My husband, Scott, and I both have vivid memories of the morning
we met. We both remember some of the same logistical details, but our
sentiments associated with the events are completely different. One glance was
all it took for him to jump head first into the deep sea of love. My first
sight of him left me just a bit curious about who he was and thinking he had a wonderful
smile. I was more comfortable sitting on the edge, just dipping my toes in the
water.
As eager as he was, Scott remained patient yet persistent
with me. We went on a few dates. A couple of months later he asked me to marry
him. I was fond of him, but turned him down. We continued to date. He proposed
again. The second time I couldn’t say no, but I also had a hard time saying
yes. I knew I wanted to marry him and felt like his proposal was one of the
best things to ever happen to me, but I like to analyze, plan, and prepare. I was
uncomfortable handling a significant life decision on short notice. I thought I
needed more time.
Scott’s spontaneous and all-in attitude eventually won me
over. We met in September, were engaged by Christmas, and married the following
June. Scott never had to ask himself the question about whether or not he
wanted to marry me. He always knew his answer was yes. It took asking me twice
and a good bit of Mexican food before I could finally say yes.
James and John were all-in men too, only their yes was to
Jesus. They were brothers who worked in their father Zebedee’s fishing
business. Zebedee was likely proud of the strong, smart men they had become. At
this point Zebedee might have begun to scale back on the physically demanding responsibilities,
letting James and John do the hard work. He might have had retirement and
grandchildren in his sights. Maybe he was ready to sit on the dock, dangle his
feet in the water, and wave to his sons as they set sail for a long day of
fishing on their own.
One day, Jesus walked up to their boat and called James and
John to follow him. Neither one thought twice or had any hesitation. They both
said yes and left. Jesus was already convinced they were the right men for the
task of disciple or else he wouldn’t have asked. He didn’t offer them much in
the way of persuading words or explicit expectations. Just come, follow. No one
had ever been a disciple of the earth-living, oxygen-breathing Son of God
before. There was no precedent. Still, their answer was yes.
They left Zebedee holding the empty nets of the family
business. Although it’s not recorded in scripture, it wouldn’t surprise me to
learn that Zebedee received some kind of call too. After all, God knew what it
was like to have a son leave home on a mission unlike any other in all of
eternity. Maybe Zebedee’s comfort came in knowing that his sons were not
leaving empty handed. They were taking with them everything he had taught them
to be, the kind of men Jesus wanted as disciples. The kind of men who say yes
to Jesus.
The story is told in only two verses of Matthew Chapter 4.
It’s a short, beautiful story that inspires me to want to be more like that,
more ready to say yes the moment I’m asked. What if they had been more like
me? What if they had wanted to ponder
and plan first? What if they had said
no? Oh, what they would have missed!
When they dropped their nets and followed Jesus, they didn’t
know they would later see him transfigured before their eyes. They didn’t know
they would hear the voice of God telling them, “This is my
beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Matthew
17:5). John had no idea he would find himself as the only disciple at
the foot of the cross at Jesus’ crucifixion. He also didn’t know he would
receive a revelation of future events that would become the culmination of the
Bible as we know it.
Don’t miss it. When Jesus calls, the right answer is always
yes. Your all-in, absolutely yes response can win other people over. Just ask
my husband.
This was originally posted March 15, 2015 on The Press and Standard's website:
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