Leaving It Behind: The Cost of Following Jesus
Matthew 4:22
«“And immediately they left the ship and their father, and followed him.” — Matthew 4:22 (KJV)»
There are moments when following Jesus requires more than simply saying, “I believe.” Sometimes following Him means being willing to leave something behind.
Matthew 4:22 gives us one of those moments.
Jesus had just called James and John, two brothers who were sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their fishing nets. Fishing wasn’t just something they did to pass the time. It was their livelihood. It was their family business. It was familiar, predictable, and probably the life they expected to continue living.
Then Jesus called them.And Scripture tells us:“Immediately they left the ship and their father, and followed him.”
They didn’t know everything that was ahead of them. They didn’t have the entire plan laid out. They simply knew who was calling them.
They Left the BoatThe boat represented security.
It was how they made their living. It was what they knew. Yet when Jesus called, they were willing to step away from what was comfortable to follow Him into the unknown.
Sometimes we want Jesus to show us the entire road before we agree to take the first step.
We pray:
“Lord, show me exactly how this will work.”
“Tell me what happens next.”
“Promise me everything will turn out the way I want.”
But faith doesn’t always come with a detailed map.
Sometimes Jesus simply says, “Follow Me.”
And we have to decide whether knowing Him is enough to take the next step.
They Left Their Father
This part of the verse can sound harsh at first.
Were James and John abandoning their father?
The point isn’t that following Jesus requires us to stop loving or caring for our families. Scripture repeatedly teaches us to love, honor, and care for others.
Instead, Matthew is showing us the priority of their response.
When Jesus called, they recognized that His call came first.
That’s an important question for us today:
Is Jesus truly first in my life?
It’s easy to say that He is. But sometimes our choices reveal that comfort, money, relationships, approval, plans, or fear have quietly taken first place.
Following Jesus means allowing Him to have authority over every part of our lives.
They Followed Before They Knew the Whole Story
James and John had no idea where following Jesus would take them.
They didn’t know about the miracles they would witness.
They didn’t know about the storms they would face.
They didn’t fully understand the cross or the resurrection.
They simply responded to Jesus.
That is what faith often looks like.
We don’t always know what God is doing.
We don’t always understand why one door closes and another opens.
We don’t always know where obedience will lead.
But we can know the One we are following.
And sometimes that has to be enough.
What Is Your “Boat”?
Most of us won’t be asked to leave a fishing boat on the shore.
But all of us have things we are tempted to hold onto.
Maybe your boat is comfort.
Maybe it’s a relationship you know is pulling you away from God.
Maybe it’s resentment you’ve carried for years.
Maybe it’s fear.
Maybe it’s a dream that has become more important than God’s will.
Maybe it’s simply the desire to stay in control.
Following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean abandoning everything in your life. But it does mean being willing to surrender anything that keeps you from fully following Him.
James and John couldn’t follow Jesus while remaining exactly where they were.
Neither can we.
“Immediately”
One word in this verse stands out:Immediately.
They didn’t say, “Maybe next year.”
They didn’t tell Jesus, “Let us think about it.”
They didn’t wait until following Him felt convenient.
They went.
That doesn’t mean Christians should make every major decision impulsively. Scripture also teaches wisdom, prayer, and discernment.
But when we clearly know what God is asking us to do, sometimes our greatest struggle isn’t understanding His will.
It’s obeying it.
We keep waiting for the perfect moment.
But obedience delayed can easily become obedience avoided.
Following Jesus Is Worth the Cost
James and John left something behind, but they gained something far greater.
They walked with Jesus.
They heard His teachings.
They witnessed His miracles.
They saw lives transformed.
And they became part of a mission that would change the world.
Whatever Jesus asks us to surrender will never be more valuable than Jesus Himself.
Following Him may cost us comfort.
It may change our plans.It may require courage.
But Jesus isn’t calling us away from something merely to leave us empty.
He’s calling us toward Himself.
A Question for Today
Ask yourself:What am I holding onto that makes it difficult for me to fully follow Jesus?
Maybe today isn’t about making some enormous life change.
Maybe it’s simply about opening your hands and saying:“Jesus, whatever You ask of me, I want to be willing to follow.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus,Thank You for calling me to follow You. Sometimes I hold tightly to what feels comfortable and familiar because I’m afraid of what might happen if I let go.
Give me the faith of James and John. Help me trust You even when I cannot see the entire road ahead.
Show me anything in my life that I have placed before You. Give me the courage to surrender what needs to be surrendered and the strength to obey when You call.
I don’t need to know every step ahead. I just need to know that You are the One leading me.
Help me leave behind whatever keeps me from following You wholeheartedly.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Final Thought
James and John left their boat because they discovered Someone worth following.
Jesus still calls us today.
The question isn’t whether we know exactly where the journey will lead.
The question is:When Jesus says, “Follow Me,” are we willing to leave the boat?
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