Page 55 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

disciple in Galilee. John relates the first, introductory meeting of Jesus with Andrew, John, Peter, Philip,
and Nathanael. The Synoptics describe the actual calling of these men to follow Jesus. When Jesus told
Peter in the fishing boat to “follow Me,” and Peter immediately left his nets and obeyed, Peter was not
following a total stranger. He had met Jesus previously and had spent time with Him. The same is true
for Andrew, James, and John. So when Jesus walked up and told them to follow Him, it was not a blind
following, but they previously knew who Jesus was and that He was declared the Messiah.

Matthew (or Levi) was called separately, sometime after the first six (Matthew 9:9–13; Mark 2:13–
17; Luke 5:27–32).

Day #3. Jesus speaks of wanting to go to Galilee. This is not to commence His ministry there, but to
briefly visit Cana for a wedding feast. It is here that He asked Philip to follow Him. Philip, like Andrew
and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael who came to Jesus. Here Jesus
displayed an attribute of God. He knew everything about Nathanael, including that he was sitting under
a fig tree. Nathanael recognized that only God could have known this, so He declared Jesus as the Son
of God, the Messiah.

Despite the diversity of backgrounds and
education levels among these men, they
had an important calling as the original
twelve disciples of Jesus. Theirs was an
honorable work. They became
eyewitnesses of Jesus’ works on earth as well as
His resurrection. It was these men (excluding
Judas Iscariot) who laid the foundation of the
church (Ephesians 2:20). It was through their
Spirit-empowered witness that the church began
(Acts 2). Their work helped provide the New
Testament writings we have today. The twelve
foundations of the wall of the future New
Jerusalem will have engraved on them the names
of the twelve apostles (Revelation 21:14).

Jesus then begins his journey to Galilee.

Day #4. Jesus travels from Judea to Galilee.

Day #5. The narration now skips to the fifth day,
allowing time for travel to Galilee. Jesus arrived in
Cana, a small village 6 miles north of Nazareth.
The Gospel of John tells us of the first miracle that
Jesus performed at a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

Jesus’ earthly ministry had begun at His baptism
by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:16–17; Mark 1:9–
12). The wedding occurred over a month later
after Jesus had gathered about half of His disciples

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