Here is an interesting question. Why did the disciples decide to give up everything and follow Jesus?
Clearly its not for the same reason that people become Christians today as there was no expectation of atonement for sin. So did they believe he was going to be an earthly messiah, becoming literally the king of the Jews? I am not sure about this because Jesus never really made that claim to them. Neither does he tell them he is going to die as a sacrifice for sin.
So why did the disciples follow Jesus?
Maybe its something to do with learning from a teacher (rabbi)?
Maybe they saw him as a successor to John the Baptist who would cleanse the temple system.
I have no answer to this question, but I raise it here because it is a bit of a theological elephant in the room for modern day believers.
