The Disciples listen

18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him.

21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. (Mt. 4)

Thoughts: I want to focus on how the disciples listened to this call to follow Jesus.  They followed at once.  They did not weigh things, they did not become indecisive, they did not hesitate- they followed at once.  They left their nets.  They were willing to give up their money and their livliehood to follow Christ,  Who wouldn't?  He is worth more than all our money and food.  It is because they left that history has never been the same and that we are here today.  Listening to God's call to follow remains important and we should listen to Him.  Sometimes listening means dropping what we are doing.  Following Jesus always bears fruit- whether we see it or not.  Sometimes that fruit involves other people being inspired just by our faith and commitment.  

Prayer: Lord, give me ears to hear, and a willingness to drop my nets and follow you.

The author at the Sea of Galilee. 

The Disciples Listen and Follow

35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter ). (John 1) 

Thoughts: Tradition says Andrew and John were regular disciples of John the Baptist.  Both were fishermen from Capernaum, Galilee where Jesus later centered his ministry.  John pointed to Jesus saying that he was THE LAMB OF GOD.  This was tantamount to calling him the Messiah.  The reference was to Jesus as the Passover Lamb whose blood protected from the angel of death.  When John and Andrew heard this they followed Jesus- but following the Lamb whose death would atone also meant they were following Him from the beginning facing danger.  Jesus invited them to come and see and they followed Him.
     Andrew was excited about his new call and invited his brother Simon Peter to join him.  This invitation changed the leadership of the disciples and the church.  Always, to be a disciple means to listen and then try to follow and imitate our Lord.
        Jesus calls US to follow Him by asking us to "come and see."    We are called to come and experience for ourselves the truth of Jesus as the Messiah.  Listening to the call means to come and see for ourselves- experiencing Jesus as the Savior of the world and our Savior. 

Prayer: Lord, when you bid me come and see, help me to come to you and experience anew your hope and salvation.