Every Christian has a binding call to discipleship; that is to study, attempt to understand and follow the teachings of Christ Jesus. That call can be lived out in many ways. Some undertake missionary service, pastoral occupation or simply devote themselves daily in prayer and reading of scripture. For the laity, discipleship can be somewhat of an enigma. Some are afraid to live out their faith in daily life, although they live in a society where they are free to do so. Others boldly live out their faith in cultures where merely professing to be a Christian is forbidden. I have known men who professed faith loudly and often, yet did not back up their conviction in deed. Likewise I have known men whose faith is strong yet they do not display any outward signs of their heavenly call. How are we to live as true Disciples in this modern age?

JESUS CALLS TWO BROTHERS

Shortly after Jesus came to the village of Capernaum, he caught sight of two fisherman washing their nets. This may seem at first glance to be a simple circumstance. But make no mistake, it was not an accident that these two brothers where tending to their father’s business. Jesus called to them, a simple invitation, “Come, follow me.” Astoundingly they dropped everything they were doing, got out of their father’s boat and fell in step along with the Christ. They didn’t know much about this man who asked them to change their lives so radically; only that he was a man called Jesus, a teacher, a rabbi. Yet they did as he beckoned them to. Why?

To understand this episode more fully we have to look more closely at Judaism. All boys were educated in Torah. Simon and Andrew were undoubtedly no exception. They likely knew the first five books of the Bible by memory as did every good Jewish man. When they were young they would have been taught by a rabbi. He would drill them and question them, trying to discern whether they could become rabbis also. If they were found to be less than acceptable prospective rabbis, their teacher would congratulate them for their dedication and completion of their primary studies and then promptly send them back to their father to learn his trade.

Being a rabbi would have been an occupation of the highest honor. A rabbi was respected, revered, looked to for guidance and ultimately provided for by the community. No better lot could be had. Simon and Andrew, we must assume failed to pass the standards of their first teacher. They were sent back to Zebedee to become fishermen and carry on the family business.

It is no great wonder, then, that when this rabbi Jesus called them they followed willingly. They left thier nets and their boat; even their father calling after them to come back and finish the day’s work. They knew they were being summoned to learn under a rabbi. They were getting a second chance to be an apprentice (the ultimate apprentice, not the Donald apprentice) They knew that they would possibly be great teachers themselves someday if they just answered that call. This just did not happen in first century Judea.

“So what does this have to do with us,” you may be asking. The answer is “EVERYTHING.” Jesus makes this same invitation to you and I. “Go forth and make disciples of all nations,” he said. “How can I do that,” I’m glad you asked. Pick up your Bible, dust it off if you need to, crack it open and read. Nay, don’t just read, absorb. Put its teachings into practice in your everyday life Monday through Sunday. Don’t just pick the passages that you enjoy. Study the difficult to understand ones too. (Yes that includes the Old Testament)

One last note — You can’t do this alone. “Where ever two or three of you gather in My name,” Jesus said, “I AM THERE” [emphasis mine]. There are a lot of options for studying The Word together in community. Get into a small group. Take The Alpha course. Join a Disciple Group (shameless plug – I’ll be leading a Disciple I Group this fall and I’d love to have you join). Together we can become ‘Fishers of Men,’ without even leaving our nets or spreadsheets or emails or power tools or other occupations behind. In fact it’s better if we take our Bibles into those places of work. We might just make the biggest ‘catch’ of our lives.