I've Missed You

February 28, 2026

I missed you. Are you enjoying the end of Winter?

Time has passed in the Bible. Jesus is now 30 years old and has a few last things to do before His ministry begins. These steps are important for a firm foundation. 

Do you see Him in the Jordan River getting baptized by His cousin, John the Baptist? I love what is happening now. The heavens are opening up, and the Spirit of God descends on Him like a dove. The Father’s Heavenly voice says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17).

According to Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus is now spending 40 days and nights in the wilderness while He fasts and is tempted by the devil. He overcomes the temptation and this challenging season while remaining free of sin. 

Now He is ready to formally begin His ministry, and “from that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). He is going to form a close knit group of 12 guys who will surrender their lives to follow and do life with Him.

Do you see Jesus walking near Simon (also called Peter) and Andrew, at the Sea of Galilee? In Matthew 4:19, I can hear Jesus say, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” How would you respond if you were these brothers? I think I would go into shock that someone is asking me to walk away from my family, career, and familiar community. Matthew 4:20 and Mark 1:18, however, states, “At once they left their nets and followed him.” Wow, that takes courage and trust with someone who hasn’t become well known yet. Did these brothers have families who already knew of Jesus and His family personally? Was it a common occurrence then for a rabbi to ask people to follow him?

How will the next set of brothers handle this situation while they are mending their nets? Matthew and Mark’s gospels confirm that James and John also have quick obedience. Mark 1:20 says that when Jesus calls them, “they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.” I would love to know if Zebedee gives his sons a quick nod or hand motion to go with Jesus. Is he thankful for his sons’ decision, or does he question their lack of family allegiance?

In Matthew 9:9-13 and Luke 5:27-32, we read the story of how Matthew (also known as Levi) came to be one of the disciples. Jesus “saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, ‘Follow me,’” in Luke 5:27. Levi instantly walks away from his lucrative career and accepts the invitation. He has Jesus over for a feast in his home where there were many publicans. (My AI research teaches me that publican is another name for Jewish tax collectors (like Levi)  who were “despised social outcasts, traitorous collaborators with the Roman oppressors, and corrupt extortioners.” They were also considered ceremonially unclean.) Jesus has to know this, but it is apparent that He doesn’t care about His reputation. Do His new disciples have a problem with this and wonder what they’ve gotten themselves into? The Pharisees and their scribes murmur their disapproval and ask the disciples about it. Jesus, who is always in control and not a people pleaser, responds, “They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).

Hallelujah! Aren’t you thankful for that answer? I was a hot mess when I first heard Jesus’ voice. I was mentally and spiritually sick, and I was definitely a sinner! That invite to become His friend led to my repentance and freedom. I would do it again and again since it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

After Jesus performs miracles and frustrates the Pharisees in other conversations, we see Him praying all night on a mountain. Now the sun has risen and Jesus calls all of his followers and is choosing His special group of 12. They are:

“Simon (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor” (Luke 6:12-16).

We have now met our cast of characters in a unique period of history. The disciples spend their next three years in the constant presence of Jesus. It is believed that they are mostly teenagers or young adults, which are currently seen as a critical age for adult development and figuring out what people want out of life.

Imagine being asked by God, the Son to be with Him daily and learn His from His wisdom, routines, and innermost thoughts. You and I have been given that privilege. Did you accept His invitation to be His disciple and intimate friend? Were you like the two sets of brothers who came with a loved one? Were you like Matthew, the tax collector, who may have been ashamed of your career and friend choices? 

Or, are you like Judas Iscariot who may have genuinely loved and worshipped Jesus until the end when greed and selfish motives overtook all of the valuable lessons he learned in three years?

Maybe you haven’t heard Jesus’ calling, or you haven’t found the courage to accept His invitation yet. Ask Him to reveal Himself, and I bet you’ll be surprised to learn that He’s been with you all the time.

Wherever you are on life’s journey, I think we can learn some lessons as we observe the disciples witness Jesus’ miracles and listen to His messages about His Father and Himself. Embrace the adventure as you  these characters mature and our world displays the magnificent glory of Creation as it transforms into spring.