_“Follow me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. _
Mark 1:17-18
What would make you drop everything?
A billionaire offers to make you a millionaire if you give him a high five...
A friend you’ve not seen in ages surprises you by turning up at your door…
One of the kids cries that cry that you know means they’ve proper hurt themselves…
What about a stranger who turns up, invites you to go with him and start a new job?
Possibly not quite as likely to do the last one eh? But that’s what Jesus’ first disciples did.
Jesus started preaching, then began to gather a team who would follow him, learn from him, then go and share the same message.
For Peter, Andrew, James and John, it might have started as a normal day, putting their nets in order. But along comes Jesus and simply says, ‘Follow me.’ At which point, they drop the nets, and go with him.
They dropped everything.
Their nets were their lives. They were fishermen, so their lives would be spent either out on the waves trying to catch fish, or on the land selling fish then getting ready to go again. But this day, Jesus turned up, and they dropped everything their hearts held dear.
How would they pay the bills?
What would they do with their time?
Wouldn’t friends think they’re bonkers?
What would their families say?
What about the people who depended on them for their fish suppers?
We don’t get any of those questions or answers here in Mark’s Gospel though. Mark is again straightforward and to the point: ‘They immediately left their nets and followed him.’ Soon they were seeing demons dealt with, sick people healed, and hearing preaching like they’d never heard before.
It wouldn’t be long until they were the ones sent out to the whole world, to share the good news that Jesus had died and rose again to give eternal life. They had a new identity, and a new job. They now followed Jesus and fished for men.
They dropped everything, but gained infinitely, eternally more living for Jesus.
Jesus still says, ‘Follow me.’
And he still calls his disciples to drop everything that holds their hearts.
That’s why it might be valuable to give something up for lent. Anything that is distracting you from truly following Jesus is something that we should drop. Anything that stops us from fishing for people is something we should drop.
Take time today to examine your heart. Are we truly willing to drop everything to honour Jesus?
It’s not that our sacrifice is needed to prove we’re worthy followers. Our efforts are never enough. We will fail more than we succeed. But the good news is that Jesus died and rose again, to restore his followers, to forgive their sin, and send the Spirit to ensure their job would be completed.
So, when we see Jesus, crucified and risen to provide eternal life, and hear his call to follow, the only response to that amazing love is to drop everything and go.
Jesus says, ‘Follow me.’ Let’s drop everything and follow.
Passage for today: Mark 1:16-45
A thought to remember: Following Jesus means dropping everything that holds our hearts.
A question to ask: What do you need to drop today so you can follow Jesus and fish for people?
A song to sing: Take the World, Give Me Jesus