image: http://www.LumoProject.com

Zebedee, head of a fishing fleet in Galilee, reflects after his boys surprise him and leave the family business:

They’ve gone.  My boys have gone!

I guess I always thought they might one day.  What young lad doesn’t get itchy feet and feel the need to stretch his wings and fly?  But not like this.  Not so suddenly. Not both at once. I hadn’t expected that!  Now I’m left to pick up the business all on my own.  I’ll manage alright, but I was really hoping to step back a bit and let them take over the workload.  I thought they were ready and up for it. But there’ll be no putting my feet up now.  At least for a while.  One good thing is the boats will still be here when they come back.  If they come back.

What on earth possessed them to act so impulsively?!   What does this man have that he can summon young men like this and they will instantly go running?   And not just my two; I hear Peter and Andrew have gone as well.  I can’t help admit that I’m a little worried.  What have they gone and got themselves into?

Well, at least they’re together – the four of them.  Perhaps there’s safety in numbers? They can look out for each other.  Well, actually, Peter is no better than my two – always jumping in with both feet and living to regret it afterwards!  But Andrew, he’s got a wise head on his shoulders.  He’ll take care of my boys. I hope.

And as for the Rabbi; I really don’t know what to make of him.  He moved down here not long ago from up in the hills.  Nazareth, I’m told.  Rumour has it that his own people kicked him out!  But he seems harmless and amiable enough.  I’d be surprised if he caused so much trouble.  But then, there is the nagging question, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’.  I really don’t know enough about the place to make any judgement, but sayings like that don’t spread so widely without some truth in them. What else is it they say; ‘No smoke without fire’?!  I can’t help feeling worried.  What father wouldn’t?

What I do know about this Rabbi, is that he has made an odd choice of followers.  I don’t mean that disrespectfully to my sons, or any of the others.  Yes, they are hot headed and boisterous. I’ve heard their nick name, ‘the Sons of Thunder’ and, while I suppose I should be offended by it, I really do understand where the name comes from!  We’ve had some stormy times bringing them up, my wife and I.   They were a pair of terrors at school, with such short attention spans, getting themselves in so much trouble with old Rabbi Reuben!  A waste of time sending them, really!  But what proud father doesn’t live with the hope that one of his sons might actually make it?  Who doesn’t dream that one of their sons might get a scholarship, with all the opportunity that opens up?  Imagine the joy and delight at one day seeing your son rising to the rank of Rabbi himself?   I’d be bursting with pride!   I wonder if that’s how Jesus’ parents felt about him?

They tell me that he has an amazing grasp of the scriptures and he teaches with an authority not heard before.  I don’t know whether to be pleased or alarmed about that.  If he can get them interested in learning when others have failed, then that’s got to be a good, hasn’t it?  But if he is so persuasive and compelling, who knows what he might lead his followers to think and to do?  That’s a potentially scary thought!

Sorry, I’m rambling.  We old fishermen are renowned for it!

Let me get back to my point about his choice of followers.  As I said, it’s usually only a few that get a scholarship to Rabbi school, and they are always the star pupils, with sharp minds and an enthusiasm for learning.  They have to be, if they are to go on to be teachers themselves.  But Jesus has picked out four fishermen… good with their hands, maybe, but not so much with their minds.   They have already been rejected by our local Rabbi, who saw no promise in them at all.  That is why they are still fishermen (A worthy trade, I might add – but even I have to admit it’s not on the same par as teacher or holy man, is it?)

So, what did this Jesus see in them, my boys and the other two fishermen?    Was it anything special, or is he just desperate?  Did he simply choose the first gullible ones he could find and lead astray?  Perhaps, but I’m pretty sure I can give my boys more credit than that.  Of course, I’m worried for them!  But then, I’ve never seen them so fired and animated, so alive, so determined, as I do now.  How can I possibly stand in their way?

And he’s clever, I have to admit.  What a ‘hook’ he fed to them; “Come with me and I will teach you to fish for people!”   That’s genius; starting with something they know they are good at and then promising to take it to a whole new dimension!  If all teachers could catch the imaginations of young, unruly boys and channel their enthusiasms like that, then what a better world it would be! 

So, on balance, I think I’m more pleased than worried for them.  I’ve got a feeling this might just be the making of them.  In fact, those are the exact words they told me he said to them.  “Come with me … and I will make you…”   “Make you”, did you catch that?!   I think I believe he will do just that.  Certainly, they have got so much confidence in him they went off without any hesitation.    That’s got to be good, hasn’t isn’t it –  when you find someone so inspiring that you drop everything to be with them?

I’ll miss them and worry for them, but I’ll hope it proves true.  My boys: his disciples!  Being guided to be the best ‘fishermen’ they can be!  Learning from Jesus how to capture hearts and minds and call others, in turn, to follow Him.  That’s got to be the best way to influence people, hasn’t it?  I really hope they bring in a good catch!

So, go with Jesus, my boys, and go with God.

And remember, I and my boats will always be here for you, if it doesn’t work out as you hope.