Scripture: Matthew 4:12–23 Jesus Begins His Work 12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. 13 But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said, 15 “Listen, lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, lands along the road to the sea and across the Jordan. Listen Galilee, land of the Gentiles! 16 Although your people live in darkness, they will see a bright light. Although they live in the shadow of death, a light will shine on them.” 17 Then Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here." Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen 18 While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. 19 Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” 20 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him. 21 Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him. 22 At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus. Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals 23 Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. L: The Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God. Sermon: “Follow Me: Leaving Nets, Finding Purpose” Most of us don’t like letting go of things that work. Even if they’re imperfect. Even if they’re exhausting. Even if they no longer bring joy. We hold on because they’re familiar. Predictable. Safe. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee and encounters people who are doing what they’ve always done—casting nets, mending nets, working the only life they know. And Jesus does not criticize them for it. He doesn’t tell them their work is wrong. He simply says, “Follow me.” And somehow—astonishingly—they leave their nets. For Peter and Andrew, James and John, nets were not hobbies. They were survival. They were identity. They were family business, daily rhythm, economic security. Those nets represented everything they depended on. Which makes their response all the more startling: “Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” Immediately. No exit interview. No five-year plan. No safety net for the safety nets. This isn’t recklessness. It’s recognition. They sense—before they fully understand—that something greater is calling them. Isaiah gives us language for what’s happening here: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Notice Isaiah doesn’t say the darkness disappeared first. The light came into the darkness. Light doesn’t just make us feel better. Light reveals a way forward. It shows us paths we hadn’t seen. It exposes options we didn’t know existed. When Jesus calls the disciples, he is not simply offering them a new task—he is illuminating a new purpose. And once you see that light, it becomes very hard to pretend you haven’t. “Follow Me” Jesus’ call is beautifully simple: “Follow me.” Not “understand everything.” Not “fix yourself first.” Not “wait until you’re ready.” Just: Follow. The disciples don’t yet know about the cross. They don’t know about the resurrection. They don’t know how this story will unfold. But they know the voice. And that is often how faith works. Faith is not clarity about the destination. Faith is trust in the one who leads. Psalm 27 puts words to this kind of focus: “One thing I asked of the Lord… to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” Not many things. Not backup plans. One thing. Purpose, in Scripture, is rarely about adding more. It’s about narrowing our focus. The disciples leave their nets not because nets are bad—but because they are choosing what matters most. Following Jesus requires subtraction before it brings multiplication. Most of us are not being asked to quit our jobs tomorrow. But we do have nets. Our nets might be: The need to stay comfortable The fear of disappointing others The habits that keep us busy but not fulfilled The belief that this is “just how things are” Sometimes our nets aren’t external at all. They’re internal. And Jesus does not yank them out of our hands. He simply walks by and says, “Follow me.” The question is not whether Jesus is calling. The question is what we are holding onto when he does. Here’s the good news: the disciples don’t leave their nets to lose themselves. They leave their nets to become who they were created to be. They move from catching fish to participating in God’s work of healing, teaching, and restoration. From survival to significance. From routine to purpose. And they are still ordinary people when they do it. Purpose doesn’t come from extraordinary ability. It comes from faithful response. Jesus is still walking along the shoreline of ordinary lives. Still calling people who are busy, tired, uncertain, and human. Still shining light into places that feel stuck. Still inviting us forward. The call hasn’t changed: “Follow me.” The only question left for us is this: What nets might Christ be asking you to loosen your grip on—so that you can follow more freely and live more fully in the light of God’s purpose? Amen. Let’s pray. Gracious God, You are our light and our salvation, the one who meets us on the shores of ordinary days. You call us not because we are ready, but because you are faithful. You invite us not to have all the answers, but to trust the one who leads us. Give us courage to loosen our grip on the nets we cling to— the habits, fears, and comforts that keep us from following you fully. Help us to hear your voice above the noise of our lives and to take the next faithful step, even when the way is not yet clear. When the path feels uncertain, be our guide. When we hesitate, be our reassurance. When we are afraid to let go, remind us that your purpose leads always toward life. We place ourselves again in your care, trusting that the light you have shown us will continue to lead us forward. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who calls us, walks with us, and goes before us. Amen.