As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Mark 1:16-17
While carrying the message of the kingdom of God throughout the region, Jesus encountered Simon and his brother Andrew. Though their profession defines them on the surface, a deeper truth lies beneath them. Like all humans, they were born with a sinful nature – an inherent part of our identity. We are all, like Simon and Andrew, figuratively “casting nets into the lake of sin.” But Jesus offers a transformative opportunity. He reached them with the call to follow Him.
Jesus invited them to join Him in the kingdom of God. He said, “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.” Jesus called them to leave their identity as fishermen and follow Him. This call was personal and specific, emphasising that they should come even if no one else did. Each person has the choice to either respond to or ignore Jesus’ call. It’s a personal invitation, a nudge that says, “Come, even if you’re the only one.”
Significantly, Jesus sees something special in these brothers, a potential that transcends their present reality. Even though their current lives don’t necessarily foreshadow the impactful roles they’ll play in Acts 2, Jesus glimpses their future potential. Their answer to the call – to come and follow – is what ultimately allows their lives to become extraordinary.
However, it’s important to understand the heart of Jesus’ invitation. He doesn’t call them solely for the purpose of “becoming” something. While God has a unique plan for each life, our initial focus should be on following him faithfully. The responsibility for shaping our lives rests with him. We must wholeheartedly follow, trusting that he will make the best of us.
This call to follow Jesus is extended to you today. What will your response be? Simon and Andrew’s answer was one of complete commitment. They left everything behind, the familiar certainty of their profession, to follow Jesus. Their faith in him and his call was unwavering.
The call is ultimately a call to fellowship and discipleship. It begins with a relationship – staying with Jesus and learning from him before being sent out. This call echoes today. Before Jesus calls us to “become,” he first “sees” us. He doesn’t simply observe us; he extends a hand, inviting us out of a life defined by sin and into a relationship of devoted following.
Unless you come to Jesus, you’ll remain entangled in “fishing” for the wrong things. He offers a new life and purpose. Regardless of what defines you now, the call is clear: come. This is an invitation to step into a transformative relationship. As you do, Jesus will make you who he desires you to be. He has “come into your neighbourhood,” and you can be assured that he will make something remarkable of your life. Remember, following precedes becoming.
In conclusion, Jesus’ call to Simon and Andrew is a call to all of us. He invites us to leave our old identities and follow Him. Our primary focus should be on following Jesus, trusting that He will shape our lives for His purpose. By answering His call, we move from a life of limited identity to one of eternal significance. Let us embrace His invitation, follow Him wholeheartedly, and be transformed into vessels for His kingdom.
