Our text today had me asking a good few questions!
On my first read through - I wondered how the disciples were able to drop everything and follow Jesus so fast. He calls James and John, Simon (aka Peter) and Andrew to follow him. They leave their Jobs and homes to follow Jesus - no questions asked, no hesitation.
It seemed like they had been waiting their whole lives - preparing for the moment when a stranger would walk by and call out to them "come and follow me!”
I wonder how I would react in that situation? Even if I had been preparing my whole life for that moment, I’m sure I would have stopped to ask myself, “who even is this guy? Am I sure he’s the messiah?” I couldn’t imagine myself leaving everything behind without asking, “Follow you? Where?”
Of course now, we know where following Jesus will take them. It will have terrible lows, including Jesus’ pleading prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the disciples facing their own flaws during Jesus’ arrest, torture, and death on the cross. It will also have Amazing highs the feeding of the five thousand, the healing of the sick and spiritually troubled, and the resurrection of Jesus.
In the end, Jesus calls them to continue in the work that Jesus did. Work that they knew would put their lives on the line just like it did for John the Baptist and Jesus.
Hearing all of that, makes me think that Jesus is calling all of us to follow him too. And this brings up new questions: Am I even the kind of person who could do all of those things? Do I need to be just as determined and boisterous as John the Baptist? Just as wise and steady as Jesus himself?! Maybe like me you look at John the Baptist and think how could I ever be that way? Maybe you've tried to fit yourself or push yourself into the mold of a great evangelist or some important disciple. And not all of the disciples were as put together as Jesus was.
Simon, who is also known as Peter is passionate but he’s always tripping over his own feet. Saying all the wrong things and getting rebuked by Jesus and failing to live up to his own expectations - like when he denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. And Thomas is kind of famous for doubting. There’s no way he’d run off to follow Jesus like the disciples in this story! At least not without asking a few questions first.
How could Thomas and Peter and John the Baptist and Jesus All have the same call?
When Jesus called the fishermen, He didn’t say “Come, follow me and I will teach you how to be evangelists. Jesus saw that they were fishermen and called them to fish for people. When Jesus called Peter - he knew who Peter was. Jesus still called Peter and loved Peter. Even after Peter denied him, Jesus put him in charge of his Church! When Jesus called Thomas - He knew who Thomas was too. Jesus called him by name and put Thomas’ fingers in the scars on his hands. Jesus knew that Thomas would have questions. He still called Thomas.
So, what if Jesus doesn't expect us to change who we are to fit this call? What if Jesus has already shaped and molded the call to suit you?
I visited an artists’ space with some friends this week. I met someone who was raised Pentecostal. He was a Pastor’s Kid too so we talked for a bit. Eventually he told me that he was struggling with his faith because he believed his father’s cancer was God punishing him. In that moment, without a second thought, I was able to share what I believe. I told him about how I experience God, not as a punisher, but as a God who gives Grace freely.
But that was one of those moments, a “drop your nets and follow Jesus” moment. And it was perfectly suited to me! I walked right into it without even trying! I didn’t have to recite scripture or address crowds of strangers. I just talked about the God I know - my experience.
When Jesus calls us to follow him - He’s not asking us to do it exactly the way he did. He’s not asking us to do it the way that the disciples did either. Jesus calls us each by name. He knows our quirks and oddities. What we are called to do is tailored to each of us. Just the way that fishing for people is tailored to fishermen.
So maybe fishing for people looks different for you than it does for me, and it should be different. My prayer for you all this week is that you would be on the look out for the moment when Jesus calls your name. I hope that when it happens, you feel emboldened to answer that call in a way that fits who you are.