Last Sunday, we heard the call of Simon the fisherman from the Gospel of Luke. The call of the first disciples is written in Matthew 4:18-22:
“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.”
One of my favorite songs to sing to my son is “The Summons” which begins: “Would you come and follow me if I but call your name?” I often find the song playing over and over in my head, and I am forced to consider, “Would I have followed Him if I were that fisherman?” I’m afraid that I would not have. I probably would have said, “Naw, not today Jesus, I’ve really got to keep catching the fish, maybe tomorrow when I’ve got a better handle on my work.” Or maybe, “I’d really like to, but I can’t leave my father.” And I think if He had told me He’d make me a fisher of men, I’d probably have said, “Come on, I must be practical, you can’t eat men.”
Even though I’m not that fisherman, I must examine, am I letting my work and worldly, practical concerns get in the way of the call? Do I even hear my name being called? Am I ignoring it? Am I putting Him off until things are more settled, until I have a better handle on my work? Notice that they didn’t just follow Him; they followed IMMEDIATELY and without question. They didn’t say, “Oh hey, hold on, just let me finish fixing this here net.” Or even, “Uh sure, but where are we going?” If I am following, is it immediate? Is it unquestionable, humble obedience? What did they think, leaving everything for Him? They weren’t even sure He was the Messiah. Am I willing to risk everything to follow Him, even when I’m not sure He’s the Messiah? And I must remember, the path of the disciples was not easy, so why would I expect mine to be just because I’m following?
Perhaps these same sorts of questions tug at your heart too. Immediate. Unquestioned. Humble. Obedience. Are you following Him? He’s calling your name.
I think that this “calling story” can be read on two levels. There is the literal narrative…fisherman called to join Jesus…and something that makes it quite relevant for me as a believer in the 21st century.
When I was a kid, Peter was presented as an icon. He was the “prince of the apostles”, the first pope, and that “rock” upon which the Lord Jesus would build His Church. But, now when I read Scripture, I see Peter and the other apostles as more complicated men and in many ways allegories of our community today. One thing I wouldn’t call them would be humble or obediant.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, are also called the Sons of Thunder. They got the tuff guy nickname bacause they asked Jesus if they could cast down lighting bolts on a Samaritan village that did not welcome them (Luke 9v54). They openly asked to sit on the right and left of Jesus when the Lord came into his Kingdom (Markv37). Not much humility and questionable obediance in my opinion.
Peter, James and John were with the Lord on Mt. Tabor but even after seeing the transfiguration, they left Jesus to face his death alone.
The disciples argue among themselves about their status (Luke 9v46-50) . Not much humility there either.
They are all so human and so flawed. Just like me.
As an adult, I especially identify with Peter. Peter could be someone who could be filled with God’s grace one moment and denying he even knew His son in the next. In many ways he’s so much like me. Perhaps that could be another way of looking at the “rock” verse. Our encounter with God’s love and our relationship to the Father can run hot and cold. People like me and you make up that foundation of our faith.
So to answer your rhetorical question, I follow the Lord in much the same way the apostles did. I follow Him with feet of clay but still the Lord calls.