Mark 1:14-20

 

mark’s gospel- In this gospel Mark tells Jesus’ message as if standing on one foot. Pretty terse and short. The questions this raises for us: What is this gospel? How is it still significant, now that the proclaimer has become the proclaimed? [1]

an extraordinary disruption - The calling of Simon and Andrew, James and John reflects, I think, the earliest Christians’ understanding of what the call from Jesus meant and required. We learn of these early disciples that they had family obligations, are pictured as prosperous enough to own houses and to employ hired hands to assist in the family fishing business-and yet they leave all behind to follow Jesus. Mark uses euthus, ("at once," "without delay,") to describe both Jesus’ call and the disciples’ response. [2]

why such a response? - [referring the immediate response of Peter and Andrew, James and John]: There must have been something divinely compelling in the Savior’s guileless countenance that persons, merely upon seeing him, could trust. [3]

[4]   Recall an immediate, drop of the hat decision you made. Did your decision lead to good results?

How would you react if a loved one just up and said "I’ve just joined the circus-but I’ll be back next Christmas."

What is your main reason for following Christ? What have you left behind in order to follow him?

 

Please see this week's sermons of this passage on DPS.

_______________________________________________________
[1] Lamar Williamson, Jr. Interpretation Series: Mark (Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1983), page 40.
[2] New Interpreter’s Bible VIII (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), page 539.
[3] Jerome (fl. 380) cited in Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture II (InterVarsity Press, 1998, page 18.
[4] Serendipity Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing Co., 1998), page 354.