Why did the disciples follow Jesus?

Thank you for an amazing and invigorating thread of comments to last week's post.

This week I am going to "cheat" a little - time is pressing because our annual Clergy Conference begins today, and I am concerned that if I posted something controversial, then there might be many comments to moderate during the next few days when my mind needs to be focused on the conference and our collegiality there.

So, kind of a non-post, but definitely a question, noting the end of the thread to the last post (i.e. on Monday morning NZ time), where the question is posed, Why did the disciples follow Jesus?

That is, what were they hoping would happen (such as the overthrow of the Roman rule over Israel)? What spiritual need was beating in their hearts? What was it about Jesus that drew them to himself (noting, of course, that the same Jesus gathered a significant number of enemies during the days of his mission)?

Answers/suggestions from you will be posted as and when I am able to.

Have a great week.