Chosen

[Journey with Jesus – Day 8]

I was never the brightest, not even in my family – Andrew had that distinction. No, I was the mouthy one who had the gift of the gab. Sometimes it was a gift when it came to bartering and getting the best money for our catches of fish, but other times, particularly when I was younger, it got me into trouble. Thankfully being married calmed me down and my dear wife kept me in check. Anyway, I was good at fishing and good at bartering – and this is what

I imagined doing for the rest of my life. But then Jesus came along and called me and Andrew and James and John from our nets and gave us a new job – to fish for people.

The days and weeks that followed were amazing as Jesus then showed us the new kingdom that he was inaugurating. He revealed so much about God’s love and demonstrated this by bringing freedom and healing to those who were sick and suffering in many different ways. He was making enemies as well as drawing huge crowds who wanted to receive from him, and he had time for them all. We were staggered by what Jesus was doing – he was no ordinary rabbi. And we got to follow him. Within a short while there was quite a large group who had become the community around Jesus – men and women alike, many of whom had experienced his healing.

One day Jesus had been out on his own in the mountains to pray to God all night and we knew not to disturb him – we knew how important these times were to him. He called us together. “You are all my disciples, but twelve of you will have special responsibilities – I’m calling you twelve to be my disciples – to follow me and learn from me so that you will be able to do what I do. You will be my apostles – sent out to do my Father’s work. I want you to be with me, then you’ll be sent out to preach and I’m giving you authority too – authority to drive out demons.”

As he called us – me and Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (who was called the zealot), Judas (son of James), and Judas Iscariot. We looked at each other, bemused and humbled – none of us were your typical disciples and yet Jesus had chosen us. I for my part was desperate not to let Jesus down and prayed for strength to follow Jesus faithfully. Honoured that he had given me such an incredible honour.