As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

In an agricultural society, ranching, farming, and fishing provided the food for the table and the income for the family. When these men were not in the boat, they were not making money. Peter and Andrew were fishing, and close by were James and John. The latter’s father, Zebedee, was there too. So to follow Jesus, two of these men had to leave their father behind.

And why did they follow him? We are not told exactly, but he did tell them they would become fishers of men. Maybe there was intrigue regarding this concept of fishing for men? Maybe they saw something in Jesus at that moment? Or maybe, this is the first time a Rabbi asked lowly fishermen to follow him and be his pupils?

Jesus picks his first four disciples, not from a scholarly body or the wealthy or the high in position. No, he picks them out of a laborer's job, and one with a history of being a little crass and stubborn, at times.

So what are the good qualities of fishermen, generally? They work hard, they are strong, they can navigate, they are persistent, and they know a lot of people, because they sell their fish. They are practical and handy. They also have weathered storms.

I find it interesting that not only did Jesus relate to these men well, but he later would made three of the four of them part of his trusted inner circle: Peter, James, and John.

And here, they simply followed. They did not ask a bunch of questions to vet Jesus or ask for concessions in following him. He called and they simply obeyed and followed. It turns out Peter was married. Likelihood is he was married before Jesus called him. What would the impact on his family be following Jesus? He had to provide for them.

Lord, sometimes you ask us to do things without explaining “the why”. Teach me to obey and simply follow you. Trust is built when we don’t always know “the why”. Your ways are always better than mine. This is a simple truth. Help me to be simple in my obedience, as well.