We have a children’s book we bought when the girls were small called “Follow Me” by Mordicai Gerstein. It is a very simple engaging book. These ducks meet each other and each time turn to follow the new duck, then they do the same with each goose they meet. They keep changing directions trying to find the way home. This continues until the duckherd shows up. He knows the way home. They all turn and follow him home.
Matthew 4:19-20 (CSB)
19 “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Jesus was born into a time with great expectations for the arrival of the promised Messiah. He is introduced on the scene by John the Baptist. John the Baptist baptizes Jesus and is revealed as the Messiah by the Holy Spirit descending on Him in the form of a dove. God speaks over Him. John then declares this to some of his disciples. These disciples of John turn to follow Jesus who John has identified as the “Lamb of God.” This is the first glimpse of the ongoing process of Jesus calling 12 men to be His disciples. The gospel accounts share a few miracles that were performed in the presence of some of the disciples. Ultimately Jesus calls them to leave their current life to follow Him.
What does Jesus ask of them? Where do these interactions and miracles lead? Jesus compels them to follow. This is a call to leave behind their current life and embrace an entirely new paradigm. They will now catch people.
Are we not confronted with the same questions? Jesus is the Lamb of God. He transcends this world and operates from that point of view. Will we follow? What does it mean to follow? Are we willing to let Him write the next chapters of our story? Will we follow and will we operate out of His priorities? As we continue through the gospels we will learn much about what it means to follow. The disciples did not know what would happen, but they trusted Jesus and began a journey with Him. They would grow in their understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. So will we.
“They immediately left their nets.”
Will you answer the call to follow?