Mark: The Lord Calling
[Index] [Introduction]
Friday, March 7, 2003
1. An additional Scriptural reading suggested: Mark 1:35-39
2. A short reading.
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To be a follower of Christ means that we give "simple, unreflecting
obedience to the will of Christ." (Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship. 171)
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3. Text for meditation (in Italics):
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized
by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water,
he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on
him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved;
with you I am well pleased." 12 And the Spirit immediately drove him
out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted
by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the
good news of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom
of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." 16 As
Jesus passed along the Sea ofGalilee, he saw Simon and his brother
Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 17 And
Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18
And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a
little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who
were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and
they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed
him.
4. Reflections: Following Jesus is not a part-time job. The fishermen we read about today
discovered that for themselves. Their ready response to Jesus is to me the male
counterpart to Mary's openness to the angel (Luke 1:38). Mark's emphasis, and Jesus'
metaphor, is that these men He is calling are to spread His message in order to rescue
others from the coming judgment. The call of Jesus is salvation to those who accept but
judgment to those who refuse. Jesus needs faithful disciples (students) to learn what His
Word is about and how to take it to others. The call to discipleship is a gracious call, one
that implies God's help to get the task done. Note that these men followed Jesus immediately!
We get some insight into the social standing of these fishermen in our passage.
Two of them fished with large nets. They stood in the water with nets sometimes measuring
twenty feet rolled up on their arm. They broadcast those nets while standing in the
water. We also see that the Sea of Galilee teemed with fish, even very close to shore.
The other fishermen were part of a small family business that owned its own boat and
even hired helpers. The thrust of the text tells us that these men left their job,
their family, and followed Jesus. Had they heard of the Lord before, or listened to Him
somewhere? We do not know. Mark only says they willingly and eagerly followed.
Our Lord tells these men that they will become fishers of people, in keeping with
their responsibilities as fishermen on the Sea (Lake) of Galilee. We understand His
meaning when Jesus says these men will fish for people, but in some other languages the
meaning is not clear at all. In fact, to "catch" people in one foreign language means to be
a policeman and in another to kill a fish or, by extension, be an assassin! Jesus wants to
save people from the coming judgment. In the Old Testament, fishing is used as a metaphor
for Divine judgment. This is serious work; it is the work of the Lord. His name
means "The Lord is salvation." Metaphorically speaking, each of us has a fishing pole
It is high tune to cast a line into the water and snatch people from the coming judgment.
5. Questions raised today for personal reflection.
Why don't people today seem to fear the judgment of God? People certainly feel
guilty for wrongs they do. Nonetheless, in spite of our problems, not many turn to the
Lord as Savior. Much of the time we blame others for what is bad in our own lives and
thereby attempt to escape responsibility. The Lord will not let us get away with that We
need to accept responsibility and ask for forgiveness if we want to make progress in the
life of faith. Then too only a few people really understand that their lives are a mess and
need God's help to make it.
Are we all called to God's service? In a sense, yes, however there are specific
called task, such as the prophetic task of ordained ministry. Yet there are many ways to
serve the Lord and a true Christian has a job to do. Generally that job is to love God and
love others, which means to do what you can to enhance the lives of others We need
wisdom to know what this means in the case of evil people. But you are "gifted" in your
service to the Lord. You can sense your "gifts" through prayer (cf. 1 Corinthians 12-13
for insight into some of the Spirit's gifts, noting the greatest gift in chapter 13).
6. Suggestions for prayer: Pray to know how you are to serve the Lord, and pray for humility
and a spirit of peacemlness in order to do God's service. Ask God to make you a
simple believer, one who trusts Him even when you do not understand exactly what He
wants. "Simple, unreflecting obedience to the will of Christ:" pray to know what that
means for you. And pray for others who make be in church and yet far from the Lord.
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