Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me and I will make you become fishers of men."
--Mark 1:17 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on April 21, 2013 of Psalm 78:1-8; Mark 1:1-20; Joshua 15:13-16.
The evangelist Mark provides us with the briefest of the Gospel records, both in the number of verses and the number of words (the actual counts vary by versions compared). Because Mark wrote primarily to the Gentiles, and more specifically to the Romans, he did not include any of Jesus' early life or background, nor some of the references to Jewish holidays or observances. This was likely out of concern that a recounting of Jewish childhood life and habits could detract from the message for the Gentiles at worst, or just be of no interest to them at best. So Mark opens with Jesus as an adult, just as He goes to be baptized by his relative, John the Baptist. Arguably one of the most beautiful declarations in the Bible is attributed to God from heaven when Jesus hears the words, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.", as He rises from the waters of the Jordan (please see verse 11). Mark gives us our picture of Jesus as a servant, focusing more on what Christ did rather than what He said. Of the four Gospels, Mark's is more the book of action.
After His baptism, His temptation by Satan in the wilderness, and the arrest of John the Baptist (verses 9 through 14), Jesus entered the region around Galilee and began His ministry, preaching the good news of God and the kingdom of heaven, beseeching people to believe and repent. One day while walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came upon brothers Simon and Andrew. (We know Simon better as Peter, the new name Christ gave him a little later.) The brothers were working fishermen, throwing their net into the sea and pulling it back in to catch fish. We have no indication if they knew the man approaching them, or whether they'd even heard of Him yet, but when Jesus said the simple words, "Follow Me", they did so without hesitation. Jesus added, "I will make you become fishers of men." Now these two brothers were fishermen, they had their nets in their hands. Back then, fishermen used nets to catch fish. But Mark tells us that when Jesus uttered these words, Simon and Andrew "immediately left their nets and followed Him." (verse 18). They put down the tools of their trade, abandoned their livelihood, and stopped fishing for fish to become fishers of men. No nets required. Just a short distance farther on, they came across brothers James and John, also fishermen, sitting in their boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. Jesus made them the same offer and just as Simon and Andrew, John and James also dropped everything, left their Dad sitting there by himself, and followed Jesus.
This is discipleship in the truest sense. Simon, Andrew, John, and James gave up everything to follow Jesus. They walked away from all that had been their entire life from birth to that very point. As near as we can tell from Mark's account, they didn't even take the time to pack a change of clothes. They must have felt a sense of urgency, a great compelling draw to this Jesus of Nazareth. They left everything behind, everything they had and all the life they knew, to follow Jesus and learn from Him and participate in His ministry. What have we given up? Jesus summons each of us to follow Him. Do we drop everything to do so? Do we feel the urgency of His call? Have we allowed Him to make us become fishers of men, drawing in a greater catch for the kingdom of God? Follow Jesus and He will use us. Amen.
Dearest Lord Jesus, forgive us when we just can't let go of all the pieces of our former life, when we fail to follow the example of Simon, Andrew, John, and James. You have promised to make us fishers of men if we just follow You. And we try, Lord, we want to, but we just can't seem to drop everything, leave it all behind. Help us, please Lord, to acknowledge and act on the urgency of Your command to preach the Gospel to all the world. Help us not to sit back awaiting Your second coming but to actively seek those who do not know You and teach them all about You. Make us fishers of men, O Lord. In Your sweet name, Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
After His baptism, His temptation by Satan in the wilderness, and the arrest of John the Baptist (verses 9 through 14), Jesus entered the region around Galilee and began His ministry, preaching the good news of God and the kingdom of heaven, beseeching people to believe and repent. One day while walking along the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came upon brothers Simon and Andrew. (We know Simon better as Peter, the new name Christ gave him a little later.) The brothers were working fishermen, throwing their net into the sea and pulling it back in to catch fish. We have no indication if they knew the man approaching them, or whether they'd even heard of Him yet, but when Jesus said the simple words, "Follow Me", they did so without hesitation. Jesus added, "I will make you become fishers of men." Now these two brothers were fishermen, they had their nets in their hands. Back then, fishermen used nets to catch fish. But Mark tells us that when Jesus uttered these words, Simon and Andrew "immediately left their nets and followed Him." (verse 18). They put down the tools of their trade, abandoned their livelihood, and stopped fishing for fish to become fishers of men. No nets required. Just a short distance farther on, they came across brothers James and John, also fishermen, sitting in their boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. Jesus made them the same offer and just as Simon and Andrew, John and James also dropped everything, left their Dad sitting there by himself, and followed Jesus.
This is discipleship in the truest sense. Simon, Andrew, John, and James gave up everything to follow Jesus. They walked away from all that had been their entire life from birth to that very point. As near as we can tell from Mark's account, they didn't even take the time to pack a change of clothes. They must have felt a sense of urgency, a great compelling draw to this Jesus of Nazareth. They left everything behind, everything they had and all the life they knew, to follow Jesus and learn from Him and participate in His ministry. What have we given up? Jesus summons each of us to follow Him. Do we drop everything to do so? Do we feel the urgency of His call? Have we allowed Him to make us become fishers of men, drawing in a greater catch for the kingdom of God? Follow Jesus and He will use us. Amen.
Dearest Lord Jesus, forgive us when we just can't let go of all the pieces of our former life, when we fail to follow the example of Simon, Andrew, John, and James. You have promised to make us fishers of men if we just follow You. And we try, Lord, we want to, but we just can't seem to drop everything, leave it all behind. Help us, please Lord, to acknowledge and act on the urgency of Your command to preach the Gospel to all the world. Help us not to sit back awaiting Your second coming but to actively seek those who do not know You and teach them all about You. Make us fishers of men, O Lord. In Your sweet name, Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
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