David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 1:14-28

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, [Jesus] saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Mark uses the word “immediately” at least 34 times in the English Standard Version of his Gospel. His account of Jesus’ life is one of immediate action. He moves from one event to another with a sense of urgency and energy. There is no sense of irresponsibility on Jesus’ part through all this, but Mark does not focus on Jesus’ reflective nature. He shows us Jesus on the move and people reacting and responding immediately to Jesus’ invitation and challenge.

The Bible is clear about the urgency of Jesus’ invitation: “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). There is no time to “limp between two opinions” (cf. 1 Kings 18:20-40). There is nothing to be gained by putting off the urgency of God’s salvation or call to discipleship. And while there is a time for everything, there is never a time to ignore Jesus’ call.

On the one hand Jesus’ call is a pure invitation to believe in him and receive the gift of eternal life. On the other had he challenges those who believe in him to lay down their lives for the sake of the gospel. The invitation is pure grace. The challenge is the life-application of that grace.

Sometimes we limp between two opinions or dawdle rather than act. It may come because of an emotional or physical setback. It may be that we are confused and don’t know which way to turn in the face of a challenging decision without clear moral or missional implications. Those times are unavoidable but rare. But more often we hesitate because the challenge seems too great or the invitation seems so appealing.

If we are to take seriously the gift of grace that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we must then apply that grace to our lives. The challenge of following Jesus is no small challenge. He calls us to lay down our lives, forgive those who have sinned against us, love our enemies, and call others to repent and believe in the Gospel. But the invitation is to apply that grace by risking failure in our efforts knowing that he is merciful and forgiving. The invitation is to embrace the reality of his good will for us in doing what he challenges us to do.

What is God calling you to do today? Are you limping, or are you moving by the Spirit’s power in response to Jesus’ call? He invites and challenges us very simply: “Follow me.”

Mark 1:14-28

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

¹⁶ Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

²¹ And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.