“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.” Mark 1:16 -17a
Have you ever wondered why the disciples decided to leave behind everything – job, family, business, and life as they knew it – to follow Jesus?
Remember, they didn’t have the Gospels to tell them the end of the story; they were the ones who would witness those final chapters!
So when Jesus extended the call to “follow me,” why did they go? These tough fishermen, small-business owners with families – how could they drop everything just to follow Jesus?
Actually, they didn’t –not right away. Their stories of coming to know Jesus actually began much earlier.
- It started with Andrew. One day, during a time of revival among the Jewish people, Jesus showed up and was baptized by John the Baptist. A well-known teacher and prophet, John the Baptist called Jesus the “Lamb of God,” meaning the one who would take away the sins of the world. Andrew, a follower of John the Baptist and a future disciple of Jesus, became curious. Could Jesus really be this Savior? (John 1:35-37)
- Andrew told his brother. After speaking with Jesus, Andrew introduced Him to his brother, Simon. Jesus renamed Simon, Cephas, or Peter, which meant ‘the rock.’ Suddenly, Jesus had Peter’s full attention. (John 1: 40)
- They witnessed miracles. Jesus’ ministry began in the small town of Capernaum, the same town where Andrew and Simon Peter lived and witnessed first-hand the miracles of Jesus. (Luke 4:31-41)
- Jesus met a personal and professional need. Jesus healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law and later performed a fishing miracle– Andrew and Simon Peter’s professional area of expertise. (Luke 4:38-39, Luke 5:4-7)
And then it happened – the call to follow Jesus.
Simon Peter’s eyes were finally opened and he recognized his sin. In that moment of conviction, of realizing the holiness, the greatness, and the awesomeness of Jesus, Peter was ready to drop everything to follow Him.
Are you ready for the call of Jesus in your life? Maybe you’re just starting to get to know Him. Maybe you’ve been searching for a while now. But becoming a Christian isn’t just about knowing WHO Jesus is – it’s about responding to His call to “Follow Me.”
The question is – how will you respond?
Written by Bryant Wright, Founder, RFTH
