To two sets of brothers, fishermen by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus says “come follow me.” In these three words, Jesus uses the common invitation of a rabbi to a student to become his disciple.
When a rabbi made such an invitation, it was an immense privilege. After years of study, watching the student memorise Scripture, study the oral tradition, and show depth of insight through the art of questioning, there was one question which needed to be answered for the rabbi. It was, “can this child be like me?”
If the rabbi felt the student could be like them, then those three words would be said, “come, follow me.”
Here by the lake of Galilee, Jesus made this invitation to fishermen, later he would make it to a tax collector, and he also makes it to us.
In the fisherman Peter, Jesus saw the possibility that he could be like Jesus. He also saw it in John, James, Andrew and Matthew. In you, Jesus sees the possibility of your becoming like him.
It is astonishing to realise that Jesus sees us this way.
The call to follow Jesus is more than an invitation to secure our eternal destiny. It is an invitation to walk with God now, and live life in sync with Him. To live lives where we actually reflect the character of God, and join God in His activity in this world.
