As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. (Mark 1: 16-20)
Stories of the call to discipleship continue as the time after Epiphany plays out the implications of our baptismal calling to show Christ to the world. Jesus begins proclaiming the Good News and calling people to repentance right after John the Baptist is arrested for preaching in a similar way. Knowing that John was later executed, we see at the very outset the cost of discipleship. Still, the two sets of fisherman brothers leave everything they have known and worked for all their lives to follow Jesus and fish for people.
Sunday’s Worship Music
The Traditional worship services feature the hymn You Have Come down to the Lakeshore (ELW 817). Stories of God’s call abound in the time after Epiphany. Today Jesus calls the fishermen to leave their nets and follow him and our hymn of the day casts us in the fisherman’s role. What must we leave behind to follow Jesus? To whom are we called to demonstrate mercy?
The New Day Praise worship service will feature Steve Fee’s You Are The Light. The uplifting lyrics of Fee’s song proclaim that we are God’s people and we are here to worship and praise him! We are also the ones who will shine God’s light on those in need to provide them with hope.
Preaching Theme
Trust and Believe.
For Your Home Devotions
- God’s call is always into an uncertain future. What call, job or relationship are you pondering?
- What do you think appealed to the men when Jesus called them to “fish for people”? What would you think if you were called to do the same?
- How have you responded to God when God is calling?
