Come, Follow Me

READ

Picture a typical day at work. The smell of fish fills the air, the familiar weight of nets in calloused hands, the rhythmic motion of mending gear – this was the world of Simon, Andrew, James, and John. Then suddenly, a voice cuts through the routine: "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men."

Let’s take a moment to read Mark 1:14-20:

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

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 send you out to fish for people.” 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.

REFLECT

What's striking about this passage is the immediacy of the disciples' response. Mark uses phrases like “at once” and “without delay,” emphasizing how these men left their businesses, families, and security without hesitation. It's almost jarring to modern readers – we tend to make pro/con lists, consult others, and carefully weigh decisions. Yet here are four men abandoning their livelihoods based on a single invitation.

These weren't reckless individuals; they were skilled businessmen. Fishing on the Sea of Galilee was a stable, profitable profession. James and John weren't just fishermen – they had hired hands, suggesting a successful family business. They had everything the world said they should want: steady income, family connections, and respected positions in their community.

What made Jesus' call so compelling? Mark gives us a clue in the preceding verses. Jesus arrives proclaiming, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand." There's an electric sense of history-making momentum. These men recognized they were being invited into something bigger than themselves – a movement that would transform the world.

The metaphor Jesus uses is brilliant: "fishers of men." He meets them in their area of expertise but elevates their skills to a higher purpose. It's as if He's saying, "The abilities you've developed – your patience, your understanding of timing, your willingness to work hard – these aren't going to be wasted. They're being redirected toward an eternal purpose."

This passage challenges our own response to Jesus' call. We often want to follow Jesus without leaving anything behind. But authentic discipleship usually involves some form of leaving – leaving old priorities, comfortable routines, or limiting mindsets. The question isn't whether we'll hear Jesus' call – He's still calling today – but how we'll respond.

Think about your own life. What "nets" might Jesus be asking you to leave behind? What skills and experiences might He want to redirect toward Kingdom purposes? The disciples' radical response challenges our tendency to make faith comfortable and convenient.

Remember, though – Jesus didn't call them to leave something; He called them to follow Someone. The focus wasn't on what they were giving up but on who they were gaining. Their story reminds us that following Jesus isn't primarily about sacrifice; it's about recognizing an opportunity so valuable that everything else becomes secondary.

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.

• The disciples left their nets "immediately." What keeps you from responding quickly to God's prompting in your life? Are there specific fears, commitments, or attachments that make you hesitate when you feel God calling you to something new?

REST

Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying:

Lord Jesus, thank you for meeting us right where we are, just as You met those fishermen by the sea. Give us the courage to respond to Your callf with the same immediacy and trust that the disciples showed. Help us to see that what we're gaining in following You far outweighs anything we might need to leave behind. Amen.