Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 1:16-18

I changed schools quite a bit when I was a kid and wherever we moved, there was always that student in every class who raised his or her hand and waved it wildly to get the teacher’s attention saying, “Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!”

Based on what we read about him in the New Testament, I imagine that the disciple, Peter, was that kind of boy as he sat in the synagogue. Although he may have been enthusiastic, it is unlikely that Peter was at the top of his class because we are first introduced to him as a fisherman.

Peter’s life was on a path that was perfectly acceptable within his culture.  As a Jewish boy, he had been circumcised, was educated in the synagogue, completed his Bar Mitzvah, and was old enough to marry in the traditional Jewish Wedding (Luke 4: 38-39. He was no religious leader, but he carried on the family name in a worthwhile business. He had checked many of the right boxes, but based on his decision to follow Christ, it seems that Peter had longed for something more significant in life even if it meant change.

Jewish life had specific expectations for men in the culture, yet Peter was willing to risk it all when he left everything to follow Christ.  His parents, in-laws, and his wife may have all questioned his decision. 

We tend to be kind of casual about Peter’s decision to leave everything and follow Christ because we know the end of the story. A young lady I met a few years ago gave me a better understanding of what it means to give up everything for Christ.  Her decision for Christ resulted in an outright rejection of the young lady by her Hindu parents. The family actually called a worldwide teleconference in an attempt to pressure her to reconsider.

If you’re reading this message, you’re part of a pretty diverse group. Maybe you feel like some of the opportunities of life have passed you by, but the most important challenge of life faces each of us each day.

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Matthew 16:23-24).