Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee with a proclamation
and then heads lakeside. There he finds two sets of brothers casting and
mending nets. They are fishermen, skilled in their craft and accustomed to
working side by side.
Jesus tells them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for
people.”
Then, they leave nets, boats, hired hands, and father. They
leave everything and follow Jesus.
It’s not their following Jesus that bothers us so much as
the fact that they leave everything immediately. These few verses cause us to
wonder, “Do I lack the stamina and faith to do what Jesus asks?” However, it’s
not very helpful to compare ourselves to them; at this point in the story, they
are strangers to us and their relationship with Jesus is a complete unknown.
Who knows why they drop their nets and follow?
What we do know is that Jesus has made a highly
controversial political statement; offered himself for baptism as a sign of
repentance; was driven into the wild where he was tempted, faced danger, and
was waited on by angels; and now asks four fishermen to follow him and fish for
people.
Two things are worthy of our attention. First, this is a
compelling call. Jesus calls these fishermen to fish, to keep doing what they
already know how to do, but to do it in an entirely different way, for an
entirely different purpose. And second, following him will change them. Jesus
will make them do something they
haven’t done before. He will make them into something they haven’t been before.
Perhaps that is why they follow.
Text for the day:
Things to think
about:
What feelings do these verses stir in you?
How is Jesus calling you to use your current skills and
talents in an entirely different way?
Consider what you must leave behind in order to follow
where Jesus leads.
Things to do:
Pray for the people who will be touched because Jesus has
called you.
Jesus,
make me use my skill and talents for people.
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