The Call, pt. 2
Mark 1:16-20 (Pew Bible 707)
" As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “ Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “ and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."
Introduction
When we hear of Simon and Andrew answering Jesus immediately, most of us want to put ourselves in their shoes. When we remember James and John leaving everything behind to follow Jesus, we imagine ourselves following in the same way. But when we are called we are hesitant, full of questions... How do we answer that call? What are we supposed to do? Those first disciples had to answer the same questions on their road of discipleship.
Our Discipleship
Like those disciples beside the Sea of Galilee, eager and ready to follow, we are called to discipleship. And when we answer, the journey that awaits us will challenge and change us. We drop everything at the side of the road to follow Christ, expecting joy and fulfillment. Instead, we face a time of burnout and disappointment when others don’t appreciate our hard work and generous service. We have a mountaintop high when we answer Christ’s call, but then find ourselves denying God when trying to prioritize our time and our money to put Christ at the center. The reason lies in our struggle to understand what we are to do in answering the call. We do not know what our job description is. Our text gives us a clue:
- The Lord calls on us
- 1:17a; “ Come, follow me...”
- 1:20a; “Without delay he called them...”
- to use principles we are familiar with
- all four of them were fishermen
- to do extraordinary things
- 1:17b; “I will make you fishers of men.”
- that have eternal significance!
- “fishers of men.”
Think about it. Moses led sheep in the wilderness. Then he led Israel there. David was also a shepherd. The lessons he learned helped him to protect his kingdom. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen. They became fishers of men. Paul was zealous for God in persecuting Christians. He became zealous for Christ, promoting His Church.
Conclusion
Evangelist Ron Hutchcraft tells of a woman who, when asked what she did for a livig, told him she was a disciple of Jesus Christ, cleverly disquised as a machine operator. So you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, cleverly disguised as a...(name a few jobs). Jesus takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary! Now everything we do has eternal significance! So, whoever you are—whatever you do—Jesus has called you. He has placed you where you are for a reason. Answer His call. Use what you are familiar with to do extraordinary things that have eternal significance!
Discipleship is a journey. We do not always understand our role—our part in this journey of service. And yet, there is a steadfast rock on this journey—the rock that comes from Christ’s call. With that call we are filled with the strength of the Holy Spirit, giving us the a peace that passes all understanding and courage to continue as Christ’s disciples.
We are not alone on this journey. Jesus walked this journey and walks it with us still. We are not alone on this journey. Disciples are all around us, walking with us. Whether we say yes easily or hesitantly, Christ is calling still. God is counting on us to answer the call and to walk on this journey, to use principles familiar to us to do extraordinary things that have eternal significance!