Wednesday, September 15

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in to the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-20

Do you remember the playground ritual of choosing up sides for a game of kickball or softball? Inevitably, the two dominant boys (usually) – who were either the biggest kids in the class, or the most verbally assertive, and often both – would designate themselves as “captains.” Then they would take turns picking their team from the gaggle of kids nervously waiting their names to be called. One by one kids would be chosen, beginning with the best athletes and moving on to the more popular classmates and finally it came down to the last couple of kids. No one wanted to be one of the last two kids to be chosen. Anything but that. No one wanted to be exposed as the least gifted kickball player; no one wanted to be the least wanted.

I think that might be a little how these four fishermen may have felt before they met Jesus. People who know this sort of thing tell us that most boys in Jewish culture aspired to become disciples of a local Rabbi. But in order to be chosen they had to demonstrate an aptitude for deeper study and understanding of the scriptures. Young men who did not display this aptitude were encouraged to go into the family business. So, we can assume that these four men – Peter, Andrew, James and John – had, in a sense, been left standing in the playground – unchosen.

Along comes Jesus, who would have been seen as a Rabbi, and without even so much as an interview or theological exam, he “chooses” these four fishermen for his “team.” I picture each on of them looking surprised, glancing around saying, “You talking to me?” and thinking Jesus had to be making some sort of mistake. They weren’t the best and the brightest; they weren’t students of theology or well-versed in the interpretation of ancient texts; they were fishermen, plain and simple. Yet the Rabbi invited them to follow him!

Maybe you have felt a little like these four men – spiritually speaking. Maybe you feel like a beginner when in comes to your knowledge of the Bible. Maybe you feel that you don’t possibly have anything to offer Jesus because of issues in your past. Yet Jesus chooses YOU! The Rabbi thinks you can be like him!

Take a few moments in prayer, quiet your heart, and listen to the voice of Jesus. Can you hear him call your name? Can you hear him whisper, “Follow me!”?

Brian Coffey