Nothing But Nets

Cornerstone Church June 8, 2008

“NOTHING BUT NETS”

Mark 1:14-20

I heard this story on the radio by the Bible League. Perhaps you heard it. Let me recount the story. It took place in North Korea. The teachers in the local school asked their students if they knew where their parents kept that special black book in their home. If they did, and they brought it to school the next day, they would receive a prize. Keep it a secret and do not tell anyone at home what you are doing was the teacher’s last warning. The next day fourteen students brought the special black book to school. They were Bibles. The teacher stacked them up on her desk and gave the children a ribbon to wear around their neck. When the children went home, their parents were gone. No one told them where they were. The next day the children were placed in orphanages because their parents had been placed in prison. Why? For the sake of the cross. North Korea hates God’s Word and God’s plan.

What a riveting story of the Cost of True Discipleship.

Are you willing to make such a sacrifice for the sake of the cross?

If we were honest we would have to admit that Christianity in America has become quite comfortable. We seem to play at church whenever we do not have anything else to do. Sure, we want a “fire insurance” policy to keep us out of hell but do we want to live as Christ’s disciples?

Disciple = A Wholly-Devoted Follower of Christ!

This morning we are going to look at the Lord Jesus Christ’s calling of His first disciples.

OUTLINE:

INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL – Mark 1:14-15

JESUS’ CALL TO THE FIRST DISCIPLES – Mark 1:16-20

Peter and Andrew – Mark 1:16-18

James and John – Mark 1:19-20

JESUS’ CALL TO US

INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL

Mark 1:14-15

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

“After John was put in prison,”

The ministry of John the Baptist was temporary. It was a preparatory ministry to get people ready to hear from the Messiah Himself. John was Jesus’ forerunner who was predicted in the Old Testament prophecies (Exodus 23:20; Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).

(paradidomai) = “After John was handed over”

Herod Antipas was helping to fulfill the Sovereign Plan of God.

This is a foreshadowing of what will happen to the Lord Jesus Christ when He will be handed over to die on the cross for the sins of the world!

Acts 2:22-24 NIV “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

John the Baptist clearly proclaimed that Jesus must increase and he must decrease. This faithful servant of God has just about completed his earthly mission.

“Jesus went into Galilee,”

Fresh from the wilderness and testing by Satan, the Lord Jesus begins His Galilean Ministry. Jesus’ wilderness venture was like D-Day (the Normandy Invasion). Jesus was now on the move to liberate mankind. The battle to redeem lost souls from a Christless Eternity in hell was now in full swing!

“…proclaiming the good news of God.”

Matt. 4:15-16 NIV “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles — the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

This is a quote from Isaiah 9:2. Jesus the light of the world was shining in the darkness! He was a beacon of truth and of salvation!

John 3:16-17 NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

2 Cor. 5:17 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

“The time has come,” he said.”

This is not speaking about chronological time. This is talking about a specific time! Our sovereign God is working out every detail with exact precision (better accuracy than a Rolex or Seiko watch).