Adventure Time!
When our children were small I was in charge of adventures. We took adventures to the zoo and the park and the mall. Being the Adventure Administrator also meant that I did most of our vacation planning and preparation. We had a tent trailer that we took out every summer. My husband and I would select a destination and campsite together; I filled in the rest. I researched a wide variety of things to do in our selected locale. I considered the various personalities and interests of our family, aiming to find something that would delight each person. I created a schedule for each day including meals and snacks. Tent trailers aren’t known for their abundance of storage and space, but there needed to be room for 4 duffel bags, sleeping bags, blankies, pillows, towels, cooking items, multiple coolers, a selection of board games, brownies or chocolate chip cookies and one of those large plastic containers of Twizzlers. I not only got to plan our grand escapades, I also got to pack for these exploits which was an adventure in itself! As much I loved each excursion we took, I dreamed of going on an adventure where I didn’t have to plan or pack or cook or clean up.
Jesus invited twelve guys on an adventure where there was no planning or packing involved. When I read in Mark chapter 1 how Peter and Andrew, James and John, just left everything to join Jesus on His adventure I am always stunned. There was no preparation whatsoever! They didn’t run home to grab a quick snack. They didn’t check to make sure everything was locked up before they left. They didn’t do a quick internet search for a place to temporarily call home. No one seemed to be in charge of meals or evening entertainment. No one put on an extra jacket or stuffed some socks somewhere just in case.
When you read Mark’s account in Mark 1:16-20 it all sounds so random. Jesus sees some fisherman and says “Hey! You should come with me. I’ll teach you how to really fish.” And they go! They leave their boats and their equipment and their families and they follow Jesus. When you read the account in Luke 5 you realize a bit more happened and yet the result is the same. Peter, Andrew, James and John were so overwhelmed with who Jesus was they dropped the life they were living and joined him in His life. From the very beginning of their adventure, Jesus was more important than three things to those four disciples.
First, Jesus was more important to them than their livelihood. In our modern day culture, one’s career seems to be the epitome of who one is. We define ourselves by what we do. We get focused on climbing the ladder to gain importance and greater responsibility. We seek extra hours or overtime so we can afford that swanky vacation. We strive to be recognized and seen as impressive in whatever job we do. Simon, Andrew, James and John basically quit their jobs to follow Jesus. They didn’t have a clue what life would look like; they didn’t even ask! They were so compelled by who Jesus was when He said “Follow,” they did. In the Luke passage we learn that Jesus had just provided a fish catch for the record books. I find it fascinating that they didn’t ask Jesus to join their fishing crew so that their business could achieve the Best Fishermen award. Instead, they willingly let go of what provided for them and gave them significance to join Jesus and His mission.
Secondly, Jesus was more important to them than their families. James and John literally left their dad holding the nets. We learn later in Mark, chapter 1, that Peter had a mother-in-law, which leads one to conclude he had a wife. There is no mention of Peter running home to confer with his bride or the others in his family. This is not an excuse for us to abandon our parents, our in-laws or our spouses. God’s Word makes it clear that family is important (see Ex. 20:12, Eph. 5:25, Ps. 127:3-5) and God is to always come first. Sometimes that’s difficult. Do we trust that God knows not only what is best for us individually, but also for each member of our households? It’s so easy to make our families such a strong priority that we inadvertently put God and His purposes in second place. We can’t give to missions because Johnnie’s in competitive soccer and Janie wants a new phone. We can’t participate in a weekend retreat because that would leave our spouse home alone with the children. We can’t make it to church every Sunday because that’s the only day we have as a family. Jesus asks us to put Him and His Kingdom first. Always.
Thirdly, Jesus was more important than their responsibilities. Did you notice: they left their stuff! They left the nets and the boats and the fish and their hired workers. As a mom, I would be saying, “come back here and put your things away!” It’s so easy to put Jesus off by telling Him we’ll get around to doing what He asks of us as soon as we finish X Y Z. We all have our to-do lists that seem to control our schedules. I know there have been many times I’ve thought something along the lines of “I should take that family a meal.” It doesn’t happen because my every day responsibilities take precedence. I straighten the front room, I fold the laundry and I play with the dog. I choose to do things that should be done, but could be done later, instead of listening to what Jesus asks of me and choosing to follow His leading. Jesus wants to be first priority in all of our choices.
Jesus wasn’t out to just make their lives better. Jesus wanted to transform their lives and transform who they were. My Pastor husband recently preached on this passage in Mark 1 and he mentioned that following a Rabbi meant you wanted to be exactly like him. It wasn’t a matter of just copying a look or imitating some behaviors. The goal was to be like the Rabbi in every way possible.
To be like Jesus, to follow Him in the way He desires, means we give up what we think is significant. Whether it is our careers, our family with their hopes and dreams, or that things we do that seem so important and necessary in the moment. I’m not saying we don’t strive to be great at our jobs. I’m not suggesting that you ignore the needs of your family. I’m not telling you to shirk your responsibilities. I do believe that Jesus is saying to view those things through the filter of who He is, and what He wants to accomplish in us and through us. Jesus invites us on an adventure of transformation. Jesus invites us to go with Him, live with Him, hang out with Him every moment of every day. Just think, on this adventure, you don’t have to plan, prepare or pack before you go. You just need to follow.
