Matt 4.19 and Mark 1.17 is where Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men”. As described above, he comanded them to come to him, it was not a question like “would you like to come or follow”, it was a calling or a command. In each of the following examples the same word was used and is also in the command or calling tonality.

Later the deciples had reported to Jesus about the murder of John the Baptist followed by the business of the things they had done on their journey, to the point that they had no time to eat. In Mark 6.31 the word is used to call the deciples to go away to a quiet place to rest and recuperate, physically and spiritually. “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest”.” The word used for “quiet place” is “Eremos” which is a solitary, lonely, desolate uninhabited place, literally a desert. We see through the scripture that Jesus himself regularly went away to recouperate to deserts and lonely places like the Garden of Gethsemane, where he would pray and commune with the Father.

Then Jesus offers further information and context in Matt 11:28 – 30  saying “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls for My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” So when we are troubled, depressed or overwhelemed we have been given the example of laying our woes at Jesus feet and letting him carry some of the load. We all have many things going on in our day to day lives, in our businesses and in our families. Each of us also has hectic times where we need to recuperate. Clearly here, through His own life He is setting an example to us to do the same.

Jesus was then telling the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven in Matt 22.4 saying “come to the wedding feast…” and talking about those that were invited and those that were chosen “For many are called, but few are chosen“. The word Called is “klay-tos” which is invited (by God in the proclamation of the Gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom through Christ, and the word “Chosen” is “Eklektos” which is chosen by God to obtain salvation through Christ. We were chosen by God before the creation Eph 1.14, we were all meant to be God’s people, but through sin we have all fallen short. We must now be sure to become the elect by opting in, by choosing to Follow Him.

Lastly at the Judgment, Matt 25.34 Jesus calls – “Come, you who are blessed of My Father” to enter the kingdom that was prepared for us from the foundation of the world. The way it was meant to be from the beginning.

Many of us have answered the call follow Him, but why won’t we move on th the next step and answer the call to take his yoke? As men it is often hard to lay aside time to go to your quite place to spend time recuperating with Jesus. There are many ways to spend time with HIm, at a beach, next to a fire while camping, or curled up on the couch with a blanket and Bible. Whatever it is, we all could do with more of it.  We often refuse to let Jesus share in our burdens, we need to unburden on Him and then carry His yoke. That’s not to say we don’t need to do stuff, but we can rest assured that all things will be used for good if we have answered his call. Rom 8.28

So where do you stand in relation to this calling?