Matthew 4:17-25: a reflection

17From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” 18Walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers: Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.” 20They immediately left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. 22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them. 25Great multitudes from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordan followed him.

When Jesus calls his first disciples by the sea of Galilee, their response is striking for its immediacy. Come after me, he says to Simon and Andrew, and I will make you fishers for men; and they immediately left their nets and followed him. He calls James and John, and they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him. There is no hesitation, no negotiating, no asking for time; at Christ's call, they leave what they are doing, their livelihood, even family, and follow him at once. Their obedience was immediate and wholehearted, a prompt leaving of all to follow Christ. This shows the kind of response Christ's call deserves: not delay or half-hearted consideration, but prompt, wholehearted obedience, leaving what must be left to follow him. They left their nets immediately and followed Christ. The response to Christ's call was immediate and wholehearted. Christ's call deserves a prompt, wholehearted response. They followed at once, leaving all.

Notice the immediacy of the disciples' response: they left their nets and followed at once. When Christ called, they did not delay, deliberate, or negotiate; they immediately left what they were doing, their nets, their boat, even their father, and followed him. Their obedience was prompt and wholehearted, without hesitation or hedging. This is a striking picture of how Christ's call should be answered: promptly, wholeheartedly, with a readiness to leave whatever must be left to follow him. We can respond to Christ's call with delay, deliberation, half-heartedness, wanting to hold onto what we have while considering whether to follow; but the disciples left their nets immediately and followed. There is a wholeheartedness in their response that Christ's call deserves: not a slow, hedged, partial following, but a prompt and full one, leaving what must be left. To answer Christ's call promptly and wholeheartedly, rather than with delay and hesitation, is the fitting response. Their immediate leaving of all shows the wholehearted response Christ deserves. Christ's call is answered rightly with prompt, full obedience. The disciples' immediate following models the response Christ deserves. To follow Christ at once, leaving all, is wholehearted obedience.

That is worth taking to heart, for Christ's call deserves a prompt, wholehearted response, not delay or half-heartedness. We can respond to Christ's call with delay, deliberation, or a hedged, partial following, wanting to hold onto what we have; but the disciples immediately left their nets and followed him, prompt and wholehearted. Christ's call deserves such a response: a ready leaving of what must be left, a prompt and full obedience. Do not answer Christ's call with delay or half-heartedness; respond promptly and wholeheartedly, as the disciples immediately left their nets to follow. Answer Christ's call with prompt, wholehearted obedience rather than delay or half-heartedness, as the disciples immediately left their nets, their boat, and even their father to follow him when he called; for Christ's call deserves not a slow, hedged, partial following but a prompt and full one, a readiness to leave whatever must be left to follow him, and the disciples' immediate leaving of all models the wholehearted response his call deserves, so that we do well to answer Christ promptly and wholeheartedly rather than with delay, deliberation, or a half-hearted holding-back, following him at once as they did.

Lord Jesus, when you call your first disciples by the sea of Galilee, their response is striking for its immediacy. Come after me, you say to Simon and Andrew, and I will make you fishers for men; and they immediately left their nets and followed you. You call James and John, and they immediately left the boat and their father, and followed you. There is no hesitation, no negotiating, no asking for time; at your call, they leave what they are doing, their livelihood, even family, and follow you at once. Their obedience was immediate and wholehearted. Show me the immediacy of the disciples' response: they left their nets and followed at once. When you called, they did not delay, deliberate, or negotiate; they immediately left what they were doing and followed you. Their obedience was prompt and wholehearted, without hesitation. This is a striking picture of how your call should be answered: promptly, wholeheartedly, with a readiness to leave whatever must be left to follow you. I can respond to your call with delay, deliberation, half-heartedness, wanting to hold onto what I have while considering whether to follow; but the disciples left their nets immediately and followed. Take that to my heart, for your call deserves a prompt, wholehearted response, not delay or half-heartedness. I can respond to your call with delay or a hedged, partial following; but the disciples immediately left their nets and followed you. Your call deserves such a response: a ready leaving of what must be left, a prompt and full obedience. Keep me from answering your call with delay or half-heartedness; help me respond promptly and wholeheartedly, Lord, as the disciples immediately left their nets to follow you, following you at once rather than holding back.