Much of the ministry of Jesus was centered in and around the towns and villages ringing the Sea of Galilee. I'd love to see the Sea of Galilee in person, but I've never had the opportunity to visit and experience in person the places where Jesus walked. A program I like called "Day of Discovery" often features programs taped in the Holy Land. I like to imagine Jesus walking by the Sea, performing miracles and teaching the truths of the Kingdom of God.
In Jesus' day, the Sea of Galilee was a place of commerce. Fisherman from the seaside villages went out in their small vessels casting their nets in the hope of bringing in enough to pay the bills and feed their families for another day. It wasn't glamorous work by any means, and nobody was getting rich off the deal. It was smelly work, that as fisherman know, often left one worn out with nothing to show for it.
It was in to this region of fishing villages that Jesus began His ministry. After His baptism, Jesus went into the desert and fasted 40 days and nights. When this time was up, Satan tempted Jesus on three different occasions. Each time, Jesus rebuffed Satan by the quotation of Scripture.
Coming back to civilization, Jesus started preaching. Chapter 4 verse 17 says that Jesus preached " Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"
While carrying out His preaching ministry, Jesus decided at this time to choose disciples. He needed to train men to carry on the message when He departed, and He needed their assistance in spreading the message while He was on earth as well.
One day, as Jesus walked along the shore, He saw Simon and Andrew fishing. Jesus called, and they instantly left their fishing and followed. Later that day, James and John joined Jesus when they too received the call from Jesus.
I love the response of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Without one moment of hesitation, they followed the call of the Master. I can almost imagine the look of Zebedee when his sons cast aside the nets to follow a better path.
Later, Jesus would call twelve men to be His apostles. What strikes me about the people Jesus called was that they were just ordinary people. In their day, they weren't anything special. Jesus called fisherman, a tax collector, and a political revolutionary. Upon His resurrection, Jesus' brothers turned to Him. They were probably carpenter's just like their brother. These men didn't posses great levels of education. In fact, the Bible refers to them as unlearned men.
Even though Jesus chose simple, ordinary people to be His apostles, they ended up doing extraordinary things. These men changed the world by the power of their testimony to the risen Christ.
Everyone of the apostles except John suffered a martyr's death. All of them faced trials and persecutions. But, they didn't let that stop them. They just kept spreading the message. And that message has come right down through the years to those of us alive in 2011.
I want to say to you today that if Jesus used ordinary people 2,000 years ago, He can and will do the same today.
You may not think that you have anything that would allow you to do something for the work of the Lord. I'm a nobody. What difference can I make?
You can make a difference if you yield your life to the Lord. You see, the apostles didn't carry out the spread of the gospel through their own strength. They allowed themselves to be the Lord's instruments empowered by the Holy Spirit. They were available for whatever God had for them.
I urge you to make yourself, you time, your talent, and you resources available for God to do great things with.
Right where you are you can be a witness. Everyone of us knows people at work, friends, family who have never given their lives to Jesus Christ. Each of us can share the gospel with those who are in our circle of influence.
Many have the ability to sing, preach or teach and you feel the Lord calling you to full time ministry. Heed the call. Be like the fisherman on Galilee and follow Jesus.
Others have a heart full of compassion and you want to help people who are hurting. Make yourself available to serve God.
Never think that you aren't good enough or that your contribution is unimportant. With God, ordinary people can do extraordinary things. All of God's people working together can make a difference for time and eternity. Amen.
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