Mark 1:14-20
Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, January 21, 2018
Jesus has begun his ministry. His message is is the good news that the Kingdom of God is near. The reign of God’s love has begun to expand and conquer more and more hearts. But Jesus’ words are also treasonous. The Kingdom of Rome has conquered these lands. The Kingdom of Israel is weak. And the threat to these worldly powers is now the Kingdom of God. Jesus is clearly fulfilling the prophecy of Messiah—the King from the house of David. As he recruits more and more followers, Jesus establishes a new and higher authority.
It is not safe. Jesus is putting himself in harm’s way. The Roman and Jewish authorities do not want an uprising. Sadly, this will be the charge that sentences Jesus to death in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” It takes a lot of courage to do what Jesus is doing. He calls four fishermen to follow him—Peter, Andrew, James and John. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers for people.” And they all immediately follow. Mark’s account makes it look really simple. The other Gospels reveal the inner conflict—particularly of Peter. But we know enough from Mark to know this must have been a huge step of faith for all of them. Peter and Andrew leave their livelihood behind. They leave the nets behind—that was how they survived. James and John leave their father and hired hands behind. They left their family business. It could be said that Peter and Andrew were more working class and James and John more middle class. But they all leave the safety and familiarity of their lives to follow Jesus. They hear that the Kingdom of God is near. They are promised to be transformed from people who gather fish for market into people who gather souls for God’s Kingdom.
Jesus reveals the heart of God here. The eternal Son of God has come gather the world. As Jesus will say later of himself: “Even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). God wants to draw us close. The Kingdom of God is near us in the Person and work of Jesus. God extends his reign. He does not want to conquer earthly powers but every human heart. He is not here to win wars. He is here to win souls. Jesus has made the first move. He and his Kingdom’s reign have come near. He has taken the first step toward us. And now he asks to take a step toward him. To leave our nets behind—those worldly comforts. He asks us to leave the familiar and comfortable—to follow him—to find our safety in him. This is why it took tremendous courage for these fishermen to leave their lives behind and trust in Jesus. They must have hungered for more. Jesus knew how to speak to directly to them—heart, mind, and soul.
I love how C.S. Lewis translates this for us in the Chronicles of Narnia. The children to who meet Aslan are surprised to find that the Savior of this other world is a huge, talking Lion. Aslan is the Messiah of that world. The first question they ask is, “Is he safe?” And that is exactly what the call to discipleship does to us. We question, is following this Jesus safe? What will happen if I take a hard look at my life? What if I realize I have been putting my trust and value in the wrong things? Or what if I discover that there is something far more precious—far more precious than everything I have been working for? What does it mean to leave my old life behind? What does it mean to look into eyes of my parents and choose to put my Heavenly Father before them? It can be unsettling. It can feel unsafe.
One commentator (Friendship with Jesus, David Miller) talks about what this story in Gospel of Mark should mean for all of us. Jesus has reached out to us. He wants a relationship with us. We watch Jesus. We listen to him. Our trust grows in him as we see him put his own life on the line for us. He reveals who he truly is. It’s a bit shocking. He is the eternal Son of God who has become human for us. He teaches us, heals us, forgives us, dies for us, rises for us, and ascends into heaven for us. He does all this to draw us close. God wants to be near you. He wants that intimate relationship with you. His example encourages us to look at ourselves differently. He accepts us—he gives us courage to put ourselves out there too. We feel safe enough to reveal more of ourselves to him. We are broken and sinful people. It’s safe to confess your sins. He already knows. It comes as no surprise to him. The only surprise may be to us that he loves us anyway.He calls us to follow him and be partners with him in his mission to draw all people to himself. We do not just have an earthly vocation—a job to make ends meet. We have a heavenly vocation—a calling from God to life transformation. We get to tell the world to cast all our anxieties upon him because he cares for us. He is a safe place to vent and unload our worries and find our peace in him. He can safely bear it; he has carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. The Kingdom of God is our safe place. Jesus has boldly revealed himself as Savior of the world. It’s ok to follow his lead and reveal ourselves. God is our safety.
O gently call those gone astray.
That they may find the saving way!
Let ev’ry conscience sore oppressed.
In You find peace and heav’nly rest.
"O Christ, Our True and Only Light" (LSB 839 v.3)
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