Why Did the Disciples Drop Everything?
Mark 1:16-20
Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.” Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
Imagine you are on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and see the men fishing with nets. Jesus walks along the shore and says to the men, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Would that sound like a strange offer to you? Would you be surprised when the men left their nets and their catch of the day and just walked off with Jesus? What would cause responsible men to leave their boats, their businesses, their families and walk off into the wilderness with Jesus?
This is where most modern Christians get the idea that the disciples were deeply spiritual men and could sense something holy and amazing about Jesus. Grown men with families and businesses would not drop everything and wander off with a spiritual teacher unless they could sense his holiness.
Other people believe that the disciples had heard talk about Jesus. Perhaps they heard he had never sinned. Perhaps they heard about good things he had done for people in Nazareth, his hometown. Motivated by a quest for enlightenment, these men left everything for the opportunity to learn from Jesus.
There is a better historical explanation as to why these men left everything to follow Jesus. Unfortunately, you need the background presented in the first six chapters of Mark to understand the real answer.
What if Jesus turned to you and said, “I want you to come with me and learn from me. I have great things for you to do. You will make a difference in the lives of many people.” How would you feel? Would you drop everything to go with Jesus? In one sense, that is exactly what Jesus is saying to you right now.
