The Call of the First Disciples (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James, son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. (Mark 1:16–20)
Jesus' call to the first disciples
The word disciple means follower or learner
All rabbis (Jewish teachers) had disciples at the time of Jesus
People chose which rabbis to follow and learn from
The first four disciples that Jesus chose were all fishermen whom he met on the shores of the Sea of Galilee
He saw two brothers, Andrew and Simon (Peter), and called them to discipleship
Jesus said he would teach them to “fish for people”, meaning that he would show them how to bring people to God
Next, Jesus saw James and John in their boat with their father, Zebedee
They responded instantly when Jesus called and left everything, including their father in the boat, to follow him
Christianity today and the call of the disciples
The disciples could not possibly have known what they were committing themselves to when they answered Jesus’s call
They spent about three years following Jesus in his public ministry but had committed themselves to a lifetime of continuing his work and spreading his good news, long after Jesus’s death, resurrection and ascension into heaven
Many Christians today have followed this path and have made a lifelong commitment to their faith
Some dedicate their whole lives to following Jesus, taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to become monks, nuns or priests
Others live ordinary lives, but their faith influences the type of work they do, the way they treat others and their priorities for their lives
When Jesus called the first disciples, he recognised that they were people who would show full commitment
Christians today are called to do the same. They may have questions and concerns, but they need to stay committed and use the good news of Jesus’s message to encourage them
When the first disciples joined Jesus, a community was formed
Christians today benefit from the same type of community: They join together for worship and prayer and celebrate significant times together. Through community, their faith is strengthened and they can support each other in times of trial
Worked Example
What did Jesus mean when he told Simon and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people”?
A. They would stop fishing and become wealthy landowners.
B. They would help him collect Roman taxes from local villages.
C. They would bring people to God and spread his message.
D. They would be given boats and nets to build a fishing business.
[1 mark]
Answer:
C. They would bring people to God and spread his message.
“Fish for people” was a metaphor for discipleship, drawing people to God.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
The first disciples showed total commitment: They gave up work and family to follow Jesus. Christians today are called to the same dedication. In your course, you may also have studied modern examples of discipleship (such as Mother Teresa, Desmond Tutu or Oscar Romero). Mentioning them in your answer shows you can link the Gospel to real Christian lives, past and present, which examiners reward.
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