NOTES for Mat 4:18-23

Reflecting on the calling of the apostles, it is worth considering this. Skeptics can say that there are "charismatic" personalities whose word is so authoritative that they literally hypnotize people, and this can explain why those ignorant fishermen followed Jesus. That is the whole explanation.

How should we answer this? What can we present? Let us recall a passage from the Gospel of John: "Then Jesus said to the twelve, 'Do you also want to go away?' Simon Peter answered Him, 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed and known that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'" (John 6:67-69).

Many want to leave Him, and they do leave, because they do not accept what He tells them. Does this happen with "charismatic" figures? Was it so with Hitler or Stalin? On the contrary, they drew crowds of people to themselves. Christ offers even His closest disciples the chance to leave if they wish. And yet something holds them. What exactly? This is what matters: in Christianity nothing is built on emotions alone, otherwise this faith would have disappeared very quickly; it has an unshakable foundation, and this foundation is the Word.

Have you ever wondered why Simon, Andrew, James, and John respond so immediately to Jesus' proposal? Let us imagine ourselves in a similar situation, and it becomes clear that our reaction might well have been different. Who "in his right mind" would get up from his workplace, leave his familiar life, leave what provides a livelihood and simple everyday joy and satisfaction, and follow Someone he had seen very little, and even then "under mysterious circumstances" - see Matt. 3:13-17, John 1:29-39 - and who promises something completely unclear (see Matt. 4:19)? Now we know that they do not leave their fishing nets forever (see Luke 5:1-11), but then it could have seemed to them that they were completely breaking with their familiar life.

What makes them do this? Why do we see no hesitation, reflection, or conversation? Yes, they had probably managed to understand something about this Man through their conversation (see John 1:38-41). But even if they recognized Him as the Messiah, it still is not easy simply to pick up and move instantly. Yet this is exactly what they do. What is the reason? A frivolous attitude toward life, a dislike of work? It is hardly something inside them themselves, since these people are much too different.

No, it turns out that the point is not in them, but in the One who calls them and in the way He does it. He calls them, and it becomes impossible not to answer His call. His voice is so strong, His person so rightly attractive, that doubting the truth of His words, and still more His presence, simply does not happen. Here He is, standing at the door and knocking (see Rev. 3:20).

Having called the twelve disciples, Jesus includes them in His life, in His ministry. He instructs them, then gives them practical assignments (Matt. 10; Matt. 14:16). And after Pentecost the Apostles go in the power of the Holy Spirit to continue Christ's ministry: to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, heal people, and build the Church. The whole book of Acts is about this.

Gradually one can get used to it, but reading this phrase for the first time is unpleasant. Simply because one cannot speak about people as about fish. And in general, when one imagines it: a little fish is swimming and frolicking in freedom, and then a fisherman appears with a net, first deprives the fish of freedom, then pulls it out to where it is impossible to live, and finally simply eats it. And is it the same with people? Horror.

Now let us imagine a different picture. A little fish is swimming and frolicking in a murky little pond and does not realize that the water is poisoned by runoff from a chemical plant. Then a Greenpeace worker appears with a net, catches it, transports it to an ecologically clean place, and releases it into a clear, huge lake full of oxygen and food. Somehow everything looks different, does it not?

It is possible to get gradually used to this, but reading this sentence for the first time is unpleasant. Simply because it is not good to speak about people as fishes; and in general how can someone imagine: a swimming fish gambols freely, and here comes a fisherman with a net, he first deprives the fish from freedom, after removes it from there to a place where life is impossible and just eat it. And what, is it the same with people? But that’s horrible!

Now let’s imagine a different scene. The small fish is swimming – gamboling in a muddy pondlet and doesn’t think that the water is contaminated by chemical combine’s drains. And here comes a Greenpeacer with a net, catches it, brings to an ecologically clean area and release it in a transparent huge lake, full of oxygen and food. Doesn’t this scene look different?

There is such figure of speech appropriate to ancient literature of descriptive character – “sum”; it consists of bringing out the general sense of occurring events into one-two short phrases. This allows after not to describe all and one after another, but to make substantial examples. Evangelist Matthew brings out everything Jesus did during His public ministry in the “sum” read today by us: taught in the synagogues, preached the gospel of the kingdom, and healed people. If we consider that He was accompanied all the time by His disciples, then we can add: and built His community - the future Church. But Christ continues indeed to do all these things now; we should just wish to see them.

Jesus begins His preaching where the preaching of John the Baptist broke off: "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has drawn near." But this is not the essence of His preaching. This very passage from the Gospel of Matthew describes His ministry most clearly: He calls disciples and thereby begins to build His Church; He preaches the Gospel of the Kingdom; and He reveals the works of God in this world, bearing witness that with His coming the relationship between God and the world has changed. Today's passage is a kind of "summary" of the whole Gospel that follows.

The Evangelist could hardly even have had the thought that Jesus' trial in the wilderness would end with Him yielding to Satan's temptation and falling into some sin. Rather, in the description of this strange dispute, where the Son of God and Satan exchange biblical quotations, there lies the deep choice that stood before Jesus: what path He would choose to carry out His mission, and exactly how God would appear to people and return them to true life.

The tempter offers Him the path of an earthly kingdom: for if He truly is the Son of God, then all the kingdoms of the earth rightfully belong to Him, all the countless legions of angels will fight for Him, the earth itself will turn His realm into paradise, and stones will become bread.

But the Lord chooses another path: He will not draw people by showy miracles and power; instead of slaves He will have disciples, who will come to know His divine glory without coercion, through faith and love.