Mark 1:17-20
“And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.” vss. 17-18
Jesus doesn’t seem to have done any background check before calling his first disciples…and they didn’t ask for a job description before they responded. There’s a sense of urgency in Mark’s account, both in the invitation and in the response. The kingdom of God is at hand and Jesus needs help in announcing its presence…and he seems to pick whoever is at hand. Consultants might have advised him to pick folks with a more sophisticated background…though many fisherfolk would probably say that he went for the cream of the crop. Whatever the reasons behind the call of the first disciples, a pattern was set that has lasted until the present. Calls to discipleship are still being made and unlikely candidates still seem to be the preferred targets. We don’t know when we’ll be called or who will issue the invitation but when the call comes there will be a response…and if it’s a “yes” our lives are changed. Whatever gifts we have will be channeled into loving service and the announcement of good news. What an adventure awaited those disciples laboring away along the shores of Galilee! And what an adventure awaits us when we leave our nets and start following Jesus! It won’t be a pleasure cruise and there will always be challenges, but the purposeful joy will be beyond measure.
Thought for the Day: What credentials does a disciple need?
0 Comments