Jesus Calls His First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus Questioned About Fasting

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

36 He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”

Jesus died, so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.

Do you believe in Jesus?

What do you believe in Him?

• He said no one can get to heaven except they are born again, do you believe?
• He said no one can get to God except through him, not through any religion or prophets or rituals, do you believe? 
• He said He is the way, (no other way,) He is the truth (anything else is a lie) and He is the life (beliefs in other names will lead to death) do you believe?
• He said don't store your treasure (Or money and properties) on earth but to store them in heaven, do you believe?
• He said you should not divorce but if you do you must not remarry until one partner (lives old and ) dies, do you believe or are Christians following it?
• He said you should set your affections and passions on eternal things of God and not on earthly things (like money, positions, titles and other vanities), do you believe?
• He said calling Him Lord, Lord is fake without doing God's will, do you believe?
• He said, love your neighbor as yourself, do you believe?
• He said He wants to make you a fisher of men if you follow Him, do you believe?
• He said He is coming back with rewards for faithful workers in His vineyard, do you believe?
• He said unbelievers will go to hell, do you believe?
• He said you should not be a friend of the worldly people but to call them out of worldliness into God's light, do you believe?
• He said you should not walk in the ways of sinners, do you believe?
• He said He will separate the sheep from the goats on the last day, do you believe?
• He said you should love your enemies and bless those who curse you, 

  do you believe?

• He said it's a wasteful life if you only focus on the careers and affairs of this world, do you believe?
• He said the rich people in this world will find it extremely difficult to enter the kingdom of God, do you believe?
• He said His kingdom is not of this world, do you believe?
• He said this earth will pass away and there will be a new earth,

  do you believe?

• He said you should remove anger from your life,

  do you believe?

• He said you should do good to those who cannot repay you,

  do you believe?

• He said your beauty should not be based on latest fashion or fancy hairstyles but that you should appear holy but you Pastor Mrs wants to show your body to the world?

Now, Jesus said many things, and if you argue those things how can yo claim to believe in Him without faking it? That is the main difference between a true Christian and a fake Christian. Any Christian who truly believes in Jesus woll not go about committing crimes, robbing people, raping, kidnapping, looting public funds, stealing and falsifying records including their ages and their arrival times at work for if you cannot be faithful in the easthly things, how can you be faithful with the eternal things of God?

Now after The resurrection of Jesus, like many who are celebrating Easter even though there's no record of such celebrations in the bible, what next? How are Christians expected to live their lives afterwards?

• For fashion parades?
• For drinking competetion?
• For BB Naija?
• For Worldy Music and parties going clubbing and beaching?
• For accumulation of wealth, power and status?

Now the Apsotles, How did they live their lives after The Resurrection of Jesus?

They waited for Power while today's Christians are waiting for Picnics

They went to preach while today's Christians are going to beach naked as they came into the world

They endured persecutions and afflictions while today's Christian are quick to query God asking God, WHY ME?

They focused solely on the message of the Kingdom of God while the Christians of today are busy teaching the traditions of men

They presented their bodies as a living sacrifice which is the resaonable act of worship but today's christians think inviting the most popular singer is an act of worship

They refused to conform to the pattern of the world but kept renewing their minds but today's Christians are too preoccupied with the affairs of this world and all its passions.

In conclusion, you have seen and heard what Jesus expects from you, the choice is ultimately yours how you go about living your monday to Sunday lives at everywher maybe at work, or at home or at anywhere!

Deuteronomy 30: 

19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Today, Christians love celebrations! They might not even care what it's all about, just tell them there's something to celebrate and they're all in. Whether easter or Christmas or anniversaries or launching or just anything, mothers day, fathers day, uncles and aunts days and the list goes on and on which are things that the early apostles never focus on. 

The Apostles and early christians on the other hand focused solely on the teachings about god and His Kingdom.

If the ceremonies is what takes up your whole life existence without reflecting on why Jesus was born, why He was killed and how He resurrected and the significances thereof, then it's a waste of life! Jesus didn;t die for those things? He diedfor your souls!

Now we want to talk about Easter Celebrations!

• Was Easter mentioned ever in the Bible? 

  The word "Easter" is not in the original biblical languages, appearing only in some King James Version (KJV) translations of Acts 12:4, where it is generally considered a mistranslation of the word "Passover." While the modern holiday name is absent, the central event—the death and resurrection of Jesus—is the core message of the New Testament.

• Were the Apostles celebrating Easter? 

  No, the apostles and early Christians did not celebrate Easter as it is known today. Instead, they kept the biblical Passover to commemorate Jesus’ death, a practice continued for generations after, particularly in Asia Minor. Easter traditions largely developed hundreds of years later and were not part of the Apostolic church. 

  Key details: Passover vs. Easter: Early Christians maintained the Jewish festivals, but with a new, Christian significance, focusing on Christ as the Passover Lamb. No Biblical Authority: There is no command in the New Testament to celebrate Easter, nor records of the apostles doing so. The Quartodeciman Tradition: Early leaders like John and Polycarp in Asia Minor observed the Pascha on the 14th of Nisan (the Passover date) rather than a separate Sunday. Later Adoption: Easter as a widespread,, recognized festival developed in the 2nd century and was officially unified by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD

• How do people celebrate easter today?  

  Today, Easter is celebrated through a blend of religious services commemorating the resurrection of Jesus—such as sunrise services and vigils—and secular traditions like egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, and family meals. It is a global holiday, often featuring special food, candy, and festivities focused on new life. 

•   Key Religious and Cultural CelebrationsChurch Services: Many Christians attend special services on Easter Sunday, with sunrise services being a popular tradition.
• Easter Eggs: Decorating, hiding, and hunting for eggs (or chocolate eggs) is a major tradition, symbolizing new life.
• The Easter Bunny: Children often receive baskets of candy and gifts, often themed around the Easter Bunny.
• Family Meals: Families gather for special meals featuring lamb, ham, or special breads.
• Global Customs:USA/Canada: Easter egg hunts and parades.UK: Egg rolling.Italy: Grand feasts and religious processions.Australia: Instead of the Easter Bunny, the "Easter Bilby" is a popular figure, raising awareness for wildlife conservation.
• Sweden: Children dress up as witches.
• Greece: Red-dyed eggs are cracked, symbolizing the resurrection.
• Easter Lily: Often used to decorate churches and homes.
• Easter Bonnets: Wearing decorated hats.
• Special Foods: Baking items like Hot Cross Buns or traditional butter cookies like ma'amoul.  
• Finally, 

  Matthew 7:21 says 

  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.