The Time Has Come

## Introduction

Who has made a real impact in your life? Most of us would include parents and possibly other family members. But aside from the obvious, who has influenced you significantly in your life? Everyone has a story to tell. Every one of us knows of someone who encouraged us, prodded us, believed in us, and motivated us to higher standards. For many of us that person or persons helped us to go beyond what we would have done on our own. They allowed us to see and believe something about ourselves that we might not have seen or believed before. We are indebted to those who influenced us to be who we are today and who we will be tomorrow.

The truth is even as adults we need someone who will push us to exceed our comfortable surroundings. Such prodding makes our hearts beat a bit faster and to feel that we are on a high wire without a safety net, but most of us find a level of security and comfort which allows us to go through life without much effort. For example, when your boss asks you to take on a special project usually that represents his or her faith and belief in your abilities to accomplish the task. Such an assignment will undoubtedly produce moments of anxiety, but there is a real sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when completed. When someone believes in us and what we can do, we tend to respond positively to that encouragement and we remember with fondness those who believed in us when we didn't believe in ourselves.

Our lives are different today because someone encouraged us to go beyond what was comfortable for us. When we come to Mark 1:14 and following, we are impressed by a number of things. Mark quickly recounts for us several miracles that Jesus did. He makes us aware that the comfort zone for many is being pushed. Mark relates that Jesus is going from village to village with a message which emphasizes the influence of God's kingdom which leads to repentance and faith among the listeners. In these verses, Mark highlights the initial stage of Jesus' ministry reminding his readers that the Son of God was active in revealing God's plan and mission. But today we want to focus on the impact of Jesus on four fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James, and John. It is a short account of Jesus' call to these four men. So short in fact that we have to ask, what is Mark doing with this story? What does Mark want to accomplish with this story? We'll answer that question and in the process learn how this story was to affect his readers as Mark's account about the Son of God continues.

## Jesus' Call

In Mark's account it is Jesus who continues the message which John began. It was a message of repentance. It was a message calling on people to change. The reason for this change was that God's kingdom was near. This word "near" doesn't mean about to come, but that in the person and teaching of Jesus himself the kingdom of God could be seen and understood. God's dominion is seen in the person of Jesus. Jesus' message calls on all to repent and place their faith in him. This is not a message of "take it or leave it." Jesus isn't saying, "God's dominion is here. If you would like to be a part of it, then follow me." Jesus is calling for radical change in the lives of those who hear him.

Mark's intention is to set at the very beginning that those who read his account will also be faced with the same call. The message of Jesus is not addressed to any specific group. This account of the Son of God begins with Jesus himself calling for those who hear him to repent; to radically alter their lives so that God reigns within. These are Jesus' first words in Mark. They are words of joy. They are words demanding change. They are words which immediately call for a decision. Mark is not casual about the entrance of the kingdom of God into the world and from the beginning he wants the first thing from Jesus' mouth to be a call to change and come under the rule of God. Repentance is an interesting concept. Repentance is never casual. It is an encouragement to radically change. Some approach repentance with the attitude of Herod from W.H. Auden's work "For the Time Being"—"I like committing crimes; God likes forgiving them. Really, the world is admirably arranged." For some repentance is nothing more than acknowledging sin but not really changing. Mark does not allow such comfort from his readers. Jesus' first words demand change. This is not accidental.

In verses 16-20, this immediate change is demonstrated. Jesus appears abruptly by the Sea of Galilee and without warning calls four men to follow him as he begins his ministry. Jesus' promise is that he will change these men from fishermen to fishers of men. What is Mark doing with this story? Mark again is making an Old Testament allusion. The prophets talked about fishing in terms of gathering people for judgment. Jeremiah 16:16, Ezekiel 29:4, 47:10, and Habakkuk 1:14-17 all speak to this. Amos 4:2 states, "The Sovereign Lord has sworn by his holiness: the time will surely come when you will be taken away with hooks, the last of you with fishhooks."

Some have seen Jesus' words as simply pointing these four men to a mission of leading others to him. But Jesus is speaking of radical changes. When a fisherman hooks a fish it is life altering to that fish. Jesus hooks these men with the promise that they will hook others. It is more than just a simple mission. Jesus calls these men to radical transformation and the promise is that they in turn will bring a message of compelling change as well. Mark's initial readers would have been impressed with the suddenness of response from these four men. Jesus demonstrates his authority. Like God when he created, Jesus speaks and things happen. This authority of Jesus is seen throughout Mark's story.

When he casts out an evil spirit in 1:25, Jesus speaks the words "Be quiet! Come out of him!" In 4:39, Jesus speaks "Quiet! Be still!" and the winds and waves obey. In 5:41, Jesus restores life by speaking to a little girl "Get up!" Hearing is restored in 7:34 when Jesus says "Be opened!" A fig tree withers in 11:14 and 11:20 when Jesus says, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." Even in 15:37 and 15:38, a loud cry from the mouth of Jesus results in the temple's curtain being ripped in two.

The power and authority of one who sees into the hearts of four men resulting in the call for them to follow him is missed on us modern readers. Who is this that can demand such obedience? So Mark completes the first chapter further revealing this authority of the Son of God.

## Discipleship

Mark isn't telling this initial episode in Jesus' ministry just to make his readers feel good about Jesus. It is for Mark his own call to all who read his account: "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news. Come, follow Jesus." Mark wants to impress his readers with the authority of Jesus and the radical transformation which comes when one obeys the call of Jesus. Peter, James, John, and Andrew left all to follow Jesus. We want an explanation. Mark gives us none. His point—the authority of Jesus demands a complete change. Following Jesus is transforming.

For Mark disciples are not those who simply fill pews, fill out purpose cards, attend a Bible study, and offer to help out in a church program. When one follows Jesus life and purpose are transformed. These four men demonstrate to us the cost of discipleship and at the same time they demonstrate the vision of discipleship. These men are completely convinced that Jesus is worthy of such sacrifice. These men leave their comfortable and secure professions, they leave their livelihoods, they leave all for something new and unpredictable. It is risky; it is reckless. How foolish they appeared to others.

For Mark, discipleship is never part-time; it isn't a matter of convenience; it isn't safe. Real discipleship steps out and follows the one with the authority. Discipleship sees Jesus and understands that following him changes us forever. Life cannot be the same when we come to Jesus. For some discipleship means leaving jobs, but not all disciples did that. For all discipleship means a radical change. It is a commitment to Jesus which few can make. Disciples do not try to balance this world and God's call. Disciples are dependent on Jesus not on their bank accounts. Disciples understand that our real needs are not physical but spiritual. Disciples understand that material things bring a security which takes away from Jesus. Discipleship is costly and those who hear the call of Jesus recognize that life is forever altered when we follow him.

Some of us need to hear the call of Jesus anew. We have lost the vision that goes with following Jesus. We are not called to comfort, but to change. Mark writes expecting his readers to be moved by the authority of Jesus. He speaks and those who hear him respond. Are you listening?

## Follow Jesus

If you'd like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.