Called

Matthew 4:18-22 (TNIV)

18 As 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.' 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going 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, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Have you ever read a passage so many times that its impact can be lost on you? As I read these verses this morning I was struck by some questions. Why did these men, professional blue collar guys, drop everything and follow this man? Did these men know Jesus? Were they old fishing buddies? Had they heard him preach? All he said was come and they came. What drew them?

Then I had to think, what drew me? Why does this man from Nazareth still draw me 2,000 years later? Is it His teaching? Yes, partially. What he says is powerful, but much of it is simply an exposition of the Hebrew scripture. It can't be just that. Was it his love and compassion for the poor. Yes, partially. After all many have spoken for the need and I can find nothing that Jesus says in his teachings on society that aren't in the Hebrew scripture.

What is it about Him that draws me? Perhaps it is all of the above and more. His compassion was more than words. His compassion was about deeds. Scripture says that he saw the sick, had compassion on them and healed them. He wept over Jerusalem. He cared so much that he actually gave his own life, willingly, on the Cross so that we could spend eternity with Him. He showed that even death is only a temporary state. As God he chose to be man. As a man he showed us how to live.

Ultimately I guess I can't even pin it down. I can't say what about Him still draws me. Perhaps like the many who abandoned Him because His teachings are too hard I could just walk away. But why? Whenever I start to lag behind I can feel His voice, quietly calling. Come, follow me. Then, I know exactly what I have to do.

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