18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.  Matthew 4:18-25 ESV

Jesus creates defining moments. Defining moments change us. Its when we have an experience, make a decision, turn a certain direction, that sets a new trajectory for our lives. Peter had a defining moment. Our challenge with the text though is not really accepting that Jesus commands respect and obedience. Well perhaps that is a problem for us. But that’s a challenge in our relationship to Jesus as Lord.

However, our challenge with the text is to put it back into the context of the other Gospel writings and see events leading up to this defining moment. Jesus created the defining moment for Peter and Andrew, and James and John, through a series of encounters.

+ Teaching and public ministry around Galilee and in the
synagogues. Luke 4

+ John the Baptist prepares the way around the Jordan, declaring,
“Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29

+ Andrew tracks down Jesus and later tells his brother Simon,
“We have found the Messiah.”  John 1:41

+ Jesus arranges a miraculous catch of fish for Peter after a night
of failure. Luke 5:1-11

Here’s the deal, you may not realize now what Jesus is up to in your life. But, He does have a discipling vision for you if you are His follower. You have a contribution to make in the life and work of the church. “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”