At Once

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

AT ONCE

Mark 1:16-18

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."  18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

NIV

At once they left their nets and followed him. Do we see that? Oh Sure it was Jesus in the flesh who called them to come, follow me, but who was he, they didn't know he was the Son of God, they didn't know he was the Messiah or that he was going to be their savior. Although maybe they were part of all the people from the Judean countryside that were there at the Jordan River when Jesus was baptized and saw the Holy spirit and Heard the voice of God. Or maybe they just heard about it and did know what had happened. We also do not know if these two brothers were just a small part of a big family business, or if they were married with children or much else about their business as fishermen. What we do know is they left whatever they were doing and followed Jesus. We do not know where, or if they went home that night and gathered up their family, or packed a bag, kissed the wife and kids and told them they would be gone a while or what. All we know is they left their nets and followed him. We know of some of the things which happened over the next few years, like Andrew finding the boy with the fish and loaves, but we have no details of the day to day life, where they slept, where they ate, if they ever stopped off home for a change of clothes, or to see their families. But what we do know is when Jesus called them to follow him; at once they left their nets and followed him. The question which we have to ask ourselves is, have we left our nets, at once, and followed him? Sure we are not fishermen, and we don’t have nets, but we do have something we look to for our livelihood. It is doubtful Jesus would come by and ask us to leave our jobs, or our business to follow him, right? But he surely has come by and asked us to follow him, and at once we left our lifestyle behind and followed him. Or did we? Have we just added him to our lifestyle? Have we just left a portion of our lifestyle? What does it mean to leave our nets and follow him? Is there a cost to following him? Did Jesus promise them a good time? Did Jesus promise them a good life? Did they expect to get anything out of following him? It would appear they knew nothing about the life they would live by following him. It doesn't look like they were seeking any rewards, or better life, or blessings from God because they decided to follow Jesus. All we know for sure is that at once they left their nets and followed him. That is our calling, to leave whatever we need to leave and follow him. Although we know the whole story, we have read the last page, we know how this all ends, we should not be seeking rewards, a better life, or blessings from God because we decided to follow Jesus. We merely have to leave whatever and follow him, at once!