Nets

​Mark 1:14-20
Jesus calls four fisherman
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Jesus continues to call his disciples to join him in his work. In this passage, we see that Jesus goes to the shore to find not one or two, but four disciples. They were all fishermen. Fishing was a lucrative business, and we see that Zebedee even had hired men. His family business made enough to pay other employees, which is a nice detail in the story, so we don’t feel bad for Zebedee when his sons leave the family business to follow Jesus.
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Three times in this passage, nets are mentioned. First, one set of brothers, Andrew and Simon, are “casting a net” (v.16). They are in the throes of fishing when Jesus approaches them and says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people” (v.17). Immediately, they “left their nets” to follow him (v.18). The third time nets are mentioned is when another set of brothers, James and John, are “mending their nets” (19). Jesus calls them, and they leave their father’s boat and the family business behind.

Two sets of brothers have fishing skills. One set casts, and the other set mends. Both are hard work and necessary skills to be successful fishers. As disciples, the brothers will work together on their new fishing vocation. Some will cast a net to reach people, and some will mend hearts.  

When Jesus comes near the four, he casts his net and mends their hearts when they accept his invitation to follow him. Their response was to drop their nets and leave the boat behind. When Jesus calls us, and we drop everything and leave what we’ve known before, even a lucrative business, our hearts are mended or made whole.

Often, when Jesus calls, we try to hold on to our nets or stay in our boats because it’s safe. It’s what we’ve always known, and it’s what we know how to do. We try to do both – follow Jesus and hold on to our old life. We can’t do both. We can’t play it safe. Following Jesus is risky, and we have to learn to trust that Jesus will catch us in his net. If we truly want our hearts to be mended, if we truly want to be made whole, we have to drop our nets and follow. We have to leave our boats and trust that Jesus will lead us to healing. 
 
Reflection Question:
Are you better at casting or mending?
Are you still holding onto your safety net or still in your boat? 
What in your life needs mending? Where do you need to be made whole?
 
Action: Drop your safety net and trust that Jesus will catch you.