What Instead of Why…
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. ~Matthew 4:18-20 KJB
Simon called Peter…what is happening here? Does someone walk up to another person, look at them and determine their name is out balance with what is coming and begin addressing them in a new identity? What is Jesus teaching us, literally, from the beginning of His ministry? Jesus is walking along telling people to Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. as He begins addressing people with a different name! It seems these two acts alone would get peoples attention. Why would these men simply lay down their nets and walk away from their life to begin a life in the unknown with someone they have never seen before?
Is it the Holy Spirit that moves them? Is it the Holy Spirit, that as of this meeting Jesus has not offered to the world, but is it the Holy Spirit, moving through Simon, Andrew and the other two brothers, James and John?
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This is a classic “what” question ask by all the new followers of Jesus. There is no “why” involved here. “Why” is questioning, maybe even with a little pushback. While “what” is approving usually with minimal pushback, just simple acceptance. The Holy Spirit is seemingly about “what” not “why”.
Later, after Jesus ascends to Heaven, we find Saul…ah, Saul, a personal hero. We find Saul being direct – hard to imagine a murderer being direct, but he is!!
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” ~Acts 9:3-6 NKJB
Saul gets right to the heart of the matter – Lord, what do You want me to do? and what happens immediately when Saul ask this question – (seeking God’s will, not his own) – Jesus immediately answers Saul. My guess, and it’s only a guess, is this entire situation lasted less than 3-4 minutes. Very quick, no hesitation, no pushback, no questioning, only seeking, asking, knocking.
This should be our posture – seeking, asking, knocking to discover God’s will for us – What do You want me to know and what do You want to do? This is a great way to have God’s will for our lives to be revealed.
Either the Gospel is the divine Word of God teaching us how to live and how to be a reflection of Him, or it’s nothing more than a historical account of events.
