Luke 5:10-11 KJV
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
The Bible says of Peter James and John, who were all three partners in a fishing business, "...they forsook all and followed Him." The term seems radical. Webster's 1828 dictionary says that it means, "to abandon, to renounce, to reject." Not only did they forsake the business, but the Bible says they forsook all. Gill says this would have included the fish they had just caught, their nets, their ships, their servants, their relations, their friends. All were abandoned; not simply carefully laid aside in such a manner that they could be taken back again if and when they elected to do so. These were forsaken to follow Jesus.
This kind of Christianity is radical and in most cases Christians rationalize it away. Indeed, in some cases maybe it is not necessary. However it is at least interesting to note that these were the three Apostles in the inner circle with Christ. They saw and heard things that the others did not Peter was the great evangelist on the day of Pentecost and John is the only one of the Apostles believed to have died of natural causes (although he was also persecuted). James, of course, was the first of the Apostles to be martyred - not the first Christian, the deacon, Stephen holds that place. One could consider that to be a negative, but in fact it can also be considered an honor.
My point is simply that radical Christianity is what leads to a radical relationship with Jesus Christ.
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
The Bible says of Peter James and John, who were all three partners in a fishing business, "...they forsook all and followed Him." The term seems radical. Webster's 1828 dictionary says that it means, "to abandon, to renounce, to reject." Not only did they forsake the business, but the Bible says they forsook all. Gill says this would have included the fish they had just caught, their nets, their ships, their servants, their relations, their friends. All were abandoned; not simply carefully laid aside in such a manner that they could be taken back again if and when they elected to do so. These were forsaken to follow Jesus.
This kind of Christianity is radical and in most cases Christians rationalize it away. Indeed, in some cases maybe it is not necessary. However it is at least interesting to note that these were the three Apostles in the inner circle with Christ. They saw and heard things that the others did not Peter was the great evangelist on the day of Pentecost and John is the only one of the Apostles believed to have died of natural causes (although he was also persecuted). James, of course, was the first of the Apostles to be martyred - not the first Christian, the deacon, Stephen holds that place. One could consider that to be a negative, but in fact it can also be considered an honor.
My point is simply that radical Christianity is what leads to a radical relationship with Jesus Christ.
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