Mark 1:16 20
WHEN Jesus was a man, He began to teach people about His Father. Jesus used to preach.
Where did He preach?
Sometimes He preached to people in a place like a church. Sometimes He preached in the fields. Sometimes He sat on the top of a hill and preached. And sometimes He sat in a ship, and the people stood by the edge of the water to hear Him.
Jesus did not always live in the same place. He used to walk about from one place to another.
Did Jesus walk about alone?
No. He had twelve friends with Him. He called them His twelve disciples.
How many are twelve?
Let us count the little children in this room. Here are twelve. Jesus had just as many disciples. One was called Peter, and another was called John, and another James, and another Thomas. But I will not tell you the names of them all; you would not remember them all.
Peter was a fisherman. He had a little ship, and he used to catch fish, sometimes even at night. James and John had another little ship, and they used to catch fish too.
One day Jesus passed by their ships. He saw Peter and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the sea to catch fish. Jesus said to them, ‘Come with Me.’ And Peter and Andrew left their nets and their ships and went with Jesus.
Jesus went a little farther, and He saw James and John sitting in their ship, mending their nets because they were torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come with Me’. They left their nets and went with Jesus. Jesus called whatever people He wanted to come with Him.
Shall I tell you why Jesus chose to have twelve friends always with Him? What do you think was the reason?
Jesus wished to teach them about God His Father, so that they might teach other people about Him. They liked being with Jesus, and listening to His words. Would you have liked to be always with Jesus?
When Jesus was alone with His disciples, He used to tell them secrets about God and heaven. They loved Him very much indeed; they called Him Master and Lord. Jesus loved them still more than they loved Him, and He called them His friends.
Jesus used to give them part of His things. But Jesus had no house to live in, and He had very little money. Sometimes Jesus and His friends were very tired after walking for a long timed and sometimes they were very hungry and thirsty. But kind people often asked them to come into their houses, and gave them food. Other people laughed at Jesus, and called Him names.
Were the disciples good?
They were bad, like us; but Jesus put His Spirit into them, and made them better. The disciples were not completely good, like Jesus; they sometimes quarreled with each other, and sometimes they were unkind to poor people.
How happy they who shared the bread
Of Jesus here below!
From place to place He traveled,
And they with Him did go.
They heard Him preach from hills and ships
Of things to men unknown;
But sweeter words dropped from His lips
When they were all alone.
For then He would the things explain
They could not understand,
That heavenly wisdom they might gain,
And teach it through the land.
Questions
Where did Jesus preach?
How many disciples did Jesus have?
Did they ever quarrel?
Can you tell me the names of some of them?
What was Peter doing when Jesus told him to come with Him?
What were James and John doing when Jesus called them?
Why did Jesus choose to have some friends with Him?
What did they call Jesus?
What did He call them?
Did they love Jesus?
Why did they like being with Him?
Did Jesus give them money or fine things?
Why were the disciples good?
Christ was very poor:
A verse from the Bible for you to learn: