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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Follow Me

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-"As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea- for they were fishermen.  And Jesus said to them, 'follow me and I will make you fish for people.'  And Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.  Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him."  Mark 1: 16-20

This is how it was for Jesus in the early days.  He would approach a person he did not know, look them in the eye, I presume, and tell them to follow him.  Then they would drop everything and just go along with him.  I always wonder what that moment must have been like for Simon, Andrew, James and John.  What did they see that made them drop everything and go with him?  Mark does not report to us that Jesus used in any tricks or special words.  He didn't give a stump speech or argue his case.  He just said 'follow me,' and off they went.  This passage, as much as almost any other in the New Testament, fills me with wonder.

I also wonder about the reactions of the families and friends of these men.  What was their reaction?  I am betting things did not go well.  Since the men were of working age, it is logical to assume all of them had wives and children.  Mark tells us that James and John walked out on their dad.  I know how I would feel if someone did this to me.  I would be angry.  I would wonder where their priorities were, and I would remind them that no matter what God wanted of them, God also wanted them to tend to their responsibilities.  And then I would have watched as they walked away anyway, and I would think they had gone completely crazy.  And so now I wonder, is that what God wants from us sometimes?  Does following God mean that sometimes we do things that seem a little, or perhaps a lot, crazy?  Hmmmm...

 

Prayer:  Holy God, help me to listen for your calling in my life?  When I hear it, help me to have the courage to follow you.  I pray in the name of Jesus the Christ.  Amen.

[Phillip Blackburn, First Presbyterian Church]

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