Jesus called the disciples to Himself with the words, “Follow Me.”  Rabbis and scribes didn’t call their protégées when Jesus lived.  Instead, their followers latched onto them.  Also, Jesus didn’t say, “Let’s follow God together.”  Instead, He beckoned them to follow Him.  Jesus didn’t require His followers to be learned theologians and apologists.  Everything they needed to learn and do would come directly from Him.  All they needed to do was follow.

Jesus said that He would make His followers fishers of men.  They would become something they were not.  They would begin a lifetime pursuit.  This journey would be slow, painful, and full of misunderstanding.  It would be fraught with danger and suffering.  However, Jesus as the Suffering Servant, would show His disciples the way.  He would set the standard for His followers.  He exemplified astonishing authority while maintaining a servant-minded example (Mark 1.16-20; 10.45).

Jesus called more than one follower or disciple.  Many would join Him beyond the twelve apostles.  These followers are the men and women who became the living stones of the Christian church.  They rested upon the Cornerstone who Jesus Himself.  Jesus poured Himself into them.  His teaching permeated their lives.  Their doctrine was the doctrine of God.  As such, we build upon their ministry today.

You read the way Jesus called His disciples in Mark 1 and your tempted to think, “Wow!  Just like that! They drop everything, give up everything, and follow Jesus?!”  How can this be?  Maybe they should have come up with a back-up plan in case things didn’t go as planned.  There were no miracles, no preaching, no casting out demons.  There was only this abrupt command and call: “Follow Me.  Leave your nets.  Leave your fathers.  Follow Me!”

What have you left behind to follow Christ?  Have you obeyed the authority found in Him?  There is great eternal value when you line up under His authority and become His disciple:

• A full, abundant, and satisfying life as Jesus reveals more of Himself daily
• Transformation into what the Father desires
• Unifies you with other believers through winning and discipling souls
• Differentiates you from other believers through the Father’s gifts bestowed only upon you
• Helps you to see how you must abandon the idea of putting anything or anyone before the Father

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.” (Mark 1:16–20)