And Peter said, Lo, we have left all and followed thee. Luke 18:28
What did the disciples leave by following Jesus? We know they left their regular occupations. Four, and possibly seven of the disciples were fishermen: James and John, Peter and Andrew, and, based on the post-resurrection fishing account of John 21, other fishermen were likely Thomas and Nathaniel, and one more who we don’t know, although it was one of Philip, Simon Zelotes, James the Less, or Thaddaeus. Tradition says three were likely tradesmen. Matthew, or Levi, was a tax collector. Nothing is known of Judas Iscariot’s occupation. As Peter declared in our text, these occupations were left behind when they followed Jesus. That is a huge commitment! But they left more than their jobs. They also left their homes and families, their friends and neighbours, any hobbies or other pasttimes, and most of their personal possessions. Peter’s declaration was no idle comment. These men had paid a tremendous price to be a follower of the Lord Jesus. And what were they going to get out of it?
Peter’s comment comes after the Lord Jesus had seen the rich young ruler depart, unwilling to give up his riches to follow Jesus. So Peter’s response was to assure his Lord that some were willing to make the sacrifice. They had given up much, and would eventually give up even more. Most of them paid for their faithfulness with their lives. If we read the response that Jesus gave to Peter’s words, we find that the disciples would not lose out, not in time nor in eternity. They were to gain far more than they gave up.
I don’t know about you, but I would not like to live my life like a goldfish in a bowl, swimming safely in a meaningless circle for the rest of my days. No, most of us want to live meaningful lives, a purposeful existence in which we experience adventure, achieve goals, and make meaningful contributions to those around us. All these the disciples were to experience as they continued their participation in Jesus earthly ministry, and as they went on to be the initiators and guiding forces throughout the early years of Christianity. They were involved in the launching of the most earth-changing movement in the existence of the planet. They were privileged to see thousands of souls saved and unknown numbers of Assemblies planted. Just experiencing all of those wonderful things would have made their lives worthwhile. And that is a lesson for us; the most worthwhile life we could ever experience is one in which we give up everything to serve the Lord Jesus.
And when their lives were over, those disciples, most of whom were martyrs, returned to the presence of the One they had followed so faithfully and had given up so much to follow. The rewards they earned for their service will more than make up for any hardship or loss during their lifetimes. And it is the same for us; nobody ever loses out by giving up anything for the Lord. And if we give up everything, our recompense is guaranteed to be full.
The disciples gave up all to follow Jesus. So have many millions more saints down through the centuries. Will we be among their number? – Jim MacIntosh