I am a Jesus pusher!!! Jesus called the disciples. Luke writes, “They immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Matthew 4:19). In regard to James and John Matthew wrote: and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him (Matthew 4:22). Their response to the call of Jesus was not simply adding another activity to their schedule. They were involved in many activities but they could make time for one more. Their response to Jesus included the rejection of all other things. In order to embrace the call of Jesus with a positive response, they had to have a negative response to many other calls on their lives. Their nets and boats had been their focus. They repelled them to embrace Jesus. They could not do both.
This element is so important it colors their response. If it is removed, there is no response. The main subject and verb of each of the two groups is “they left.” It is the translation of one Greek word (aphieme). This same Greek word is used sixteen different times for “forgiveness.” It is used in reference to the departing of the devil in the “wilderness temptation” (Matthew 4:11). It describes the healing touch of Jesus forcing the fever of Peter’s mother-in-law to leave (Matthew 8:15). There is a common element in the usage of the word. This Greek word (aphieme) does not refer to a simple change of location. It comes from two Greek words. The first is “apo” which is a motion term referring to changing locations. The second word is “hiemi” which means, “to send forth or away.” It refers to a change of locations caused by a repelling. Responding to Jesus forces everything else to the circumference of my life. I am a Jesus pusher!!!