Jesus Calls His Disciples
Ordinary People Are Invited to Follow Him
Before You Read
The first people Jesus called to follow Him were not famous leaders. Several were fishermen who spent long hours working with boats, nets, and fish.
They did not know everything about Jesus yet, and they would make many mistakes while learning from Him.
As you read, notice what Jesus asks them to do and what the remarkable catch of fish begins to show Simon Peter about Jesus.
The Bible Story
Jesus had begun His public ministry in Galilee. He taught about God's kingdom and called people to turn toward God and believe the good news.
One day, Jesus was beside the Sea of Galilee. Fishermen were working near the shore, doing the ordinary labor that supported their families.
Among them were Simon, who would later be called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen, not famous teachers, rulers, or soldiers.
Jesus saw the brothers casting a net into the water. He called them to follow Him and told them that He would make them fish for people.
The words did not mean that people were objects to be caught or controlled. Jesus was calling these fishermen to join His work of bringing God's good news to others.
Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Him.
Farther along the shore, Jesus saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, working with the fishing nets.
Jesus called them too. James and John left the boat and followed Jesus.
Simon would also see Jesus's authority in a way he could never forget. After a long night of fishing with nothing to show for it, Jesus told him to let down the nets again.
Jesus was teaching near the lake, and a crowd pressed closer to hear Him. Two boats were nearby, and the fishermen had stepped out to wash their nets after working through the night.
Jesus got into Simon's boat and asked him to move a little way from shore. From the boat, Jesus taught the people gathered along the water.
When He finished speaking, Jesus told Simon to move into deeper water and lower the nets for a catch.
Simon knew fishing. He and the others had worked all night and had caught nothing. He explained this honestly to Jesus.
Still, Simon chose to do what Jesus said.
They lowered the nets. Suddenly the nets began filling with so many fish that they started to strain.
The fishermen signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help. Together they filled the boats so heavily that the boats sat low in the water.
Simon knew this catch was far beyond an ordinary good day of fishing. He was beginning to understand that Jesus carried an authority unlike anyone he had known before.
Simon Peter was overwhelmed. He became deeply aware of his own sinfulness and of how different Jesus was from him.
Jesus did not push Simon away. Instead, He told Simon not to be afraid.
Jesus was calling him into a new kind of work.
From then on, Simon and the others would learn from Jesus, travel with Him, hear His teaching, watch His works, ask questions, make mistakes, and slowly understand more about who He was.
They would not become perfect the moment they followed Him. Peter would sometimes speak too quickly. The disciples would misunderstand Jesus, argue, become afraid, and fail in serious ways.
But Jesus called ordinary people knowing they still had much to learn.
Following Jesus would mean more than walking behind Him on a road. It meant learning from Him, trusting His authority, and joining the mission He gave them.
Their old skills were not useless either. Patience, teamwork, hard work, and knowing how to keep going after disappointment had all been part of their lives as fishermen.
Jesus would now reshape their lives around something greater.
The call began beside ordinary boats, nets, water, and tired workers.
Yet these fishermen would become witnesses to Jesus's teaching, death, and resurrection.
These fishermen did not understand everything when they first followed Jesus. They would learn slowly, ask questions, make mistakes, and keep discovering who He was. Jesus called them to stay near Him, learn from Him, and take part in the work He was beginning.
What This Story Teaches Us
1. Jesus Calls Ordinary People
Simon, Andrew, James, and John were working fishermen.
Jesus did not wait until they became famous, powerful, or perfectly prepared before calling them.
2. Following Jesus Means Learning from Him
The disciples did not understand everything at the beginning.
Following Jesus would involve listening, asking questions, being corrected, and growing.
3. Jesus Has Authority
Simon knew the lake and had worked all night without a catch.
The extraordinary catch helped him see that Jesus's authority was greater than he had realized.
4. Jesus Does Not Push Away People Who Know They Need Mercy
Simon became deeply aware of his own sinfulness.
Jesus did not reject him; He reassured Simon and called him forward.
5. 'Fishing for People' Is About Mission, Not Control
Jesus was not teaching the disciples to manipulate or trap people.
He was calling them to participate in bringing God's good news to others.
6. A Call from Jesus Does Not Make Someone Instantly Perfect
Peter and the others would still misunderstand, fear, argue, and fail.
Their importance comes from Jesus's grace and work, not flawless behavior.
How It Fits into God's Bigger Story
Jesus did not carry out His public ministry alone. He called disciples to be with Him, learn from Him, and later bear witness to what they had seen and heard.
These fishermen would watch Jesus teach, heal, welcome outsiders, confront evil, and move toward Jerusalem. They would also see His death and become witnesses to His resurrection.
The disciples themselves were imperfect. Christianity does not rest on the idea that Jesus found flawless heroes; the Gospels show followers who needed correction, mercy, courage, and deeper understanding.
After Jesus's resurrection, His followers would be sent to make His good news known to others. The call beside the lake is an early step in the mission that would spread far beyond Galilee.
Talk About It
- Which fishermen did Jesus call to follow Him in this story?
- What happened after Simon followed Jesus's instruction to lower the nets again?
- What does the remarkable catch help us understand about Jesus's authority?
- Why do you think Simon Peter felt overwhelmed after the nets filled with fish?
- Why is it helpful to remember that learning and making mistakes can be part of following Jesus?
- What is one safe and kind way our family can share something good we have learned about Jesus with someone we already know?
A Short Prayer
Jesus, thank You for calling ordinary people to learn from You and take part in Your work. Help us listen carefully to what You teach and remember that we do not have to pretend we already know everything. Give us humility when we make mistakes, courage to keep learning, and wisdom to share what is good in safe and loving ways. Help us trust Your authority and follow You faithfully. Amen.
Try This Together
Follow — Learn — Share 10–15 min
You will need: Printable activity page, Pencil, Crayons or colored pencils if desired
- Under FOLLOW, write one thing Jesus asked His disciples to do.
- Under LEARN, name something the disciples still needed to understand.
- Under SHARE, think of one safe and kind way to share something good with a person you already know.
- Talk about why following Jesus does not mean pretending to be perfect.
- Finish by praying for wisdom to learn and grow.
Help children understand discipleship as following, learning, and participating in Jesus's mission without pressure or unsafe behavior.
Safety: Do not instruct children to approach strangers, travel alone, or share private information.
Memory Verse
“Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.”— Matthew 4:19
For Parents and Teachers
Do Not Turn 'Leave Your Nets' into Unsafe Advice
Jesus's call to these adult fishermen was a specific event in their lives.
Children should never be told that following Jesus means leaving home, traveling with strangers, or ignoring safe caregivers.
The Gospel Accounts Emphasize Different Details
Matthew and Mark tell a concise shoreline call story, while Luke gives a fuller account involving Jesus teaching from Simon's boat and the remarkable catch.
Acknowledge these emphases rather than claiming every Gospel gives an identical sequence.
The Miraculous Catch Is Not a Prosperity Formula
The story does not promise that faithful Christians will always have successful work, money, or easy results.
The catch functions as a sign that helps Simon recognize Jesus's authority.
Peter's Awareness of Sin Should Not Become Shame
Simon realizes that he is not worthy of Jesus's presence, but Jesus does not humiliate or send him away.
Emphasize truth, mercy, repentance, and grace rather than humiliation.
What Does 'Fish for People' Mean?
The phrase should not be explained as trapping, tricking, or pressuring people.
The disciples are being prepared to make Jesus and His good news known.
Sharing Faith Should Be Safe and Age-Appropriate
Children can talk about what they are learning with family, friends, teachers, or trusted church leaders.
Do not pressure them to approach strangers, debate adults, or disclose personal information.
