Bible Question:
My name is Cory and I am a first time poster. I recently came to Christ and I have been studying the Bible. I was reading the Gospels and had a question concerning Simon Peter’s first encounter with Christ. I would like to know if anyone could help me understand this better. (Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:3-10, and Mark 1:16-20) The stories mirror each other, with a slight variation in Luke. But the gist is Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, Zebedee and John are all out on the water in their fishing boats. Jesus approaches them, with or without a miracle story, and then calls them to be fisher’s of men. (John 1:40-42) Here is my question. John’s story states that Andrew heard John the Baptist testify of Jesus and was convinced Jesus was the Christ. So he went to fetch is brother, Simon Peter, and present him to Jesus. I appreciate anyone helping me with this query. |
Bible Answer: Jesus' First Meeting with Simon Peter (From the website '101 Cleared up "Contradictions" in the Bible') Jesus first met Simon Peter and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-22), or on the banks of the river Jordan (John 1:42-43)? (Category: misread the text) The accusation is that one Gospel records Jesus meeting Simon Peter and Andrew by the sea of Galilee, while the other says he met them by the river Jordan. However this accusation falls flat on its face as the different writers pick up the story in different places. Both are true. John 1:35 onwards says Jesus met them by the river Jordan and that they spent time with him there. Andrew (and probably Peter too) were disciples of John the Baptist. They left this area and went to Galilee, in which region was the village of Cana where Jesus then performed his first recorded miracle. "After this he went down to Capernaum with his mothers and brothers and disciples. There they stayed for a few days." John 2:12. Peter and Andrew were originally from a town named Bethsaida (John 2:44) but now lived in Capernaum (Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:30-31, Luke 4:38-39), a few miles from Bethsaida. They were fishermen by trade, so it was perfectly normal for them to fish when they were home during these few days (for at this time Jesus was only just beginning public teaching or healing). This is where Matthew picks up the story. As Peter and Andrew fish in the Lake of Galilee, Jesus calls them to follow him - to leave all they have behind and become his permanent disciples. Before this took place, he had not asked them, but they had followed him because of John the Baptist's testimony of him (John 1:35-39). Now, because of this testimony, plus the miracle in Cana, as well as the things Jesus said (John 1:47-51), as well as the time spent with the wisest and only perfect man who ever lived etc., it is perfectly understandable for them to leave everything and follow him. It would not be understandable for them to just drop their known lives and follow a stranger who appeared and asked them to, like children after the pied piper! Jesus did not enchant anyone - they followed as they realized who he was - the one all the prophets spoke of, the Messiah the son of God. ____________________ http://worthynews.com/ apologetics/101-36-40.htm |