“18 As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishers. 19 And He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 As Jesus went from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
23 Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 So His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to Him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, people possessed by demons or having epilepsy or afflicted with paralysis, and he cured them. 25 And great crowds followed Him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan”
Matthew 4:18-25.
The fact that Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John from their work is an invitation to each of us to remember that we are called to be disciples of Jesus, followers of the Messiah, right where we live and work. These four men are professional fishermen, just like all of us are professionals in one way or another.
Now this is a very personal and a new and unconventional tactic. The same is true for each of us as Christ comes into our lives. No two people in the world are alike. But notice the four brothers’ response: without deliberation or hesitation they leave their current focus in life and set out after the Galilean preacher who promises to make them people who will bring others to Christ. How important it is for all of to respond to Jesus every day with amazing promptness.
Take note as we’ll of Jesus’ teaching and proclaiming the gospel as well as curing physical and spiritual ailments. Jesus will not wait for us. He is active and alive. He wants to use us, but we have to respond quickly every day, and repent when we fail to do so. Jesus made a profound and immediate impact on the world He had come to save. No sooner did the Messiah step out from obscurity than people came in droves to hear his voice and receive his blessing. He not only preached the kingdom of heaven; He made its presence felt in the lives of suffering humanity.
It is no exaggeration to say that the call of the first disciples is the first miracle that Jesus performs in Matthew’s Gospel. These radical decisions to follow the Lord cannot be explained in any natural way. Instead, we are invited to see something supernatural at work here: when the Word of Jesus goes forth, it goes with the power and grace of God. The sovereignty of God over the natural and spiritual world is displayed in these four miracles. But the movement of the human will in response to grace, here displayed by four instantaneous acts of generosity and sacrifice, is just as extraordinary. This is not to say that grace is irresistible. It is to say only that the call of Jesus can change the lives of ordinary people like you and me in radical and wonderful ways.
So today, pray: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” 1 Peter 2:21.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me'” Matthew 16:24.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’”John 8:12.
Comments