The Faith that Inspired People to Follow Jesus Immediately

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Have you ever wondered what inspired the disciples to follow Jesus’ invitation immediately? Have you thought about how their families and friends reacted?

Peter, Andrew, James, and John were fishermen, and Matthew was a tax collector. We don’t know about the professions of the others but we are told that they all left everything to follow Jesus.

Were there people depending on their help and income? What moved them to make such a huge decision?

One reason shared historically is that it was considered a great honor for a young Jewish male to be chosen to study under a well-known rabbi. Although it was early in Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptist proclaimed Him more than a rabbi—Jesus was and is the Messiah, the Lamb of God!

The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.

John 1:35–37

I believe God was working in and around the 12 Disciples inspiring them to walk with Jesus into the unknown. He then helped them grow in knowledge and faith preparing them for the future.

I know the Holy Spirit had not come to live with and within people until Pentecost, 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection, but we know the Spirit inspired poets, prophets, and kings throughout the Old Testament.

God’s Spirit is an equal member of the Trinity who inspires whomever He wants to do God’s will. He can, and I believe did, work in those young men to respond to Jesus’ calling and follow Him immediately.

John shared that moment like this…

Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked them.

“Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” [Jesus] said. 

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.”

Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”

John 1:38–39a, 40–41, 43, 45

No one comes to faith on their own. The Holy Spirit inspired the disciples and He inspires us to trust Jesus and believe that He is the prophesied and long-anticipated Messiah … the Son of God, our Savior.

Martin Luther wrote…

“I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.”

Praise God for the Holy Spirit who initiates and inspires faith within us. Like the original 12 Disciples, we are saved by grace alone through the Spirit who gives us faith to follow Jesus.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer of Thanks for Faith to Follow Jesus

Father God, thank you for working in my life, my heart, and my mind giving me everything I need to trust and follow Jesus. On my own, I’m tempted to listen to the temptations of the enemy that urge me to doubt Your love and saving grace. But by the power and with the help of Your Spirit, I am called and inspired to KNOW, LOVE, and TRUST You, the Triune God.

Thank you for the example of the disciples who immediately responded to Jesus’ invitation to “Come and follow.” I do wonder about their families’ reactions. I am curious about the challenges they faced.

Mostly I’m inspired by their willingness to learn, grow, and trust. I want that! I want to give myself to You fully and faithfully, even when I don’t understand Your ways or I’m challenged by the people around me.

Please give me the courage and strength I need. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me live my faith by walking in the footsteps of my Lord and Savior, Jesus. In whose name I pray. Amen.

I believe this quote from John Stott sums it up well…

“Without the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship would be inconceivable, even impossible. There can be no life without the life-giver, no understanding without the Spirit of truth, no fellowship without the unity of the Spirit, no Christlikeness of character apart from His fruit, and no effective witness without His power. As a body without breath is a corpse, so the church without the Spirit is dead.”

That’s the faith God wants for us!

It’s faith that comes from His Spirit and fills us with the strength and courage to follow Jesus immediately, one step at a time.

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