Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters. As we gather together today to delve into the Word of God, we're going to be spending some time in the Gospel of Mark, specifically Mark 2:13-22.

A.W. Tozer once said, "We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God." This quote perfectly encapsulates the essence of our discussion today as we explore the call to follow Jesus, the power of His authority, and the priority of serving the Lord.

Let's read together from Mark 2:13-22:

"Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. 'Follow me,' Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: 'Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said to them, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.' Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, 'How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?' Jesus answered, 'How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.’"

The Call to Follow Jesus

The call to follow Jesus is a central theme in the Gospel of Mark, and indeed, in the entire New Testament. It is a call that is both simple and profound, a call that requires a response, and a call that has the power to transform lives.

Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow Him: This call was not merely an invitation to physical movement or a change in location. It was a call to a new way of life, a call to leave behind the old and embrace the new. It was a call to discipleship. Levi's response to this call was immediate and complete. He got up, left his tax collector's booth, and followed Jesus. This response speaks to the power of Jesus' call and the willingness of Levi to surrender his life to follow Jesus.

A daily, ongoing commitment: It is a call to a relationship with Jesus, a call to be His disciple, to learn from Him, to grow in Him, and to become more like Him. It is a call to take up our cross daily and follow Him, to deny ourselves, to put Jesus first in our lives, and to live for Him.

A call to mission: When Jesus called His disciples, He said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." This means that the call to follow Jesus is not just about our personal relationship with Him, but also about our role in His mission. It is a call to be His witnesses, to share the good news of the gospel with others, and to make disciples of all nations.

A call to transformation: When we respond to this call, we are not the same. We are changed, transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are given a new identity in Christ, a new purpose, a new mission. We are no longer defined by our past, our mistakes, our failures, or our sins. We are defined by our relationship with Jesus, by His love, His grace, His mercy, and His forgiveness.

A call to grace: It is not based on our worthiness, our goodness, or our achievements. It is based on His love for us, His sacrifice for us, and His desire to have a relationship with us. It is a call that is extended to all, regardless of our background, our past, or our failures. It is a call that is based on His grace, not our works.

A call to joy: Despite the challenges, the difficulties, and the sacrifices that following Jesus may entail, it is a call to a life of joy, peace, and fulfillment. It is a call to a life that is abundant, meaningful, and purposeful. It is a call to a life that is marked by the presence, the love, and the joy of Jesus.

The Power of Jesus' Authority

Jesus' authority is not like the worldly authority we often see, which is often characterized by coercion, manipulation, or brute force ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO