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by Eva Marie Everson @EversonAuthor
Thanks in part to The Chosen—a groundbreaking historical seven-season drama based on the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of those who knew Him—viewers have put faces on the names of Jesus’ disciples and followers. For example, I can hardly read the Book of Revelation without imagining George H. Xanthis as John, standing in the presence of so much mystery and wonder. When I read the Book of Matthew, I picture Paras Patel jotting notes in his “book.” When I read the story of Mary Magdeline, I imagine the lovely Elizabeth Tabish. And, naturally, I cannot ever hear the name “St. Peter” without thinking of Shahar Isaac. In many ways, The Chosen has reminded us that the men and women we read about in the Bible were real, flesh-and-blood people.
Because of this, when I read the Book of John’s opening chapter, I naturally envision Noah James (Andrew) standing near John the Baptist (David Amito) as he enraptures a crowd along the banks of the Jordan River. Then, when Jesus (Jonathan Roumie) passes by, John looks past the crowd and declares, “Look! The Lamb of God!” (John 1:36)
The passage goes on to say that two of John’s disciples (one we know to be Andrew, the other I suspect may have been John) left the baptizer on the riverbank to follow behind Jesus.
Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?
“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” (John 1:38,39)
Can you imagine this? The Creator of the Universe, the One who had been prayed for, anticipated, and hoped for is standing before you, dark eyes shining, brow lifted in question, a slight smile curling his lips. And your relationship with Him begins with a simple question: What do you want?
Humble Beginnings
Let’s say the two men who are about to follow Jesus were, in fact, Andrew and John.
Andrew, the brother of Peter.
John, the brother of James.
Both Jewish fishermen in first century Roman-ruled Israel. Even though fishing was a rather large trade, this was not an easy profession. At times, it was an unrelenting profession. By no means did one become rich and famous as a fisherman throwing nets that required constant maintenance, over a boat into the fresh waters of Sea of Galilee. Then those caught fish had to be sorted—some were worth more than others, some could be eaten, and some could not (according to Jewish laws and customs). Some had to be returned to the sea.
Jewish fishermen in the days of Jesus . . . of Peter and Andrew . . . of James and John . . . had to be filled with courage, patience, and determination.
Being Jewish in a Roman-controlled land and being fishermen, didn’t necessarily rank high on anyone’s social ladder either. Yet, here they stood, two ragtag fishermen, before the Son of God.
What do you want?
Where are you staying?
They could have asked Him for anything—wealth, freedom from Rome, a catch of fish beyond imagination—but being with Him was the most important thing.
Andrew and (perhaps) John would not have had any idea where their relationship with the Rabbi would take them. They’d not know that two thousand years later nearly the entire world would talk about them . . . that books would be written about them . . . that paintings depicting them would hang in homes and businesses and famous museums. . . or that a television series would tell their stories.
And certainly, not even in their wildest dreams, would they have imagined that following This Man would change their lives in the way it did and that their witness, both spoken and written, of who He was . . . and is . . . and has always been, would change the world.
Humble beginnings.
Now here’s a question for you: as writers, what do you want? A best seller? To be famous? Or to be with Jesus?
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