Responding to Jesus’ Call – Pastor David Tsai

Luke 5:8-11
 
Today’s passage happens by the “Lake of Gennesaret,” also known as the Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1). At the word of Jesus, Simon and his crew dropped their nets. Instantly they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. Seeing this, Simon Peter fell down before Jesus, saying, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (v. 8). But Jesus responded, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people” (v. 10). So when the boats landed, Simon Peter and his partners, James and John, “left everything and followed Him [Jesus]” (v. 11).
The striking thing in v.  is the initiative Jesus shows in calling Simon Peter, James, and John. He still calls disciples today. We hear His calling in different ways: through preaching, reading the Bible or the Gospels, the witness of a family member or colleague. No matter how it begins, following Jesus isn’t something we initiate. It is our response to the initiative of Jesus in our lives. It is acting in obedience to the One who calls us (v. 10).
I’m struck by Simon Peter’s response to Jesus’s miracle and Jesus’s response to Simon’s response. Seeing how many fish had been caught when he had failed only hours earlier, Simon knew he had witnessed a miracle. No doubt he sensed in Jesus God’s own holy presence and power. Simon knew his own moral defects and felt sure that he did not belong with a holy Man like Jesus. But Jesus was not your ordinary holy man. He did not withdraw from sinful people. He sought them out. He hung out with them. He brought the Good News of God’s Kingdom to them (Luke 5:32). Indeed, He called them to follow Him and join His mission. This was good news for Simon. And it is good news for us. It means that we don’t have to clean up our lives in order to say “Yes” to Jesus. We don’t have to make ourselves perfect before He calls us, as if this were even possible.
Jesus knows everything about you and me: the good, the bad, and the ugly, and He is not deterred. He calls us to follow Him, not because we’re perfect, but because He loves us and seeks our partnership in His mission. In responding to His call, we will find the desire and the power to renounce sin. But this comes in response to the gracious call of Jesus, not as a prerequisite for receiving that call.
Simon and his partners “left everything and followed Him” (v. 11). Like Abram (Genesis 12), they left everything behind so that they might actually follow Jesus. Are we supposed to do the same if we are going to follow Jesus?
Most of us won’t be called far away to join Jesus in Kingdom work. For us, following Jesus is something we do in our familiar cities, families, and workplaces. Yes, we will follow Jesus even if we work at McDonald’s. To be sure, following Jesus still requires plenty of leaving behind. Jesus will ask us to leave our comfort zone, discard our worldly values, unjust practices, prejudicial biases, selfish materialism, and inborn “me first” attitude. We will come to see our whole life, including our daily work and everyday relationships, as contexts in which can follow Jesus faithfully.
 
Lord Jesus, thank You for calling me into relationship
with You and into Your service.
May I live today for the praise of Your glory! Amen.