Follow Me!

CEBU, Philippines - "As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Simon 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 the story of the calling of the first apostles, two sets of brothers all fishermen working on Lake Galilee. The words of Jesus' call are probably more familiar to many of us as 'Follow me and I will make you fisher of men'. However, Jesus did not use the Greek word for 'males' but the word for 'people' (anthropoi). Men and women would be 'caught' for the kingdom by the apostles' ministry down the years.

Surely the most surprising thing about this short narrative is the abruptness of the disciples' response. It sounds downright thoughtless to abandon their boats - and even poor Zebedee, suddenly deprived of his senior staff and heirs of the business - at such a brief invitation. We know from John's Gospel, though, that the four already knew about Jesus, and Andrew and Simon had met him and been told that they should eventually follow him.

'Follow me' is such a basic invitation, yet it is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. Once we have stripped away the theology and theories, a Christian is someone who 'follows Jesus'. Indeed, while the invitation is basic, it is also comprehensive, for those who follow must do so from first to last: you can't 'follow' someone in fits and starts or you will lose sight of them. To 'follow Jesus', then, is to keep close to him, follow his example, listen to his words and do as he says.

"Follow me, and I will transform your life" - that's really what Jesus said to the fishermen long ago. He also says it now to those who hear his call. — from Pilgrim's Way (The Bible Reading Fellowship)