Come, Follow Me

When it's time to go, it's time to go.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." 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 1:14-20

What would make you drop everything, leave your home and family and follow someone?

It is not something we do, right?

But come to think of it, there are fans of rock and pop stars who follow them everywhere. But they only do that after they know their songs and have attended their performances.

There are fans who line up to listen to cover bands that play the songs from the bends they loved, but again, they knew of these songs and the band beforehand.

Jesus arrives on the scene cold, with no history other than having been baptized by John, and the fishermen drop their nets and follow him.

Could they see something in his eyes?

Was there something so charismatic about him that they knew he had to be special?

It plays out as though they had a prearranged plan.  One day, I will come and call you.  On that day, I need you to drop everything and join me.

It sounds like a fantasy fiction film.  I will gather my twelve from the sea and the land, and we will become one.

Wow.

The way Mark tells it, you would think it was a normal thing to do, to leave your business and go.  But that is what they did.

How many of us would have done that?

More to come...