Immediately Leaving Matthew 4:22

Matthew shared how Jesus was “baptized” and “tempted” by the “devil”, and he wrote, “Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-two of his book, Matthew shared how James and John, “immediately left the ship and their father” where we read:

And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

The verse reads, “And they immediately left the ship and their father, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and they” which means “James and John” “immediately” or “straightway and forthwith” “left” or “departed and went away from” “the ship” or “the sailing vessel” “and their father” which means “and James and John's generator and male ancestor”. Matthew shared how James and John departed from their “father” and their “sailing vessel”.

The verse goes on to say, “... and followed him.” Matthew added the words, “and followed” which means “and joined, sided with and became disciples to”“him” which refers to “Jesus”. Matthew shared how James and John “joined with and became disciples of” Jesus.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how “straightway” James and John answered Jesus' call upon their lives. Though they were involved with their father and their occupation, they left both to “follow” Jesus. There was no familial nor occupational tie that was not sacrificed to “join with Jesus” as His disciples. God desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and Jesus said, “He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37-38) How will those who read these words respond to the call of Jesus to let Him be their “Savior and Lord”?

Next time Matthew shares how “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.