Ever since they were little boys, Simon and Andrew had loved the sights and sounds of sunrise on Lake Galilee. They had grown up in the city of Bethsaida---which means a "place of nets" or "fishery". Bethsaida was a prosperous center--- thriving mainly on its fishing industry; much of the fish being preserved or "pickled" for sale. Boat building, potteries and dye-working industries abounded, and palm trees, figs, dates and vines grew on the hillsides around the lake shores.

Lake Galilee was a vast expanse of fresh water, about 20 kilometers long and 12 kilometers wide. It lay nestled deep down in the Jordan Valley, ringed around by rolling hills, over which the wind sometimes raced, whipping up sudden storms.

It was the sight of the sun, rising behind those hills and turning the lake waters a pinky-gold, that Simon and Andrew loved the best. As they grew up into strong teenagers, they learnt the skills and trade of the fishermen--- sometimes, being out in the boats all night long in the cold velvety dark, which made the beauty of a galilean sunrise even more welcome.

And now, as grown men, the lake was the very center of their lives. They owned their own fishing boats and ran a very prosperous business. In the future, they could expand their business till they owned a fleet of fishing boats and they could export their dried fish along the Roman Trade routes.

Yes, things were looking good for big, strong Simon and his brother Andrew. As they mended their huge nets and cleaned down their boat, they often talked about the time, just a year ago, when they had been with John the Baptist and had met the man Jesus of Nazareth. Somehow their daily routine as fishermen had never been quite the same since then and sometimes they longed to see Jesus again and listen to Him speak.

And so, on this lovely golden morning, not long after the sun had risen, it was with a thrill of excitement that the two brothers looked up to see---- yes, it was Jesus, walking along the pebbled shore towards them. Their eyes lit up with joy and then He simply said "Come, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Follow Him!--- and leave the business, the boats, the future? Somehow all this didn't seem to matter any more. And then those two strong weather- beaten fishermen did the strangest thing. They just put down their nets and followed him! No lengthy discussions with their friends and family---- Jesus of Nazareth was calling them and they simply had to go!

Further down the shore, they came to James and John, out in their big boat, with old Zebedee, their father and the hired men. Simon and Andrew waved excitedly to James and John, and Jesus called across the water, "Follow Me." There was such authority in His voice that James and John just leapt over the side of the boat and waded in through the water--- leaving their astonished father and the hired men watching in amazement.

Four big strong fishermen--- to leave everything to follow this Jesus of Nazareth?

Yes, something was stirring around the shores of Lake Galilee; people's lives were being touched by God and nothing would ever be the same again! No longer would these men be bringing in their nets of fish; now their lives would be spent bringing in people to know the New life that only Jesus can give.

Why do you think that Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Him?

How do you think Old Zebedee felt as his sons leapt out of the boat?

Was it a hard decision to make?

What were they going to have to learn to do?