The other day, I was with some friends, studying the Bible. We had recently completed reading through the Gospel of John, and were starting to delve into the Gospel of Mark. Immediately, right from the first chapter, we were struck by the simplicity and the urgency of Jesus’ ministry.In verse 14, Jesus started his ministry. He didn’t need special training, or a doctorate of divinity from the Sanhedrin Seminary. Equipped ONLY with the good news of God, he went into the world. When he called people to follow him, they too, needed no special training, no degrees, no rituals or prayers to recite, and no release forms to sign. The invitation from Jesus was a simple call: “Come, follow me.” Immediately, at once, and without delay they dropped what they were doing, left family, friends, and community… and followed Jesus.14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18At once they left their nets and followed him. 19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.Mark 1:14-20)
Teaching in the synagogue was nothing new. There were plenty of teachers willing to give their interpretation of the law. The people were amazed at Jesus’ teaching because he taught from the authority of God’s word; not interpretation, not the laws of the synagogue, and certainly not the laws and traditions imposed by people who were looking to bolster their own importance or position.21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
(Mark 1:21-22)
Ever have a fever? A fever pretty much incapacitates you, and you usually don’t know (or care) about what is happening around you. Jesus simply took the hand of Simon’s mother-in-law and helped her up. Immediately, the fever left her and she began to wait on them. Now, you can think: “how chauvinistic,” but you would be wrong. Over and over again, Jesus tried to impress the importance of us becoming servants. Jesus had just healed her, so it is natural to assume that she would want to wait on him, but the Bible clearly shows that she waited on all of them… in receiving the healing power of Christ, she naturally wanted to serve… everyone!29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her, took her hand, and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons...(Mark 1:29-34)
If you live in this world, you are likely to be sick or demon possessed at one time or another. None of us are perfect, and all of us are under constant attack. A cruel word or deed can wound your heart more seriously than a wound you can see. Which of us has not been attacked by the demons of jealousy, pride, addiction, or fear? Which of our friends or family have never sustained such attacks? Mark says that the whole town gathered at the door. Jesus brought the good news, but he never forced it on anyone. As word spread, it took less than a day for the entire town to come to Jesus. I wonder if WE could be bold enough to tell people that they can hear Jesus preach the good news into their hearts. What would it be like to have the whole of OUR town gather at the door to our church?
Notice that Jesus taught in the synagogue, but he healed in the home. Don’t be shy inviting him into YOUR home! Pray that people want to gather at YOUR door… because they know that a new life in Christ awaits them on the other side of the threshold. See you on Sunday… in OUR church home.
Your brother in Christ, Dave Hoag
A bunch of subjects rolled into one!
ReplyDeleteMy first thought was that early on it was pointed out to me that Mark writes often 'straitway' (depends on the version) or 'immediately. So your being immediately struck by the urgency stood out.
Regarding the bit about not needing special training; actually the special training was watching and listening and absorbing and doing likewise best they could as their Lord lived and taught them. The problem with a lot of 'special training' is that it's easy to become as if in a straightjacket as The Rules become most important to us sometimes. But what is important to God is the heart. My pastor's wife's dad died, and at his funeral the pastor's wife (the daughter) gave his testimony; which was all about relationship and that the Lord was everything to him. And then she said that he never talked to anyone but that he brought up the Lord in conversation.
"None of us are perfect, and all of us are under constant attack. A cruel word or deed can wound your heart more seriously than a wound you can see."
Very true. I am still dealing with unkind things said to me when I was a small child that still hurt. I must watch what I say to not do that to others. Meanness will never convey the love of the Lord. When he was angry with people it was due to their hard hearts and insisting He follow their rules, rather than meanness. Legalists have really missed the point! Following Christ is not like belonging to the right club, but letting Him be closer than a brother, having a close fellowship with Him, and having a heart for God. Doing what is right, and being a servant, flows from that.