Fishermen Friends

Stories of Jesus  ·  Matthew 4:18–20; Mark 1:17

Jesus wants to be my friend.

How do you make a friend? Maybe you walk up to someone and say, 'Do you want to play?' Jesus made friends in a very simple way too. He just walked up and said two words: 'Follow me.'

Jesus is walking by the sea one morning. The water sparkles in the early light. Fishing boats bob on the water. Seagulls cry overhead.

He sees two brothers. Simon and Andrew. Throwing nets into the water.

They are fishermen. This is their whole life. Out on the water every day, hauling in fish.

Jesus stops. He looks at them.

'Follow me,' He says. That's all. Just two words.

Simon and Andrew look at each other. Then they pull their nets from the water. They leave their boat right there. And they follow Jesus.

A little further down the shore, Jesus sees two more brothers. James and John. They are mending their nets with their father.

'Follow me,' Jesus says.

James and John stand up. They leave their nets and follow.

Can you take a step forward like you're following someone? Go on!

Jesus picked ordinary people. Not the most important, not the richest or most famous.

He picked fishermen. And they became His dearest friends.

Prayer

Let's pray. Repeat after me:
Dear God,
Thank you that Jesus calls friends.
Thank you that He calls me
to follow Him.
We love you!
Amen.

Listen to this devotional with audio narration and illustrations in the Seedling: Bible Stories app — short devotionals for Christian families with children ages 2–5.