The scene changes suddenly. We find ourselves in Galilee in the blink of an eye. Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, choose to travel with Jesus back to Galilee. We do not know yet the reason they choose to return to his land of birth. On the other hand, if nothing else were to take place, this event would have justified his visit.
It’s almost as if he travels to Galilee for
no other reason than to “bump into” Phillip.
Upon the pre-ordained encounter he looks at this man who, as far as we
know, he had never met before and invites him to become a disciple with the
words, “Follow me.” That’s it! No angelic fanfare. No divine lights shining down from the
heavens. Not even an introduction,
“Hello, Phillip. I am the Messiah,”
followed by the “Follow me.” But a
picture is beginning to develop as to the different ways that God uses to
elicit a response to his call to ministry.
For Andrew it takes a day’s experience. For Simon it requires a brother’s testimony
and personal invitation to meet the Messiah.
For Phillip it is sudden impact followed by an immediate response. And Jesus is just beginning the process of
recruiting the individuals who are to become a most unlikely crew of social
cast-offs and that in time would be transformed into the “spiritual special
forces” Jesus would use to set the world on fire with the everlasting
Gospel. The means and methods might be
as varied as the souls being sought, but the message is the same—“Follow
me.” Two words are at the core of God’s
desire for all of humanity. We all
follow something or someone, but there is only one Way, Truth, and Light that
leads to Eternal Life for all who believe.
God is calling me today and every day, “Follow me!” What we do with the invitation is up to me.
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