“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled,

ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
2 Peter 1:5, 10

Though Peter and John were ordinary fishermen, Jesus saw dynamic qualities in them which set them apart from the crowds. It was no accident these men were the ones Jesus “Chose … to go and bear much fruit.” (John 15:16) and to be with Him. They were:
1. HUNGRY: They were not casual observers, aloof spectators, or complaining compromisers. Jesus chose men who hungered and thirsted after righteousness. (Matthew 5:6) These were passionate men, eager to make Jesus’ dream of seeing all men be saved their dream.
2. HARDWORKING: As fisherman, Peter and John were acquainted with intense labor. There was no place for laziness or complacency in the men who walked with Jesus. They knew they were commended by God and men in “great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-5) They were willing to pay the price, knowing they would receive the reward of the “hard-working farmer.” (2 Timothy 2:6)
3. RELIABLE: Though Peter is often seen as unreliable, he proved to be the most reliable and faithful of the twelve. It was he who realized that Jesus was the only way (John 6:68); who made the good confession (Matthew 16:16); and who was willing to leave all for Christ (Mark 10:28). As Paul told Timothy to entrust the gospel to “reliable men” (2 Timothy 2:2), Jesus would be satisfied with nothing less. There was no place for irresponsibility and inconsistency in the men Jesus was discipling. He had to have men he could trust.
4. LEARNERS: When Jesus called Peter he said “I will make you a fisher of men” (Mark 1:17-18) Peter immediately dropped his nets and followed. He put aside his pride and independence and took on the role of a learner. Jesus couldn’t disciple a man who was filled with an independent spirit and pride. He sought out the man who was ready to grow and to change.
When speaking to the twelve, Jesus said, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you ….. (John 15:16) The question for you today is clear: would you have been chosen by Christ? Would he have seen you as a willing Disciple? Indeed, we must be discipled by Christ for we are commanded to follow in His footsteps. (1Peter 2:21) Others may not be walking in his footsteps. But is this where you have been walking? While his discipling comes today through His Word and through men, the kind of men and women Jesus is looking for remains unchanged. He’s looking for disciples who are hungry for righteousness and His dream, who are hardworking with a godly work-ethic, who have a reliable heart, and who keep for all their days a child-like learners spirit. It is only when we allow ourselves to be discipled by Christ through men that the world
will see that we have.