Mark 1:14-18: a reflection

Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee, sees Simon and Andrew casting their nets, and says simply, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And Mark records their response in one word that carries enormous weight: immediately they left their nets and followed him. No long deliberation, no list of conditions, no let me get my affairs in order first. They dropped what was in their hands and went.

Notice the readiness. These men left their livelihood, their nets, the thing they were literally holding, to follow a call. It was not that following was costless; they gave up their trade, their security. But when Jesus called, they were ready to let go and go. There is something bracing about that immediacy, in contrast to how we so often respond, with delay, with conditions, with someday.

And notice what Jesus does with who they already were. He does not discard their identity as fishermen; he repurposes it: I will make you fishers of men. The skills, the temperament, the very life they had, Jesus takes up and turns toward his kingdom. He does the same with us. He calls us to follow, often to let go of something we are gripping, and then he takes who we already are and puts it to use for him. When Jesus calls, will you, like them, leave the nets and follow, and let him make your life into something for his kingdom?