"Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of People. Immediately, they left their nets and followed Him"
Gospel of Matthew
One of the fishermen that left his nets and followed Jesus was Andrew, brother of Simon Peter, one of the first apostles called by Christ. In fact, this particular gospel reading of Matthew, also found in Mark and Luke, is called "The call of the first disciples". When you read this particular section of scripture, we get the impression that Jesus met Andrew and Peter by chance by the Sea of Galilee, they were invited to be disciples, and they immediately respond, dropping everything, and followed Him.
In the Gospel of John, this scenario is played out a little differently. Andrew is a disciple of John the Baptist. It is John the Baptist who points out Jesus. "Look, there is the lamb of God". When Andrew starts to follow Jesus, Jesus asks him: "What are you looking for?" Andrew's response is: "Where are you staying?" to which Jesus replies: "Come and See".
The important question that comes to my mind as I read these accounts of the call of Andrew is not the circumstances of how Andrew and Jesus met. The important question is: What was there about Jesus that placed a desire on Andrew's heart to give up a way of life to which he was accustomed, a way of life that was not part of his family heritage, to suddenly and unexpectedly move off in this new direction?
In order to answer this question in regards to Andrew or Peter, I believe we must also find that answer for ourselves. What is it about Jesus that places on my heart a desire to give up a way of life to which I am accustomed, a way of life that is perhaps not part of my family heritage, to suddenly and unexpectedly move off in this new direction, particularly since this way of life runs counter to our culture with its emphasis on success and power? Why follow in this uncertain direction of being fishers of people?
And, of course, the answer has nothing to do with attaining success or the pursuit of power and the good things of life as defined by the society in which we life. It has nothing to do with the pursuing of a useful career, or even for that point, gaining favors from God.
It has to do with the fact that Jesus, by His life, by His word, and by His presence, somehow and in mystery, answers for us the many questions we have about why we are here.
What is the purpose of our lives? How does God want us to live? How can we live this life in its fullness?
When we look at Jesus, His life, His presence, we stumble into this mysterious pattern where God takes what is ordinary, weak and limited (like Andrew, like us) and offers it up and uses it for the greatness of building God's kingdom. In this respect, Jesus witnesses God, and in turn calls us to witness God as well, not only in the actions of our lives, but to others.
Andrew's call to discipleship is our call to discipleship. There really is no difference except to the degree to which we choose to respond.
Do you believe that God wants to work through and in you for His glory, to build His kingdom here on earth?
Becoming fishers of people is really only a recognition of the call to encounter and to enter into that relationship with Christ so that the true longings, the Holy longings of our hearts may be fulfilled.
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