Loving God, even when we are asked to make really big changes, you are there, filling us with your Spirit and guiding us.  Help us to hear your message today by the power of that same Spirit, teaching us how to follow your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    Today we hear about Simon and Andrew, James and John – some of Jesus’ first disciples.  They are all fishermen, working on the Sea of Galilee.  And Jesus comes along as they are going about their daily work with such a simple invitation: Follow me, and pretty soon you will be fishing for people!  It is simple, and yet it is oh, so complicated.  After all, can you even imagine leaving everything behind in order to go and start a new life?

    This leads into an interesting question for you and for me.  What would be so compelling that you would drop everything in order to start a new life?  What would be good enough or compelling enough to cause you to do that?  Would a really good job offer do it?  How about a marriage proposal?  Or what if you were suddenly presented with a chance to make a difference in some other country across the sea?  What would be so compelling that you would walk away from everything you had ever known?  (Responses?)

    In a similar vein, have any of you actually been in a situation where you made a really big change and headed in a totally new direction?  (Responses; crossing the Atlantic) What was that like? (Stressful?  Exhilarating?  Scary? Asking if you made the right choice?)  Keep in mind that some people are forced to make really big changes (like refugees) and others have a choice.

    In the case of Simon and Andrew, James and John, they had a choice.  Nobody forced them to go and follow Jesus.  It was an invitation where they were free to respond or not to respond.  Obviously, there was something about Jesus that convinced them that this man was worth following.

    As with many gospel stories, there is a fair bit that is left to our imagination.  What we do know is that these men left the family business behind in order to follow Jesus.  We also know from other passages in the New Testament that they left wives and families behind.  We know that the Holy Spirit had come upon Jesus at his baptism, and that same Spirit must have touched the hearts of these men as Jesus spoke to them.  Otherwise, how can we explain their actions?

    They didn’t have the benefit of hindsight that we have now.  There’s no way they could have known exactly who Jesus was or what his mission and purpose would be on this earth.  In fact, throughout the gospels there is evidence that they don’t fully understand who Jesus is or what he is all about.  Still, they are drawn to him and step out in faith in order to follow wherever he might lead.

    Even today, there are still people who quite literally leave everything behind in order to follow Jesus.  Here in Canada, we are not always aware of how difficult it is for people to become a Christian in other parts of the world.  Certainly, in many Muslim countries people are disowned by their families if they become Christian.  The same is true in places like India or other Asian countries where Christian missionaries are forbidden, and anybody who does put their faith in Jesus risks all kinds of persecution.  However, this does not stop people who have encountered Jesus Christ and want to give their lives to him.  For, they know that in Jesus they have found a treasure that far outweighs anything else that they might be asked to give up.

    I have to wonder if we in North America have become complacent and have failed to recognize the incredible gift of life that is ours through Jesus Christ.  All through the Scriptures, and still today throughout the world, people give up all kinds of earthly comforts and pleasures simply to be able to have Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.  Just as Paul wrote to the Philippians, they have counted all earthly gains as loss “because of the surpassing value of knowing” Jesus Christ as Lord (3:8).  Jesus, it would seem, is a compelling reason to leave your old life behind and start a brand new one.

    And so, here’s another question for you to consider today: What would make the time we spend together on Sundays so compelling that people would leave other options behind in order to be here?  There are a number of reasons for asking this question.  First of all, we believe that when we come together for worship, Jesus is here – the same Jesus who has this incredible gift of life! – the same Jesus who is worth dropping everything in order to follow him.  Jesus is here when two or three are gathered.  Jesus is here whenever the Lord’s Supper is celebrated.  Jesus is here as the head of the body of Christ.  And so, when people come here, do they see Jesus?

    Another reason for asking is the incredible number of options people have these days for how to spend Sunday mornings.  People ask themselves, what will be most helpful for my life?  What will be worth my time?  And so, are there things that would make our time together more compelling and worth people’s time? (Responses? – if you don’t think of anything right now you can tell me later...)

    God has given us this incredible gift in Jesus Christ – the gift of love and mercy – the gift of forgiveness and salvation – the gift of life in all its fullness.  God touches our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit and then invites us to come and follow.  We are called to serve God in so many different ways, whether as nurses or as teachers or as woodworkers or as repair people or as pastors.  And all of us are called to be witnesses to God’s love, sharing it with people wherever we are led from day to day.

    And so, today, listen carefully for what God is calling you to do.  Listen carefully for who you see that would make a good pastor or diaconal minister.  Listen carefully for the good news that God loves you and has saved you and redeemed you.  Are you being asked to leave anything behind so that you can follow Jesus?  It’s never easy, but as the disciples discovered, it is infinitely worth it!  Amen.

Epiphany 3(B)                                    Mark 1:14-20
January 22, 2012
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2012 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved