Every year, hundreds of boys aged 3 to 8 play rugby in a tournament held across South Africa. Though it’s a tamer version of the adult game, children and parents still take it pretty seriously. For this is where a passion is forged for one of the most popular sports in South Africa. Young boys dream of one day playing for the national team. As they get older, however, the competition gets tougher and only the very best will play for the Springboks—the nation’s top squad.
Brothers Peter and Andrew had a fishing business (Matthew 4:18), but when “Jesus called out to them, ‘Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!’ . . . they left their nets at once and followed him” (Matthew 4:19-20). James and John were also fishermen who worked with their father, Zebedee. As they sat in the fishing boat, repairing their nets, Jesus called out to the two brothers and, “they immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind” (Matthew 4:22).
What makes grown men leave their jobs and family to follow Jesus without question? These men knew who Jesus was—a rabbi with authority! Just as boys in South Africa long to play for the Springboks, some Jewish boys in ancient Israel grew up longing to become a rabbi. But the process was grueling and only the very best succeeded. Other young Jewish boys pursued vocations such as fishing, carpentry, or something else.
When Jesus called the fishermen, “Come, follow me” (Matthew 4:19), He was calling men who gave up their vocations and more. But these men found, as we have, that they were following the One who proved to be the Son of God. Let us follow Him today and use our whole lives—including our vocations—to point others to Him!
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Psalm 51:1-19
More:
Read Matthew 9:9 and see Matthew’s response to Jesus’ call.
Next:
Why are you following Jesus? What are you willing to give up in order to fully surrender your life to Him?
Gary Shultz on May 15, 2016 at 6:45 am
Hello Ruth, a wonderful passage of a decision to follow Christ. I will have to bend your graces a little to consider the other accounts and prior passages. This was not the first brush with Christ most of these men had. It was not a blind faith they saw, but they saw a man who demonstrated wisdom, power and qualities they had never seen before. So when Jesus called those men they had experienced the witness of Christ. It was not as many think, a blind leap of faith, they saw in Jesus more than a man they saw at all corners God sticking out. When Jesus said, “follow me” they had enough to make a faith based decision in a man they saw that was greater than their world, they had experienced God in the flesh, Jesus. God does ask us to take steps, but He certainly wants us to know Who has ordered them. Sorry to poke in like this, but way to many people lean to and expect “blind faith” in knowing God, following God in a relationship is much different, we know who is asking us to step. Thanks Ruth, I don’t want to be argumentative, just bringing what I have found.
Ruth O'reilly-smith on May 15, 2016 at 8:43 am
I don’t think you’re being argumentative Gary – your comments only further reinforce the point I was trying to make. Most young Jewish boys longed to become a Rabbi but with the process being extremely tough, only the very best were chosen to follow in the footsteps of a known Rabbi and ultimately become one themselves. A Rabbi would call a young boy who showed great promise, to ‘follow’ them and they would then do and say whatever the Rabbi did and said. These disciples I mention above had not made the cut – they had therefore given up their dream of becoming a Rabbi and had succumbed to becoming fishermen instead, but the desire to be called to follow a Rabbi remained a deep-seated longing in their hearts. They had heard of and seen Jesus in their community and knew He was a Rabbi with authority so when He called them to ‘follow me’, they couldn’t come fast enough. These were men who had settled for second best because they weren’t considered good enough by the elite religious leaders, and yet Jesus considered them perfect for the task that lay ahead – mobilizing His church and carrying forward His Kingdom on earth.
gagirllive on May 15, 2016 at 10:37 am
How wonderful that by His Spirit HE is still doing the “calling” today! His irresistible grace is still drawing men and women…boys and girls to faith, repentance, and obedience! Thanks, Ruth. Grace and peace to you and all who visit here today!
Gary Shultz on May 15, 2016 at 12:01 pm
Classy answer Ruth and a great historically valid point.
jim spillane on May 15, 2016 at 2:31 pm
Ruth and Gary – thank you so much for bringing to the forefront what I think is an extremely important point. As far as I know, this call to the 12 to “follow me” was not a “blind leap of faith.” These particular men, Simon Peter, Andrew, Philip, Nathaniel, and John were the first to be called, all living in the Bethsaida area, an area close to where Jesus grew up. You are probably right in saying that these early followers were well aware of who Jesus was just from an “hey, I know Him also” secular point of view. Some scholars say that it took over a year for Jesus to complete His choice. The way it reads in the Bible gives many the impression that it happened very quickly and these men just somehow took that “blind leap of faith” as soon as they saw and heard this Man call to them. No, they and the others that were called later were more than likely well aware of who this “teacher” was. Often in the Bible, both OT and NT, time is compressed and many readers are not aware of it. Thanx to both of you.