JESUS CALLING—Mark 1:14-20
***Have you heard this riddle? “A man walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a glass of water. The bartender pulls out a gun and points it at the man with a menacing look. The man says, ‘Thank you,’ and walks out. What is going on?”
It all makes sense, when you know the rest of the story: The man had the hiccups, and he wanted to sip water from a glass to get rid of them. Fear works better than water, however, and the threat of the gun caused enough fear to get rid of the hiccups.**
Sometimes there has to be more to a story, and today’s story is one of those times.
Read Mark 1:14-20.
Jesus spoke to Peter and Andrew, and IMMEDIATELY they left their nets. Why would they leave a good family business to follow Jesus? There has to be more to the story.
THE STORY BEGINS WITH A LONGING FOR THE WORLD TO BE MADE RIGHT.
When we look at the world, we see so many things that are not right: Inequality, injustice, poverty, bribery, and lack of concern for the poor and oppressed. Economic and political powers are too often corrupt, and the powerful abuse the weak. We dream of a world of justice, where all is made right.
In the Old Testament, that vision of a world made right was focused in the coming Messiah. Isaiah 11:2-5 describes the Messiah: “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—and he will delight in the fear of the LORD…with RIGHTEOUSNESS he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth… RIGHTEOUSNESS will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.”
The Messiah would rule over a KINGDOM of righteousness and justice. Isaiah 9:1-7 presents a glorious vision of a king like David, but with a surprising twist, because the king would arise from Galilee, not Judea: “There will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations…For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with JUSTICE and RIGHTEOUSNESS from that time on and forever.”
Andrew, one of the four fishermen on the shore that day, hoped and prayed that God’s kingdom of righteousness would come—soon. So when John the Baptist began to preach at the Jordan River, he walked more than 50 miles to repent of his sins and be baptized by John. When Andrew saw what was wrong with the world, he didn’t place the blame only on the rich and powerful, or the undeserving poor. He recognized that it was not just “those people”—evil, stupid, mean, or undeserving—who were not right. He admitted that HE was not right, and he needed to be changed by God’s King, the Messiah.
John caused quite an uproar in Judea, and the Pharisees asked John whether he was the Messiah. He said no; he was the one preparing the way for the Messiah. He quoted a prophecy of Isaiah: “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (John 1:23)
Andrew believed in the ministry of John as the forerunner of the Messiah, and he became a disciple of John. When Jesus came to be baptized by John the Baptist, John called him “The Chosen One.” The day after that, Andrew and another disciple heard John say, “Look, the Lamb of God.” The two men caught up with Jesus, and spent the rest of the day with him.
(The other disciple may well have been John, not the Baptist, but the one who wrote the gospel of John. At another time he referred to himself as “the other disciple.” The John who wrote the gospel was one of the four fishermen in our story today.)
Imagine what it was like to spend time with Jesus. What would he have said? What would you have asked him? How would you feel as you got to know this amazing man?
While Andrew was talking with Jesus, he was wondering whether Jesus really was the Chosen One, the Messiah. Maybe he asked him about some of the Old Testament prophecies, and maybe he shared his hopes for God’s people to be redeemed and righteousness to be established. Or maybe he just listened, as Jesus talked about God’s promises and their fulfillment.
After spending several hours with Jesus, Andrew immediately found his brother, Simon Peter, saying, “We have found the Messiah.” It seems that Simon was also at the Jordan, as Andrew brought him to meet Jesus.
Simon and Andrew didn’t stay with Jesus, however. The Spirit sent Jesus into the wilderness alone, to be tempted by Satan. I imagine that Andrew and Simon didn’t know what to do: There was no point in staying with John the Baptist, and Jesus didn’t seem to want them around.
So Simon and Andrew did what you might have done; they went back to work. I suppose they were disappointed that nothing was happening on the Messiah front, or maybe they knew they just needed to wait.
The brothers were waiting for God’s kingdom to be revealed. Jesus was waiting too!
Read Mark 1:14-15.
The time had finally come for Jesus to inaugurate the kingdom of God. He said the kingdom was “near,” or even “at hand.” (The Greek allows either translation.) Jesus had a simple message: Repent and believe the good news.” OK—but what should people DO to enter God’s kingdom?
Simon and Andrew were hard at work, throwing their nets into the lake, when Jesus showed up! What did he want with them? What should they do? Should they offer him some fish, or introduce him to their employees? If he was the Messiah, should they buy swords, lead a protest for justice, or cry, “Hosanna to the king”?
Jesus gives a simple command: “Come, follow me.” Sounds simple—but he was not just asking them to take a walk around the shore. He was inviting them to become his DISCIPLES.
A disciple in those days was described as someone who “walked in the dust of the rabbi’s sandals.” That is what the disciples of Jesus did; for three years, they walked, ate, and slept with him. They watched, listened, and asked questions. Jesus taught them, challenged them when they got out of line, and encouraged them when their faith was weak. When they were ready, he sent them out to do what he did, and then they debriefed.
We talk about discipleship today, and sometimes discipleship is reduced to completing a course of study or signing up to serve in the church. Programs or plans can be good, but discipleship is really about walking with Jesus. A disciple studies the Bible and listens for direction. A disciple talks with Jesus, prays for miracles, stretches their abilities, and talks to God about life experiences. A disciple sees where God is working—in the family, church, school, workplace, or community—and joins Jesus there. Jesus gave us an audacious goal, in Luke 6:40, “A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.” (Note to preacher: Don’t be shy about mentioning ways your church helps disciples learn, serve, or grow as disciples. The programs will not do it, but they can help, if people commit to them.)
When Jesus called Andrew and Simon to follow him as disciples, they were immediately all in. They left their nets in the hands of their employees, jumped out of the boat onto the shore to follow him. A little farther on, Jesus saw James and John getting ready to go out on the water, and he called them too. They also followed him immediately.
Why did these fishermen leave their nets to follow Jesus? They longed for the Messiah, and they believed Jesus might be the one. But there was more: THEY WANTED THEIR LIVES TO COUNT.
We all want out lives to count for something, and sometimes it is hard to figure out how we can have a lasting impact. Few of us will be publicly recognized for doing great things, or changing the course of history. How can we make our lives count?
Simon and Andrew were commercial fishermen—nothing wrong with that—but they wanted more. Jesus offered them more: “Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people.”
Jesus was calling them to leave their jobs—at least temporarily—to do something different. Must everyone who wants to make an impact in the kingdom of God leave their job to become a pastor or missionary?
***I knew a man who went to seminary after being a shoe salesman. His clever saying was, “I used to sell soles; now I save souls.” Does a pastor have a greater role in the kingdom than a salesman? Not necessarily; some salesmen are great evangelists.**
Jesus called Andrew and Simon Peter to leave their nets to accept a unique role in the kingdom of God. In Mark 3, they were among the 12 Jesus appointed as apostles. That would be their job for life. But not everyone is called to be an apostle!
What Jesus was really saying to us is that OUR LIVELIHOOD IS NOT OUR LIFE. Following Jesus is our life, and we do that in our homes, our work, our communities, and in the whole world.
When Jesus said, “I will send you out to fish for people,” he was telling us that the focus of our lives should be on people. Work is good, accomplishments honor God, but the greatest impact in our lives will be the people whose lives we touch.
***I knew a widower—a mink raiser—who had a big impact on people. I don’t think it was the pelts, although maybe they lifted some spirits. In the summer he raised acres of popcorn, and in the winter, he caught hundreds of bluegill through the ice; he gave away much of his harvest. He had his neighbors over for coffee, including some who were at odds with Christ and the church. He served as an elder with grace and wisdom, loving and caring for people. His life was more than his livelihood.**
Jesus calls all of us to a life of loving and caring for people. He calls us to draw people into the kingdom of God, by actions and words, and to make the life we share together a taste of God’s eternal kingdom, filled with righteousness, peace and joy. That is our calling.
When Jesus called the fishermen to follow him, they didn’t hesitate. In fact, Mark keeps repeating the same word, “immediately,” (Greek euthus) to emphasize the urgency of the call of Jesus, and the response of these first disciples.
The four fishermen immediately left their nets to follow Jesus, even though they did not know where he would take them. Simon in particular, the source of Mark’s gospel, had no idea that Jesus would say in Mark 8:34, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Simon had no idea that he would watch Jesus, the Messiah, die a horrendous death on a cross. He had no idea that he would be imprisoned and perhaps die as a follower. He also so had no idea that Jesus would give him a new name, Peter, the Rock, and that he would be the leader of God’s church in Jerusalem. Simon only knew that Jesus was calling him to follow. Peter heard Jesus calling, and immediately he followed.
Is Jesus calling you today?
Maybe, like John the Baptist, Jesus is calling you to take the first step of repentance—to turn from sin and an empty way of life, and to be open to what God will do in your life.
Maybe, like these four men, Jesus is calling you for the first time to join the kingdom movement—to become a disciple of Jesus, starting on a path of growth and change.
Maybe you are already a disciple, and Jesus is nudging you to expand your circle of influence, care more deeply for people who do not know Christ, and bring the kingdom or righteousness, peace, and joy into your work, your home, your church, or your community.
Maybe Jesus is calling you to a deeper obedience—to deny your selfish desires, accept a difficult task, or follow him through your “cross” to a resurrection. It will not be easy, but the one who calls is the risen Lord.
Jesus calls. He calls NOW—this day. You might not hear the call tomorrow. You might be too busy, distracted, or it might be too late to respond. He calls now.
How will you respond to his call today and this week?
Jesus says, (Mark 1:15), “The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!...Follow me.”
