Topical Bible: Galilee: Sea (Lake) of Galilee: Jesus Calls Disciples on the Shore of

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Tiberias or Lake Gennesaret, is a freshwater lake in the northeastern region of Israel. It holds significant historical and spiritual importance in the Christian tradition, particularly as the site where Jesus called His first disciples. The lake is approximately 13 miles long and 8 miles wide, and it is situated about 700 feet below sea level, making it the lowest freshwater lake on Earth.

Biblical Context and Significance

The Sea of Galilee is prominently featured in the New Testament as the backdrop for many of Jesus' teachings and miracles. It is here that Jesus began His public ministry and called His first disciples, an event that is pivotal in the narrative of the Gospels. The calling of the disciples is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, with each account providing unique details that enrich the understanding of this momentous occasion.

The Calling of the First Disciples

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus encounters Simon Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus calls to them, saying, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Immediately, they leave their nets and follow Him. This immediate response highlights the compelling authority of Jesus and the willingness of the disciples to abandon their livelihoods for a higher calling.

The Gospel of Mark provides a similar account, emphasizing the immediacy of their response: "At once they left their nets and followed Him" (Mark 1:18). This narrative underscores the transformative power of Jesus' call and the disciples' readiness to embrace a new mission.

In the Gospel of Luke, the calling is set against the backdrop of a miraculous catch of fish. After teaching the crowds from Simon's boat, Jesus instructs Simon to "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4). Despite initial skepticism due to a fruitless night of fishing, Simon obeys and is rewarded with an overwhelming catch. Astonished by the miracle, Simon Peter falls at Jesus' knees, acknowledging his own sinfulness. Jesus reassures him, saying, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will catch men" (Luke 5:10). This account highlights both the miraculous power of Jesus and the humility required to follow Him.

Theological Implications

The calling of the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee is rich with theological significance. It marks the beginning of the formation of a community of believers who would become the foundation of the early Church. The metaphor of becoming "fishers of men" signifies the disciples' new mission to spread the Gospel and draw others into the Kingdom of God.

This event also illustrates the nature of discipleship as a response to divine initiative. The disciples' willingness to leave everything behind reflects the cost of following Jesus, a theme that resonates throughout the Gospels. Their journey from fishermen to apostles serves as a model for Christian discipleship, emphasizing faith, obedience, and the transformative power of Christ's call.

Conclusion

The Sea of Galilee remains a symbol of the beginning of Jesus' ministry and the calling of His first disciples. It is a place where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, where simple fishermen are transformed into leaders of a spiritual movement that would change the world. The accounts of Jesus calling His disciples on its shores continue to inspire believers to heed the call of Christ and participate in His mission of redemption and reconciliation.

Nave's Topical Index

Matthew 4:18-22
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
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Luke 5:1-11
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed on him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
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Library

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
... Fishing was then a prosperous trade on the lake of Galilee.] ^b 17 ... Disciples are
fishers, human souls are fish, the world is the sea, the gospel is the net ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxx jesus calls four fishermen.htm

Jesus Makes a Preaching Tour through Galilee.
... of Syria lying east, southeast, and south of the Lake of Galilee ... of the east shore
of the Dead Sea.] ^c 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxxiii jesus makes a preaching.htm

"Peace, be Still"
... He who spoke peace to the billows of Galilee has spoken ... Those who had crossed the
lake with Jesus told of all ... tempest, and how the wind and the sea had been ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 35 peace be still.htm

Divine Calls.
... He walked by the sea of Galilee[6]; He "passed forth[7 ... bade them cast the net into
the sea, "that disciple ... of mind when quietly fishing on the lake, or Elisha's ...
/.../newman/parochial and plain sermons vol viii/sermon ii divine calls.htm

Jesus the Bread of Life.
... had retired to the east side of the sea of Tiberias ... the river flows into the lake
of Galilee, with the ... from the hillside, and fishermen from the lake; as well ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xiv jesus the bread of.htm

Crumbs and the Bread
... east, and so came round to the eastern side of the sea of Galilee, where the ... do with,
even though it were on the half-Gentilised eastern shore of the lake. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/crumbs and the bread.htm

The Great Confession - the Great Commission - the Great ...
... ancient C??sarea Philippi (1,147 feet above the sea) is, indeed ... first, the silent
sail across the Lake, and then ... seen, it was the practice in Galilee to have ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxvii the great confession.htm

The Long, Rough Road He Trod
... Let me take a little sea room, and go back a bit so ... It was one morning by the Lake
of Galilee. ... breakfast"a rare breakfast"on the edge of the lake, after as ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/the long rough road he.htm

The Story of the Stranger at the Well
... he went out of the city, by the sea, followed by a ... to push it out a little into the
lake, so that ... Jesus went through all that part of Galilee, working miracles ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the stranger.htm

The Land and the People.
... There is the lake with its clear blue waters, once ... supplied by a few grateful disciples
from Galilee, so that ... of doors, on the mountain, at the, sea-side, and ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm