Follow Me

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Mark 1 NKJV

16  And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.

 

The thought connected to the Greek word “casting” leads one to recognize the value of the throw. It means to let go of a thing without care where it falls and uncertain of its success.

·      All we know is that if we do not let go, it is certain we will fail.

·      Each cast is entrusted to providence and approached with hope.

·      Like a batter who steps to the plate and swings, uncertain of the outcome but confident he must swing.

·      Simon and Andrew were committed to and fully engaged in fishing.

 

This verse contains what we will call The “duh” Factor: Why were they casting a net into the sea? Because they were fishermen! Duh!!! They weren’t “wanna-be” fishermen … they were fishermen. And they were doing what fishermen do. Jesus saw them busily engaged in their trade.

 

The Word of God seems to favorably highlight calling disciples from the group of people who are busily engaged in some type of work important to them, their family, and the future. Jesus often speaks of and favors people who are busy and who are not just sitting around. We can watch life go by or we can get involved … the Bible recommends getting involved.

 

If you want to know what God wants you to do, first look around and see what He has prepared you to do. Then … get busy doing it and be a witness while you work.

 

Simon and Andrew were fishermen. There is no indication some supervisor was out there making them fish. They were not always successful, but they were always fishing. Hard-working responsible people get noticed.

 

17  Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

 

“Come and follow Me” is the best way to understand this command. It is a two-fold calling. Come to Me, and then get behind Me.

 

18  They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

 

“Followed” means that they got on the same road He was on. They got behind Jesus and what He was doing. They submitted themselves to Him and His judgement. They came to learn what He knew, support what He said, and do what He did. They didn’t get in front of or even beside Jesus … they followed Him.

 

This is still the highest calling anyone can receive today … to be a called Disciple of Christ. Notice Jesus did not stop calling with Simon and Andrew:

 

19  When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.

20  And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

 

·      Simon Peter and Andrew his brother were found “casting their nets.”

·      James and John were observed “mending their nets” …

o   Mending means to repair, complete, strengthen, or equip.

o   Casting a net speaks of the Evangelist – the much-needed gathering arm of the Church … to draw souls to Christ.

o   Mending speaks more of the Pastoral aspect of the ministry which cleans and cares for the Church, mending and completing, cleaning, and equipping the members to work for Jesus and catch more fish.

 

Ephesians 4 NKJV

11  And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12  for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

 

The Greek word “mending” comes from the same word as “equipping”.

 

The calling of these four disciples probably happened on a Friday afternoon before Sabbath began at sundown, very close to the town of Capernaum where Peter lived.

 

Mark 1

21  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.

 

Now Jesus had all this authority and all this power, and He could heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils, He could turn water into wine, walk on water, calm the storms, and multiply resources to feed 15,000 people with just two small fish and 5 dinner rolls … and yet … He went to Church on the Sabbath and … He got involved!

 

I don’t have a whole lot more to say to people who imagine they are too busy or too big to make time for Church. If the only begotten Son of Jehovah God, the Creator of the Universe, believed it was important to be found in the House of God for weekly services, I think I should as well. And I want to be involved and make a difference in the Church like He did.

 

Distractions, deceptions, and disappointments will try to keep us out of the house of God or stand in the way of us getting involved … come on … let’s get on the same road Jesus is on … He is still calling disciples today and He is taking them to Church before He takes them anywhere else!

 

The corresponding account in the Gospel of Luke shares the background leading up to Jesus going to the Synagogue in Capernaum. The week just prior to this, Jesus had been run out of His own home Church in Nazareth. Suffice it to say that Jesus had a bad experience and was not welcome in the Synagogue He grew up in so when He moved to Capernaum, the first thing He did was to find His new place to worship, and He habitually attended, and He got involved (Luke 4). Jesus is our example!

 

If you want to be like Jesus, you’re going to have to go to Church!

 

Jesus didn’t assume the Church didn’t need Him and He didn’t assume He didn’t need the Church. And He, His family and friends weren’t enough. He went to a real bonified House of Worship. He may not have agreed with everything, but He faithfully attended and participated. He still feels the same way today … in fact … He said He would be here this morning.

 

Mark 1

22  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 ¶  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

 

No! Don’t tell me there was a demon in the Church! I bet other people suspected it, but they probably didn’t want to stir that devil up. Seems like devils are always crying out something or other. They just can’t help it.

What do most demon possessed Church members say? “Leave us alone! … Don’t preach at me! … Are you trying to condemn us, hurt us, make us look bad, destroy our reputation? You’re nothing but a ‘Holy Roller’, we don’t want anything to do with you … you can’t tell us what to do!”

 

Well, I am making a little fun of the truth right here, but you get the picture. It still happens all around the world today. Some people who claim to be Christians and claim to be praying for others are only attempting to exercise their own influence on others while appearing to be spiritual.

 

There is no telling how long this man had been attending the Synagogue in Capernaum but that day he came face to face with the Truth.

 

23 ¶  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

24  saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!”

25  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

 

I love the simplicity of Christ. “O be quiet, and come out of him!”

 

Don’t you know that surprised everybody, especially the man who was possessed and may not have even realized what spirit was controlling him. The demon in that man was the one who was really surprised, and a bit upset too. The demon even pitched a little fit and hollered really loud, no doubt angry that he had been discovered and exposed. Darkness often makes a lot of noise and tries to cause some amount of trouble when light shines on it and everybody else sees the darkness.

 

26  And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.

27  Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

28  And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

 

What an interesting account of just one day in the life of Jesus. And the day was not even over yet. After Church services that evening, Jesus continued His ministry in Peter’s house before finally turning in. Then Jesus got up a great while before daylight the next morning and found a quiet place to pray. He evidently needed to talk to His Daddy about a few things.

 

Mark 1:35  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

 

Jesus is our perfect example. Nothing helps us recover from a tough yesterday like a finding the place of prayer today. Just talk to God … He is your loving, listening Father. And you may need Him more today than you did yesterday.

 

We could go on and on but for this morning’s purposes, allow me to list three take-a-ways I got from our Bible study this morning:

 

1.  If you want to know what God wants you to do, look behind you to see what He has prepared you to do.

2.  If we want to be like Jesus, we need to go and take others to Church.

3.  Don’t be surprised if demons pitch a fit when they get caught … just make them leave anyway.