Called

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He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed Him.

Matthew 4:22


The stranger stood at the water's edge, having just called out over the sea to Simon and Andrew.  An offer for a life different, the brothers stopped casting their nets.  At Simon's order, they came to shore, as beckoned.

James and John watched.  The sons of Zebedee were with their boat helping their father mend nets that had been torn.  

"Who do you suppose that is?" James said to his younger brother.

"I do not know," John replied. "Andrew has been talking about some preacher he met down by the river."

"The Baptist?" James asked, having heard Andrew speak of the wild man by the Jordan, who ranted about repentance.

"No," John responded. "Not him.  Andrew said their was another.  Maybe not a preacher, but a prophet."

"Been a long time since the last one," Zebedee added, overhearing his sons discussion. "Time has a tendency to bring forth more and more false voices shouting out of the wilderness.  I have heard a few of those, men who believe they have seen the almighty.  Most were only dreaming.  The others were drunk on cheep wine."

"Andrew said that the Baptist spoke well of one," John countered. "Andrew said that the Baptist heard the voice of the LORD at the moment of submersion.  Could this one be the messiah?"

"There have been many," Zebedee commented.

"But have any been like this one," John replied.

The brothers watched as the stranger continued along the shore, coming closer to them.  He called the sons of Zebedee by name.  John was first to leave the boat, getting out into water waist high.  James followed, as their father stood and watched.

"Do you think the Baptist was right?" James asked his brother.

"I know only what I feel in my heart... and James, if Simon has dropped his nets to follow this man, then so will I."



copyright 2026 - Donald P James Jr

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