Sunday Readings: Jonah 3.1-5, 10; 1 Corinthians 7.29-3; Mark 1.14-20
After John’s arrest, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God’s reign. “The time is fulfilled. The reign of God draws near. Repent and believe in the good news.” As Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew, casting a fish net in the sea. They fished for a living. “Come after me. I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus went on a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in their boat getting their nets ready to fish. Immediately Jesus called out. “Come. Follow me.” They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers and went off with Jesus. (Mark 1.14-20)
Jesus’ first words in Mark’s gospel announce the profound significance of his ministry and person. Jesus brings the reign of God near. His message is a call: Repent and believe in the good news. The word repent in Greek is metanoia, which means conversion. In its Old Testament roots, the word means turn back, turn around, turn toward. In today’s idiom, we might say: get a life, become a new person, change your mind, or change your attitude.
The four fisherman Jesus to becomes fishers of people leave their old lives behind quickly but their faith journeys twist and turn as they walk with Jesus. Mark cares about how faith grows and matures. Jesus’ disciples fear his enemies, they flee when officials arrest Jesus, they sleep in the garden while Jesus’ prays, and Peter pretends he doesn’t even know Jesus after promising he will always have his friend’s back.
The disciples fail and flounder as they follow Jesus. They take up the work of fishing for people only after Jesus’ death and resurrection. With Easter faith they then give their lives wholeheartedly to preaching the good news. What Jesus is calling the four fishermen to do tells us what Mark intends the gospel to do for every generation that hears it—to believe in our turn, to continue Jesus’ mission in our time, to bring God near as Jesus did.
- What have you learned through persisting through a call, even through failures?
- What has helped you grow as a Christian? What has held you back?