’ teachings were revolutionary and, unless curbed, would undermine their whole system. Hence these, the “chaff,” were promptly separated from the “wheat,” and finally their whole polity destroyed, just as John the Baptist had foretold.—Luke 3:15-17; Matt. 21:31,32,43

Our texts for today record the response of five who became not only disciples of Jesus, but were among the twelve apostles. Doubtless they had learned to know and love Jesus before the events of our lesson, and were thus prepared promptly to accept his invitation to “leave all and follow” him. How happy we are that these disciples had not only the disposition to respond, but by the Lord’s grace and Spirit they maintained the determination to follow ‘him and were faithful unto death.

The other two converts brought to our attention in today’s lesson were not so prominent, and in both cases their introduction to Jesus was the occasion of a miracle performed on their behalf. Bartimaeus, after being healed of blindness as a result of his faith, followed the Lord. The lunatic of Gadara, after his deliverance from obsession by a multitude of demons, also wished to accompany Jesus.

But Jesus had another program for this new convert, and the disciple was ready to respond to the Master’s direction. He may not have had opportunity to learn a great deal of the Gospel message in the short time he had spent with Jesus, but Jesus could use this happy and enthusiastic man as an. evangelist to his own people. And so we read that “Jesus suffered him not [to accompany him back to Capernaum], but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.”

What were the results of this witness in Decapolis, and did this new disciple later join the multitude which followed the Lord? The record does not inform us. Capernaum was only about thirty miles away, and it seems not unreasonable to imagine that after performing this mission in his home city of Gadara he would again seek the presence and instruction of the One whose compassion and miraculous power had delivered him from a condition worse than death. And what additional joy he may have had, to bring with him and introduce to the Great Teacher some of those friends in whom the Lord had displayed such interest as to send this special messenger.

QUESTIONS:

What was the response of those who heard Jesus’ message?

How do the results of Jesus’ ministry compare with the general results throughout the Gospel age, and with the work of the harvest period of the age?

Why did not Jesus permit the man of Gadara, from whom he cast out a legion of demons, to accompany him? What profitable lessons can we gain from consideration of that incident?

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