Zebedee was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee.
He was one of 200 or so men who set out on the waters with his nets to catch the fish that fed his family and supplied for their needs.
It was unrelenting and hard work. A man was fortunate if he had sons who could help him tend to the heavy nets, especially as he aged…it was so much easier when you were younger.
James and John were Zebedee’s sons.
Like their friends Simon and Andrew, they knew what the future held.
As long as there were fish in the fresh waters of Galilee, “sons of Israel” would be there to catch them. Their lot was cast.
Then Jesus came along.
This guy comes, this itinerant rabbi shows up, and he calls to these young men – these boys – “Follow me.” And they drop their nets and they literally run off. They abandon their families. Even worse, they give up a promise of a “hard but reliable way of life.”
For all intents and purposes their actions were: outrageous, irresponsible and totally and completely insane…
You do not give up a “sure thing” for the “unknown.” I mean – “who” does that?
I am sure there were “other father’s” who tried to console Zebedee. I am likewise sure, that there were fathers who were thankful that their sons – had more sense. Common sense they called it.
Father’s often do not understand the decisions or the actions of their children, sons or daughters.
They sit back and shake their heads. Sometimes they shake their fists. And sometimes they just shake – with anger and frustration.
“The younger generation they say…” – what are you going to do? That is not “how they were raised!” It was as if, poor old Zebedee had simply lost his sons, both of them. They were there one moment and gone the next.
I get it – there is no good time to follow Jesus. There is always something going on, stuff to do and life to be lived. There never is a “good time.”
And, as I thought about it, I thought that is true. But so is the exact opposite.
It seems to me, the time to follow Jesus is when you are young, or a teenager, or middle aged, or when you are retired and in your golden years. It is always “a good time” to follow Jesus.
What about when you have a child, or are sick or are injured? What about when you are diagnosed with a terminal illness? Or when you are grieving a loss, aren’t those good times to follow Jesus, too?
There never is a good time “NOT to follow” Jesus. What about when you are in a new relationship? Or are planning on getting married? Or what about when you have been married 10-20-30 years? Sounds to me like that’s a good time to follow Jesus.
Should you find yourself to be apprehensive or fearful or bitter or angry or discouraged or lonely? Sounds like the perfect time to me!
What about for those having physical or developmental disabilities? Or those facing separation or divorce? Or those who have suffered from a broken relationship…all perfect times to be following Jesus…at least according to me.
I think of those imprisoned or hospitalized or in nursing facilities or those in the military or national service…what better time is there to follow Jesus?
Then there are those times of conflict, crisis and disaster, certainly those are great times to follow Jesus. Or when you are traveling and away…
Is there ever a time “that is not good” to follow Jesus, I pondered?
In the morning? In the afternoon? In the late evening? Or week days that end in “y.” What about the weekends as opposed to the week days?
You know, I cannot think of one. When you feel like you are losing hope or are in recovery or if you are suffering from an addiction…or you are confronted with difficult choices and are uncertain…
When life is good, when you have your health, when things are going your way- when life finds you thankful and blessed…
Or when life seems to be on the skids and you find yourself in a down ward spiral?
Sorry Mr. Zebedee, I think you should be glad your boys were off – following the Rabbi from Nazareth in Galilee, they could do worse!
The time to follow Jesus is obviously NOW! Amen.