After Jesus was baptized by John, he went to spend time in the desert lands east of the Jordan River, to begin preparing for the work he was going to do. While he was there in the wilderness, he got word that John had been arrested and killed. It was then that he decided it was time to come back to Galilee and get to work.

He traveled around Galilee, which is not a big place, and began preaching and teaching, picking up where John the Baptist had stopped. We could spend a lot of time talking about John’s relationship with Jesus or debating about the meaning of the things John had said about Jesus when he baptized him. We could also spend time analyzing the words we hear in the reading today; they were some pretty strong words at times. We could debate about whether these words were actually spoken by Jesus, or as some say, were added later by the early church to stress the importance of becoming a follower of the founder of their new “Christian” movement. We could spend time on those issues of faith. But I’d rather just remember the story, and see if it will tell me anything meaningful.

Bethsaida is a village in the northeastern corner of the Sea of Galilee. It’s in a rich part of the land, with lots of orchards and vineyards, good farmland with strong crops. But the primary industry of Bethsaida, and the part that made it such a center for business, was fishing. The Sea of Galilee was filled with fish of all kinds, and Bethsaida was the number one fishing location around the entire rest of the sea. Fishing was big business in Bethsaida, and the people who ran those businesses weren’t that much different from a business owner today. They spent a good part of their day doing routine business things — repairing their fleets of boats and fishing nets, making deals with the buyers who came down to the docks to purchase fish, and dealing with all of the things involved in managing employees, just keeping the business going. One of the larger fishing companies was run by a couple of brothers, and another by a fairly well-off gentleman who also had family living nearby in the town of Capernaum just a few miles along the shore to the west.

The story began on a fairly typical morning in Bethsaida. The warm breeze was blowing in to shore from the water, the gulls were screaming overhead looking for scraps, and the two brothers were there at the boat docks helping their crews mend nets and sort through the fish that had been caught the night before. A lot of fishing was done at night on the sea because they could hang lanterns on the side of the boat that drew the fish to the surface, making them easier to catch. These guys had studied their craft and knew all of the tricks. The brothers both had families. We don’t know much more about them but it’s clear they were hard workers, well established in their community and business, and were highly responsible members of the community. They were capable managers, strong, dependable, solid citizens.

The other fisherman, the one with family from Capernaum, was still out with his boats along with one of his brothers, trying to get a few more pounds of fish for the day’s market. They were hard at work throwing their long nets from the boats, then slowly rowing in a circle and pulling the nets back in filled with fish. At some point a small group of people walked up along the shore. The strangers stopped and watched the fishermen at work for a while. Apparently, the fishing boat wasn’t very far from land because at one point one of the guys in the group watching from shore yelled something to the fishermen. Now, we’re not sure whether Simon or his brother Andrew even knew who Jesus was at this point, or if he would have recognized him when he saw him, or have recognized his voice when he hollered at them. All we know is that when Jesus yelled out to the two brothers, “Follow me,” they pulled their boat to shore. I try to imagine the look on the faces of the other fishermen in the boat — the employees, as the two highly successful, highly responsible business owners dropped their nets in the boats and walked off down the shore with the group. I try to imagine what those fishermen must have thought as they stood there holding the boats, wondering if they still had jobs, whether they should go back out and catch more fish, or just go back to the boat dock and wait.

The story now moves to the boat dock in Bethsaida, where the brothers James and John were still hard at work. It apparently wasn’t that much longer before the group arrived in Bethsaida and appeared at the docks, where the guys were hard at work mending a net in one of their boats. We don’t hear just what Jesus said to the two brothers but we are simply told that they immediately got up from their boat, walked off of the boat dock that belonged to the company they owned — and for which they were responsible — and walked off down the shore with Jesus and the others.

Did I mention that James and John’s father, Zebedee, was there in the boat, helping them mend the nets that morning? That really makes me wonder what was going through old Zebedee’s mind. As we’re told in the story, the fishermen didn’t even make a quick detour by the office to let the secretary know what was happening. Even more, they apparently didn’t even run by the house to say “so long” to their wives and kids, leave a forwarding address, or anything. All of that was apparently left for Zebedee to take care of. I’m guessing that Zebedee was probably the one who actually started the fishing business years ago when he was younger, building it from one boat to the fleet that was now tied to the boat dock. He probably had the dream that one day his two boys, James and John, would grow up and take over from him and build on his dream; that they would keep the family tradition going for their sons, and their sons, and so on. What was going through his mind as he sat there in the boat, holding a still unmended net, watching the two boys wander off down the shore, leaving him to take care of things here?

There’s a chance that what really happened was a bit different. Maybe, when Jesus asked them to follow and they made the decision to do that, they took the time to put their affairs in order, helped their family understand what was happening, and did everything they could to make sure everyone and everything was going to be okay while they were gone. It would certainly be nice to think that they took that step. But, honestly, if we look at what was to follow with these guys, and some of the challenges Jesus faced with them, it just may well be that they did just what the story says and simply walked away. These were good men who had been responsible enough to run their businesses, but we’re going to see that they all had their weaknesses. They could be stubborn at times and were more like us than the image of perfect disciples we sometimes create in our minds.

We’re told they left Bethsaida and walked along the sea for just a couple of miles, until they got to Capernaum, where they stopped. They stayed long enough to visit the Capernaum synagogue, where we are told Jesus astounded everyone with his teaching. In fact, we find that for a large part of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee over the next couple of years they were based out of Capernaum. Why? Remember that Simon Peter’s family lived in Capernaum. They had a pretty good-sized home there, large enough at one point that we’re told as many as forty or fifty people may have lived there, as they followed and listened to Jesus. Peter was one of those guys who was very quick to act, frequently before taking time to think. Many times Peter was one of those guys who seemed only to open his mouth long enough to change feet. As you may remember, later in the story we’re told that Jesus decided to change Simon’s name to Peter, after the word used for rock, because Peter was so strong in his views. Unfortunately, his strong views weren’t always the wisest ones.

In my imagination, they were walking along the shore and someone asked Jesus where they were all going to stay for the night. Simon jumped in and said, “We can stay at my family’s place in Capernaum!” It may be that Jesus had that in mind, but I think it’s probably safe to say that it was Simon Peter’s idea. Imagine the looks on the faces of Peter’s family as he showed up at the door with this interesting group of people, letting Mom know there would be an extra dozen or so for dinner. Keep in mind that at least four of these guys were fishermen who had just walked away from their boats after a long night of fishing. There had been no shower, no change of clothes, nothing. I’m thinking they probably made quite an impression.

Fortunately, first-century custom was well-known for welcoming visitors and going out of the way to be hospitable to guests for three days. According to custom, guests were welcome in the home for three days, after which they needed to move along and find a new place to rest their weary heads. So, can you see the look in the eyes around the table as Simon Peter mentions in passing that his friends plan on staying and making this home for a while? This was Peter’s family and they must have known him well, so perhaps they were prepared for another one of his surprises like this — perhaps. I wonder if they were also ready for some of the things that would happen while they lived there, like the day the house was so full of visitors that a group of people actually ripped a hole in the roof to lower a sick man into the room so Jesus could heal him? Or the day the group of priests showed up at the door trying to start an argument with Jesus and nearly started a riot in town? Let’s continue with the story, but just keep in mind that we really need to keep an eye on Simon Peter and be prepared for whatever he might do next.

Let’s not single out Simon Peter and make it sound like he was some kind of a problem disciple. As the story is told, every one of the disciples turned out to be what you might call a challenge. Mark’s version of the story gives us some good examples.

Remember the day a bunch of them came running up to Jesus saying, “We found someone over there who was casting out demons and helping people, and he was doing it in your name. So we made him cut it out and move on down the road!” Jesus probably took a deep breath before he said, “Guys, remember that anyone who is not out there actively working against us, is actually for us. So leave the guy alone!”

Another time Jesus walked up to a group of people who were angry and yelling at some of the disciples, and when he asked about it one of the people said, “My son is very sick and your disciples said they could cast out the demon that was hurting him. But they couldn’t do it!” Again, I see Jesus taking a deep breath and shaking his head before saying, “How long do I have to put up with you guys?”

Think about the day they were walking back to Capernaum and Jesus heard the disciples arguing among themselves. He asked them what the problem was and they told him, “We’re trying to figure out which one of us is the greatest disciple and gets to sit next to you when you teach.” Can you get an idea of the look on Jesus’ face this time?

Jesus praised a man for giving away his riches to demonstrate his commitment to helping the poor, and Peter jumped up and said, “Lord, what about us? We have left everything and followed you!” Jesus responded by saying, “Yes, but many of those who are first will end up last, and those who are last will end up first.” The look on Peter’s face and the group’s general grumbling about that statement had to have had Jesus shaking his head as well.

It’s not that the disciples were ignorant, selfish, or bad guys. But keep in mind who they really were. We know that at least four of them were former business leaders. Another of them was a tax collector who had to have the same business savvy as the CEO of a fishing company. Another member of the group was a political hothead, a Zealot. These were all guys who were used to making decisions, were used to leading things, and had all been at least relatively successful in what they did. They knew how to lead, how to build an organization, and they knew how to deal with competitors. Becoming a disciple did not remove any of that and did not somehow magically make them wiser or holier. Becoming a disciple simply challenged them to learn how to use their strengths in very different ways — and it was clearly a very slow process. In fact, it wasn’t until after Jesus was gone that Peter was finally able to put his strengths to good use, when he stood up in the middle of the crowded streets and began to preach about what Jesus had actually done. The old saying is “better late than never,” but at least he finally got it!

For almost three years, these disciples traveled around with Jesus, watching, listening, and trying to figure out what it meant to be people of faith. Essentially, they had to learn how to reverse most of what they had come to believe about success and about winning. As business leaders or zealots, they believed in winning and in overcoming any obstacle that got in the way of being successful and growing their business. That’s the kind of person Jesus needed in his group of disciples, people with that kind of passion for winning. But they needed to redefine just what winning actually meant, and this is where all the problems arose.

To the disciples, winning meant becoming more powerful and rich, more secure and forcing your way to the top of the heap. Jesus talked about winning and success as becoming poor, taking risks, and being willing to give up all normal securities. The poor and meek would be the real winners. Those who were first would actually end up being last, and the last would be in first place. For a long time, the disciples tried very hard to educate this well-meaning, but clearly inexperienced preacher, honestly trying to help him understand the flaws in his approach. In my imagination, I can see many evenings sitting around the fire while the disciples lectured Jesus on good business and marketing principles, trying to help him understand. You build on strengths, not weaknesses. You confront competition with force, not with meekness. They were trying to be helpful.

After three years, Jesus’ popularity and visibility had grown to a point at which he was recognized wherever he went. He was becoming more of a high-profile target and it was clear that the final confrontation with the religious leaders and others was drawing near. Unfortunately, it was also clear to Jesus that his disciples just weren’t ready for it; they were still not at all clear about what was going to happen and why. As he did at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus went into the wilderness for a time of reflection and preparation for what was about to come. This time he took the disciples with him and traveled to Caesarea Philippi, a place far to the north where he would not be well known and could make one more attempt to help the disciples prepare. Caesarea Philippi was actually a pretty fancy vacation spot, a resort for the Romans and others. It was most certainly not a place a faithful Jewish person would even pass through, let alone where he would spend time.

The disciples, all good boys from good Jewish families, were probably horrified that he brought them there, and it was during one of the heated conversations one evening that Jesus took over the conversation by saying, “Back in Bethsaida, where all of the crowds are coming to see me, who do the people say that I am?” They all spoke up with a variety of responses, but he quickly continued, “And, who do you say that I am?” (v. 29).

Seeing it as a perfect opportunity to highlight the potential for the ministry if Jesus would just listen to common sense, the story tells us they used words like “Lord.” Mark tells us that Peter said Jesus was the messiah, the new leader of the true faith. Even for Peter, that’s a huge claim. When folks used the term messiah at that time, they envisioned the person sent from God who would come and reclaim the leadership of the faith and of the nation. The enemies would be thrown out, the temple would be cleansed, and an entirely new way of life would be put in place. The messiah Peter was referring to was the ultimate winner, the top of the heap, the one to make everything eternally secure.

Jesus responded, once again, by trying to help redefine things for Peter. He said that what was actually coming was a time of tremendous suffering that would lead to Jesus being killed. We’re told that it was all finally just too much for Peter, and he pulled Jesus aside from the group to rebuke him, to get him to understand once and for all that this kind of negative talk was not the way to become successful. I would love to have seen the look on Peter’s face as Jesus turned away from him, saying “Get behind me Satan!” (v. 33) saying that he was focusing on the wrong things, focusing on human rather than divine things. He was focusing on the wrong definition of success. As Jesus turned back to the rest of the group, was Peter angry, was he confused, or did he finally begin to understand? Based on the fact that in just a few days he would end up denying that he even knew Jesus, it doesn’t seem that he did understand.

Calling one of his own disciples “Satan” probably shook up the entire group for a few minutes, so Jesus used that opportunity to try and help them understand. He explained once again that those who would be his followers would deny themselves, take up their crosses and follow him. Those three things would have meant something a bit different to them than it does for us listening now.

Denying themselves simply meant to stop trusting in some human level of success and to trust that if you focus on being faithful, doing the things that real faith in God challenges you to do, you will end up winning. Becoming a major power and smashing all opposition is not the goal. Instead, seeing that the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, and the hopeless hope-filled; all make it possible for the last to become first. In other words, we need to redefine success.

Taking up their crosses was not some kind of a theological or philosophical concept for these guys. As they have traveled around the countryside over the past three years, the image of carrying a cross had been burned into their psyche. Crucifixion was a popular tool the Romans used at that time because it served two purposes. It got rid of individuals who caused trouble for the empire, and it made a really big impression on everyone else. That’s because crucifixions were typically done along the roadside by nailing a crossbar to a tree and then nailing the victim to the crossbar. Writings from this period describe traveling a hundred miles along a road, seeing so many crucifixions that each crossbar actually touched the next, mile after mile. It was clear to the disciples what Jesus meant, and it was not at all in line with how they would think of a successful end to this venture. It had to have grown very quiet at this point.

Clearly they were beginning to understand just how different an experience this was going to end up being. If this visit to Caesarea Philippi was intended to get them thinking seriously about the future, that goal was met. The story continued as Jesus led the group south to Jerusalem, and while the boys still occasionally struggled with the roles they were to play, especially poor Peter, they had begun to understand what it meant to actually follow this Jesus of Galilee.

As we come to the end of this part of the story, think just how hard it must have been for the disciples to figure Jesus out and get it right. Think about all of the times they totally screwed it up, and yet in the end, had the impact that they had. It makes me feel more and more comfortable that, somehow, God will find a way to use us too. That’s good news.