Jesus' First Disciples
First Public Miracle at
Marriage Feast in Cana

In the early morning John the Baptist stood with the two of his disciples who most shared his thoughts and feelings. One of them we know to have been Andrew; the other, unnamed one, could have been no other than John himself, the beloved disciple. They had heard what their teacher had, on the previous day, said of Jesus. But then He seemed to them but as a passing Figure. To hear more of Him, as well as in deepest sympathy, these two had gathered to their teacher on that morning.

"On the next day, John (the Baptist) was again standing there, and two of his disciples with him (John and Andrew). And as he gazed upon Jesus walking, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" And the two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

"Now when Jesus turned and saw them following, He said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to Him, "Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, "Teacher"), where do You dwell?" He said to them, "Come and see." They went and saw where He was dwelling, and they remained with Him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour.

"Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard this from John and followed Him. First, he found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is, being interpreted, "the Christ"). (John 1:35-42, Holy Bible in Its Original Order - A Faithful Version (HBFV))

None are with the Baptist except Andrew and John. There was no leave-taking on the part of these two - perhaps they meant not to leave John. Only an irresistible impulse, a heavenly instinct, bade them follow His steps. It needed no direction of John, no call from Jesus. But as they went in modest silence, in the dawn of their rising faith, scarce conscious of the what and the why, Jesus turned to them.

"And he (Andrew) led him (Peter) to Jesus. And when He saw him, Jesus said, "You are Simon, the son of Jona. You shall be called Cephas" (which is, being interpreted, "a stone")." (verse 43)

The next day Philip, who lived in the same city as Andrew and Peter, is directly called by Jesus to be a disciple. He soon informs his brother Nathanael that he has found the Savior spoken of in the scriptures.

"On the next day, Jesus desired to go into Galilee; and He found Philip and said to him, "Follow Me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of Whom Moses wrote in the Law, and also the prophets, Jesus, the son of Joseph; He is from Nazareth." And Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said concerning him, "Behold, truly an Israelite in whom there is no guile." Nathanael said to Him, "How did you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered and said to Him, 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.'" (verses 44-50)

As an shows, Jesus' first five disciples are led to him BEFORE his great forty day temptation by the devil! But before the Lord's temptation occurs the Gospels delineate one more very important event. This event, a wedding celebration in Cana, will be the place where Jesus will perform his first public miracle.