Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. Mark 1:14-28
Yesterday, we drove to the seacoast to eat a picnic lunch. We didn't know the area, so we did our best to find a sea side park. When we arrived there, although we were steps from the water, we couldn't see a thing. The fog had rolled in, meaning the front that was moving in was colder than the water. Storms begin on the ocean, all of life has come from the oceans, and we are dependent on it. I am also daily surpirsed by the mystery and possibilites of the sea.
Jesus begins calling his disciples by the sea. He could have chosen anywhere, yet he goes to the water, to the source of all life to call the ornriest humans possible. Fishermen were his first friends and compasions in ministry, not priests, intellectuals or the wealthy. He called hardworking, rough mouthed fishermen to be his best friends. They came away from everything they knew, from the source of their livelihood and identity, to follow Jesus. It began by the sea, but can never stay there.
Today, I ask God to help me, who started by the ocean, always follow to wherever God leads me. May we follow, away from the places of comfort, so that God might use us to spread love.
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