Responding to God’s Call (3:1-6)

In category:
 Jonah

One of the amazing things in God’s character is that He does not force himself
upon us. He calls, and then waits for our response. With every call we are faced
with a decision. There are basically two choices before us. We can either harden
our hearts so that we do not heed the call, or we can obey. In the book of
Hebrews 3:12-15 it says, “Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of
you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one
another day by day, so long as it is called “today;” lest any one of you be
hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if
we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end: while it is said,
“Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts, as in the rebellion..”
In the third chapter of the book of Jonah, Jonah and the Ninevites are both
faced with the decision of whether to obey God’s message, or to harden their
hearts.

But this raises an important question. If we are free to disobey God, do we have
the ability to destroy God’s plans? No! God will always accomplish His purpose.
The question is not whether God will triumph, but rather whether we will be
included in that triumph. The book of Esther records how Queen Esther had to
face this decision when she was asked to petition the king to spare her people
from destruction. “Hathach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai. Then
Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a message to Mordecai: “All the king’s
servants, and the people of the king’s provinces, know, that whoever, whether
man or woman, comes to the king into the inner court without being called,
there is one law for him, that he be put to death, except those to whom the
king might hold out the golden scepter, that he may live. I have not been called
to come in to the king these thirty days.” They told to Mordecai Esther’s words.
Then Mordecai asked them return answer to Esther, “Don’t think to yourself that
you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews. For if you
remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from
another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you
haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:9-14) All too
often we choose disobedience because obedience conflicts with what we
perceive as our own best interest. We need to broaden our horizons and realize
that God’s plan is our best interest. When we become aware of God’s will for us,
we need to have the same attitude as Queen Esther: “...I will go in to the king,
which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:16)

In a previous program we saw how Jonah chose to harden his heart at God’s
first call. At the second call he takes the path of obedience. The book of Jonah,
chapter three, verses one through four tells what happened:
“The word of Yahweh [that is, God] came to Jonah the second time, saying,
“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give
you.” So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to the word of Yahweh.
Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across. Jonah
began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In
forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!”

Traditionally, verse three has been translated, “...Nineveh was an exceedingly

great city, three days’ journey across.” The imperial city, or Nineveh proper,
was enclosed by a wall about eight miles in circumference. The administrative
district around Nineveh, however, included extensive suburbs and lessor cities
like Hatra, Khorsabad and Nimrud. The name “Nineveh” may have been used to
also include the cities of Rehoboth Ir, Caleh and Resen, which are mentioned in
Genesis 10:11-12. So, no one should find fault with the description that it took
three days to go all through the city. For someone to say, “I am going to
Nineveh” during the days of Jonah would be equivalent to someone today
saying, “I am going to Karachi” when in fact they are planning to visit Malir or
Nazimabad.

But we should not allow arguments about the physical size of Nineveh to
distract us from the lesson God is trying to teach. Verse three can also be
translated, “Nineveh was a very important city.” The fact is that each person is
important to God. In 2 Peter 3:9 it is written: “The Lord is... patient with us, not
wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” But
God does not merely desire our salvation, he actively demonstrates His love for
us. Romans 5:6-8 says, “For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ
died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps
for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his
own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We
should never doubt whether we are important to God. We are so important to
him that Christ died for us. If God loves each one of us so much, is it any
wonder that Nineveh was important to Him? God wants everyone to be saved,
no matter who they are. And so, God sent Jonah to Nineveh. “He proclaimed:
“In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4)

But this raises another question. As we learned in a previous program, the

Assyrians were a wicked and cruel people. Surely they did not deserve to be
spared from destruction did they? No, they didn’t. But does anyone deserve
salvation? The Apostle Paul points out that, “...For we previously warned both
Jews and Greeks, that they are all under sin. As it is written, “There is no one
righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who
seeks after God. They have all turned aside. They have together become
unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one.”
(Romans 3:9-12) The truth is that if we were good, we would not need saving.
And, since we are bad, we do not deserve it. “...we also all once lived in the lust
of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature
children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, for his great
love with which he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses,
made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians
2:3-5)

But while God wants our salvation, He allows us to freely choose. Will we
accept, or will we reject His message? Will we repent, or will we harden our
hearts? “The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and
put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least. The news reached the
king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe,
covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.” (Jonah 3:5-6) Will we
respond to God’s message like the Ninevites did? The book of Hebrews reminds
us that, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the
truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful
expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the
adversaries” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

We can learn another lesson from the Ninevite’s response to God’s message. By
all external measures the Assyrians were not the most likely candidates for
conversion. Their extremely ruthless and violent behavior would cause the vast
majority of us to simply write them off as irredeemable. But, “...man looks at
the outward appearance, but Yahweh [that is, God] looks at the heart.” (1
Samuel 16:7) God can see through the hard exterior to the tender soul within.
Remember that Jonah viewed the Assyrians as the enemies of God’s chosen
people, the people of Israel. Yet God wants to save them from destruction. Do
we have the same concern for our enemies that God does? Jesus said, “But I
tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless
those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28) We
cannot see people’s hearts. Who knows? Maybe by doing what Jesus said, our
enemies will repent like the Ninevites did.
 Responding To God’s Call

Read Isa.6:8-9. There you will find Isaiah responding in a favorable way to the call of God upon
His life. When God calls us to do something for Him, we either respond in a positive or a
negative way. We either say "yes" or "no." Has God dealt with you lately about something and
you in turn have given a less than desirable reaction to that call? What a blessing to see that
Isaiah had met God, he was ministered to by God, and was evidently mastered by God. The same
should be true of all of you. Each one of us should have met God in salvation, been ministered to
by God in communication, and be mastered by God through Holy Ghost domination. Let’s
analyze this admirable response of the prophet to the divine call of God upon his life.

I. There Was A Willingness To Listen. Verse eight says he, "Heard the voice of the
Lord." He would never had known what God wanted him to do had he stopped up his
ears in rebellion and complacency to the sound of the voice of God. A definite
contributor to success in my life and in yours is our willingness to listen to what God
has to say (see Deut.28:1,2). God promises exaltation and blessings to those who will
"hearken" unto His voice. Desire His voice and then detect His voice.

II. There Was A Readiness To Obey. He said in verse 8, "Here am I." Before one
ever does anything for God, he must make himself available for the purposes of God
to be fulfilled in his life. His obedience was immediate (no waiting period involved).
It was also inclusive (willing to do whatever God told him to do). As well, it was
important. God does not just speak to us just to have something to say. If He tells us to
do something, it is of the utmost importance.

III. There Was A Needfulness To Go. The prophet of God said, "Send me" (v.8).
Who was going to send him? The Holy Father, the Holy Son, and the Holy Spirit of
God (cp.vv.3 and 8). What two things made it necessary? First, the call of God . The
Lord said, "Who will go for us (v.8)?" Secondly, the condition of men (v.9-10).

IV. There Was A Steadiness To Proclaim. How would the prophet proclaim the
word? Faithfully, in spite of the spiritual problems of the people. We are to be-
"steadfast" and "unmovable" (1 Cor. 15:58).

V. There Was A Trustfulness To Exercise. In verse 12 and 13 God promises a remnant,

although most would be wiped out.
Sermon: Responding to God’s Call
February 10th, 2019 Rev. Betsy Perkins
First Baptist Church, Delavan WI
Scripture passage: Luke 5:1-11, Isaiah 6:1-8
As I listened to the story of Isaiah’s call this week, it struck me as somewhat
preposterous. Not because of the vision of a temple filled with smoke and flying
seraphs and burning coals to clean his mouth out (I’m glad my grandma just
used soap!). It seems bizarre because Isaiah’s response flies from one extreme
to the other. His first response to the amazing sights and sounds is to yell out
“Woe is me, it’s doomsday! I’m ruined.” And then, when God asks, “Whom shall
I send? Who will go for us?” Isaiah’s suddenly the eager kid in the front row
jumping up and down saying, “Oooh, oooh, choose me! Choose me!” There are
no exclamation points in biblical Greek, but at some point a translator stuck one
in, probably with the thought that it might be better if Isaiah sounded excited
and enthusiastic. It might be more realistic, however, to picture Isaiah looking
around that temple throne room and realizing that God was looking straight at
him as God asked the questions. Perhaps a question mark would be more
realitic, “I’m here. Send… me?” Especially given the conversation that follows, in
which God will tell Isaiah that when he starts preaching, everyone’s eyes will
glaze over, many will start to doze off. They won’t be interested, they won’t
understand. In response to that, Isaiah asks, “So how long do I have to do
this?”
God’s Call
Both of our passages today are call stories. They tell about God calling someone
to follow or serve in some way. Because of the way the story about Simon is
told in the gospels of Matthew and Mark, we often have the impression that
Jesus just randomly stopped at Simon’s boat as he walked down the shoreline.
We may have the notion that Simon just up and leaves everything when this
stranger says, “Follow me.” But Luke paints the picture of a growing relationship
between them. In Luke 4, Jesus was preaching at Simon’s hometown
synagogue in Capernaum. After the service, Simon invites him back to his
house for dinner. Simon’s mother-in-law is sick, so when Jesus gets there he
miraculously heals her from the serious fever. Heals her so completely that
she’s the one who serves dinner. As the sun sets, Jesus sits outside Simon’s
house healing people from the entire neighborhood. The next verse starts, “At
daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place.” Probably to pray, Luke mentions
that a lot in his gospel. But the way he writes that makes it very possible that
Jesus spent the night at Simon’s home. So Simon has met Jesus; he’s heard
him preach and seen his healing power. There is a growing relationship, such
that Simon addresses Jesus as “Master”, though not the word that means “Lord”
– more like “Sir” – it’s a term of respect. It is in the context of this developing
relationship that Simon and his fishing partners leave everything to follow
Jesus. But even so, Simon’s initial response is not to jump up and down and
say, “Oooh, Oooh! Choose me! Choose me!”
Resistance to God’s Call
The Bible is full of call stories, from Abraham’s call to leave his home and go
where God would lead, to the prophets, like Isaiah, who God called to speak
specific messages to the people, to the disciples, like Simon Peter, that Jesus
called to follow him. And it didn’t stop there. Jesus’ instructions, both while he
worked with those disciples and after his resurrection, were that those first
followers were to share God’s call with others. It continues right down to today,
when God is still calling people to put their faith in Jesus and to follow and serve
the Lord. We all have a call to be a disciple and to serve in the unique way that
God has prepared for us. What caught my attention this week in these call
stories wasn’t so much that there was a call – but how they, and we, respond to
God’s call. I was surprised by the amount of resistance there is to God’s call!
Jesus doesn’t spring the discipleship question on Simon right off the bat in this
story. Rather, he first asks to use Simon’s boat for a floating stage from which
to teach. The crowd was pressing in so much, pressing him down to the water’s
edge, so he steps into Simon’s boat and asks if he would push out a little.
Simon apparently agrees, for Jesus sits down in the boat and from a short
distance out is able to speak so more people can hear him. Simon is a captive
audience.
Reluctance – “Do what?!”
After his teaching is done, Jesus says to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and
let down the nets for a catch.” Simon expresses some reluctance, some
skepticism. He’s the professional fisherman. He’s the one tired from a night of
futile effort, repeatedly casting out the nets only to haul them in empty. He’s
feeling discouraged. Without fish to sell, he’s anxious about how to feed his
family, about how to pay the bills and taxes, about his fishing partners for they
too depend on him. He was looking forward to just going home and getting
some sleep. Simon admits this sense of failure and discouragement to Jesus as
he says, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” We
can almost hear his mind saying, “You want me to do what?!”
As I think about God’s call coming to each of us in the midst of our daily lives, I
think there are many times when we too respond to God with a reluctant “Do
what?!” We may have tried to be kind to the difficult neighbor over and over
and have gotten discouraged by the lack of results. We may have tried to reach
out to that family member who has fallen away in their faith without anything to
show for it. We may have given generously, again and again, to programs that
feed the hungry and help the poor, yet there seems to be no dent in the need.
Yet in prayer or in worship we hear God calling us to put out into the deep
waters again, to take that risk again, to put down our nets again.
Despite his reservations, Simon responds, “Yet if you say so, I will let the nets
down.” And what a surprise! Nets so full of fish they start to tear, boats so full
of fish they start to sink. God’s surprising provision! God’s amazing abundance!
The greatest catch of their fishing careers is not a result of their expertise and
skill, but the result of God’s power to use people who will trust and obey what
Jesus asks.
Unworthiness – “Who me?!”
Standing in the middle of a heap of flapping fish, the echoes of Jesus’ teaching
still filling his mind, we might expect Simon to fall at Jesus’ feet and say, “What
power, what authority and wisdom you have! Please, let me follow you. Send
me out to do your will.” Instead, what he says is the complete opposite. After
hearing Jesus’ wisdom and after seeing his power and authority even over the
fish in the lake, Simon tries to send Jesus away! Simon is overwhelmed by a
sense of his own unworthiness, his own failures and inadequacy, his own
brokenness.
Simon’s response is a lot like Isaiah, who says, “I’m a man of unclean lips and I
hang out with people who talk rough, too.” In fact, there are many who have
responded with a similar sense of unworthiness. Moses responds to God’s call to
lead the rescue of a whole nation of people from slavery by saying, “Who am I
that I should go?” (Ex.3:11). He was 80 years old, remember, and an ex-con.
Jeremiah responds to God’s call to speak of judgment and hope in a time of
national crisis by saying, “I don’t know what to say; I’m too young.” (Jer.1:6)
It’s been discovered in letters written to her spiritual director, that even Mother
Teresa told Jesus to find somebody else. She shared that Jesus told her she was
“the most incapable person, weak and sinful, but just because you are that,”
Jesus said, “I want to use you for my glory! Wilt thou refuse?” She described
how she argued with the request, frightened of the hardship and the ridicule she
would have to endure. She bargained, promising to be a good nun if only Jesus
would let her stay put in her comfortable convent. But Jesus kept cajoling,
challenging, and inviting, “Wilt thou refuse to do this for me?”
God’s response to our sinfulness and to our weakness and to our inabilities is
not to see those as obstacles to calling us to serve. God’s call is not restricted to
those who have a perfect record or those who are perfectly trained and ready.
God calls imperfect people to do God’s work, people who are aware of their
unworthiness and are often doubting and resistant to God’s call. God doesn’t
wait till they shape up. God calls us as we are and then works on equipping us
into faithful servants.
Fear – “What if…?!”
Mother Teresa’s reluctance and resistance to her call came from fear. We know
that in front of that burning bush, as God spoke to Moses about what he was
being called to do, Moses hid his face, “because he was afraid.” (Ex.3:6) Luke
doesn’t tell us about Simon’s fears, but we know they were there, for Jesus says
to Simon, “Don’t be afraid.”
I know when David and I responded to the call to mission service in India there
were fears that we had and that our families had. What if your kids get sick?
What if we can’t learn the language? What if? I’m sure there are fears as Lisa
prepares to go on the mission trip to Honduras. What if it’s not safe? What if it’s
dirty? What if the sadness of poverty is overwhelming?
Jesus’ promise to his followers is, “I will not leave you as orphans, but I will
come to you… The Spirit of God will come to be with you and in you”
(Jn.14:17,18). God provides the Holy Spirit to comfort and protect and guide.
God promised, “I will never leave you; I will never forsake you.” (Ex.31:8;
Heb.13:5).
Responding to God’s call
Fear, reluctance, resistance is all normal, whether the call from God is for a
large, daunting task or for a small, simple challenge. Jesus invites us, “Put out
into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Will you respond, “Yes,
Lord. There’s a lot going on in my head and in my life, but because you say so,
I will let down the nets.” I will go. I will try. I will share. I will speak.
 God's Call

Contributed by Dana Carpenter Jr. on Dec 30, 2000

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The Greatest Calling

May 26, 2009

What do you think is life’s greatest calling? You might believe it’s a calling to be a missionary, or a teacher, or
doctor, or a minister. While these are certainly great callings, they are all vocational callings and would rank no
higher than fourth when it comes to the great callings of life! Others might say the greatest calling is to be a
parent. And there’s no doubt that to be a parent is one of the great callings of life, because we have the
opportunity to shape a life and to raise this child that God has entrusted to us. But the fact is, on any list of
great callings, it would not rank higher than third. Some say, well, surely the greatest calling in life is the calling
to marriage and to devote your life to another person for the rest of your life. Marriage is a high calling, indeed,
but on God’s list, it would it be no higher than second.

The greatest calling in life is the calling to follow Jesus, the calling to be a Christian. And it’s a calling that is
extended to everyone. It is a calling that is extended to all mankind.

If you have not accepted this amazing calling, will you surrender your life to Jesus and follow Him? Life’s
greatest calling is the calling to be a Christian.

Scripture: Mark 1:16-18

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Summary: Aspects and response to the calling of God.

(Partially adapted from the Thompson Chain outlines)

INTRODUCTION.

A. Read text.

B. We were all someone else before we were Christians.

C. When we accepted Christ, we began to change.

D. God has promised to conform us to Christ’s image.

E. This is sometimes a slow process.

F. The fault is ours due to the flesh.

G. Today’s lesson is on how God really would like us to respond to Him.

I. ASPECTS OF THE CALLING

A. CALLED FROM SOMEWHERE -- Out of darkness - I Peter 2:9 - "But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

B. CALLED TO SOMEWHERE OR SOMETHING.

1. To righteousness - Isaiah 42:6 - "I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold
thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the
Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in
darkness out of the prison house."

2. To peace - I Corinthians 7:15 - "But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a
sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace."

3. To glory - II Peter 1:3 - "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that
pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and
virtue:"

C. THERE HAS TO BE A REASON.

1. According to His purpose - Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

2. To be God’s people - Romans 9:25 - "As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people,
which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved." (Gentile Christians)

II. THE CALL.

A. "Were fishers..." - old life.

B. "Follow me." - the call.

C. "I will make you fishers of men." - new life.

III. THE RESPONSE.

A. Read v. 18.

B. Two things the fishermen did.

1. They forsook their nets.

a. Meaning : they left behind whatever they had to.

b. Luke 5:11 - "they forsook all and followed him."

2. They did so straightway (They wasted no time in doing so).

C. Matthew Levi’s response to Jesus’ call.

1. Matthew 9:9 - "And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew,
sitting at the reciept of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed
him."

2. Luke 5:27-28 - "And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting
at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed
him."

3. Matthew went on to do a good work for Christ - Luke 5:29 - "And Levi made him a great feast
in his own house..."

IV. OTHER EXAMPLES.

A. John The Baptist preached immediate repentance - Matthew 3:10 - "And now also the axe is
laid unto the root of the trees..." (Tomorrow? NO! Now!)

B. The Ethiopian Eunich - Acts 8:36 - "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain
water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

V. FULFILLING THE CALL.

A. Your duty - II Peter 1:10 - "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling
and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:"

B. God’s expectations - II Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

CONCLUSION.

A. John 12:26 - Our call - "If any man follow me, let him serve me."

B. He called Himself the Good Shepherd.

C. That means we, as His sheep, must follow down the path that He has set for us.

D. We are being perfected and conformed to Christ’s image.

E. Along the way are little calls that we must heed (Spiritual housecleaning).

F. I Kings 18:21 - "And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two
opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him."
Mark 1:14-20 (Jesus Calls the Disciples)

INTRODUCTION: Today’s passage begins a new section in Mark. The events described in
verses 1-13 were all preparatory to Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist came preparing the way for
Christ. Jesus was baptized for ministry and tested in the wilderness. Now he is ready to begin
his public ministry in Galilee. (Read Mark 1:14-20)

What do you do when Jesus calls? What is the appropriate response to Christ? This is the
question that four young fishermen faced one morning along the shores of Galilee. And it is a
question that we must still face today. Jesus is no longer here in the flesh. He has returned to
heaven, but he still issues his call through the preaching of the gospel and the drawing power of
the Holy Spirit. When Jesus calls you, what will you do? How will you respond? That’s what this
morning’s passage is all about.

I. Jesus’ message (verses 14-15)

And it all begins with Jesus’ message in verses 14-15.

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The
time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”
(Mark 1:14-15)

“After John was put in prison” sets a somber tone here. The last we heard of John, he was
baptizing and preaching in the wilderness, and everyone was coming out to him. Things were
going well. Mark will fill us in on some of the details of this later in the gospel, but for now it is
enough to know that things turned for John, and he was arrested and locked away.

We don’t know exactly how much time takes place between verse 13 (when Jesus was in the
wilderness) and verse 14, but we know Jesus did not immediately begin his preaching ministry
in Galilee. Jesus had come from Galilee to be baptized by John in the Jordan, and there was an
interval of time where Jesus stayed in Judea with some of his disciples. Jesus’ ministry
overlapped with John’s as Jesus’ disciples also baptized people in the Jordan River. During this
time John’s ministry began to decrease until: “The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and
baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his
disciples.” (John 4:1-2)
It was around this time that John was arrested, and Jesus returned to Galilee. And as Jesus
went into Galilee, he began his public preaching ministry, proclaiming the good news of God.

That phrase “good news” can also be translated “gospel,” that’s what the word “gospel” means,
“good news,” but of course the people Jesus was speaking to did not have the same
understanding of the gospel that we have today. When we hear the word gospel today, we think
of the whole story of the gospel: that Jesus came, Jesus died, Jesus rose again, and we may
have new life through him. At this time in history those things hadn’t happened yet, and yet
Jesus could still proclaim the good news of God in terms of what was happening right then and
there.

What was happening? Look at verse 15: “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is
near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15) Obviously Jesus spoke and taught much
more than that, but this is a summary of Jesus’ message, and it has two parts.

A. The time has come; the kingdom of God is near.

The first part is this: “The time has come; the kingdom of God is near.” John the Baptist had
come to prepare the way for Christ, and now Christ was here. The time of which John had
spoken had now arrived in the person of Jesus. Verse 15 can also be translated, “The time is
fulfilled,” and so there is this sense that with the coming of Jesus the promises of God are being
fulfilled. “The time has come; the kingdom of God is near.”

The people of Jesus’ day were familiar with the concept of God’s kingdom. God’s kingdom
referred to God’s reign or his rule over all things. They knew that God was the sovereign ruler
over all things, and yet they also knew that God had allowed his people to come under the rule
of other nations. They knew from the prophets that this also was part of God’s rule: that God
had allowed this to happen because of their own sin and idolatry. But they also knew that one
day God would deliver them from all of their enemies, and that he would rule all the nations with
perfect justice and righteousness.

And now Jesus says the time had come, that the kingdom of God was near. This was good
news! This is what they had been waiting for. This is what all the Old Testament promises
pointed forward to, and now Jesus announced that the time had come. As we continue through
the gospel of Mark we will see that the kingdom of God arrived in the person of Jesus, and yet it
still awaits its final fulfillment. This is one of the reasons why Jesus taught us to pray, “Your
kingdom come.” (Matthew 6:10) The kingdom has arrived with Jesus, it has begun its work in
and through the gospel, and yet it will not arrive in all its fullness until Christ comes again.

B. Repent and believe the good news.

And so that was the first part of Jesus’ message: “The time has come; the kingdom of God is
near.” That was the good news. And so the second part of Jesus’ message was this: “Repent
and believe the good news!”

The word “repent” carries the idea of turning away from your sins, but it also carries the idea of
turning back to God. We turn our back on our sins and face God instead. Repentance means a
radical change, a new mindset, a new attitude towards God. We could even call this conversion:
turning from our old way of life in order to follow God instead. And so Jesus says, “Repent, be
changed from your old way of life, and believe the good news.”

“To believe” means “to trust” or “have faith,” and in Scripture repentance and faith always go
together. You cannot repent without believing, and you cannot believe without repenting. They
are like two sides of the same coin, and you cannot have one without the other. True
repentance is “believing repentance,” and true faith is “repentant faith.”

And so Jesus says repent and believe the good news. Believe that the time has come. Believe
that the kingdom of God is near. Believe that God is about to fulfill all his promises. Repent, and
believe the good news.

II. Jesus’ call (verses 16-17)

Now in the next verses, the scene shifts to the Sea of Galilee. Look at verse 16: “As Jesus
walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the
lake, for they were fishermen.” (Mark 1:16) Although we call it a sea, the Sea of Galilee is really
an inland lake. The Jordan River flows through it from the north to the south. The lake is about
12 miles long and 7 miles wide. It is located in the Jordan Rift Valley about 700 feet below sea
level. In Jesus’ day it was famous for its fishing, and many small towns and fishing villages
dotted its shores.
As Jesus walks beside the Sea of Galilee, he sees Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net
into the lake. These were casting nets. They were circular nets up to twenty feet in diameter
with stone weights attached all around the circumference of the net. You would cast the net out
on the water, the weights would sink, and then you would pull the net back in with an attached
rope that would draw the net together catching any fish in its path. Mark tells us that Simon and
Andrew were both fishermen, and so I am sure they were quite expert at this.

And as Jesus walks up and sees them casting their net into the lake, he issues his call to them:
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17)

A. Come, follow me.

Jesus’ call had two parts to it, and the first part was, “Come, follow me.” Now this was different
from the rabbis of Jesus’ day. The rabbis also had followers, but a rabbi didn’t call followers to
himself. You went to the rabbi and asked if you could be one of his disciples, and then he either
let you or he did not. Also, when you became a disciple of a rabbi, you did not follow him
personally, but rather you studied under him. In other words, you were not following him so
much as you were following his interpretation of the law.

But when Jesus called the disciples, he called them to follow him. This was not a call to follow a
religion or a set of teachings or a way of life, but a call to follow a person. And this is still true
today. Christianity is primarily about a person – the person of Jesus Christ. Yes, the Bible
contains plenty of teaching and instruction for life, but none of that matters apart from the
person of Jesus. If you take Jesus away, you do not have Christianity. Christianity means first
and foremost following Jesus.

You might wonder, what does it mean to follow Jesus? For the disciples, it was very clear.
Jesus was right there, and it meant you followed him around. Where he walked, you walked.
Where he went, you went. So what does it mean to follow Jesus today?

Following Jesus is not the same as Twitter. Twitter is a service that allows you to “follow” other
people online as they post brief messages throughout the day (similar to Facebook status
updates). It is a relatively simple and painfree way to keep up with friends, relatives, or business
associates. Following Jesus does not mean simply keeping up with him or checking in on him
periodically.
Rather, the call to follow Jesus is the call to discipleship. It means that you put Jesus first, that
you give him your complete loyalty, obedience and trust. Just as the disciples left everything to
follow Christ, you re-orient your entire life around Jesus. He is your Master; he is your Lord; and
he calls you to follow him.

“Come, follow me.” (Mark 1:17) It is a simple, absolute call. There is no wiggle room; there are
no other parameters. You are either a follower of Jesus or you are not.

B. I will make you fishers of men.

That was the first part of the call: “Come follow me.” The second part of the call has to do with
the reason why Jesus calls you to follow him. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make
you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) In other words, when Jesus calls you, he not only wants your
loyalty and trust, but he wants to change you. He wants to make you into something you were
not before. He wants to make you into fishers of men.

Now obviously Jesus used this phrase “fishers of men” with Simon and Andrew because they
were fishermen. It was a play on words and a play on their occupation. They were used to
catching fish. From now on they would catch men. What was Jesus saying here? The call to
follow Jesus includes the call to bring other people to God. Jesus came to seek and to save that
which was lost, and so if you are following him, you will join him in this all important task.

This idea of catching or winning other people for God was not a foreign concept to the disciples.
Proverbs 11:30 says, “He who wins souls is wise.” The book of Daniel says, “Those who are
wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness,
like the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3) God’s people have always been called to lead
others to God. Jesus calls you to follow him, so that you may extend the call to others

Jesus’ first and last commands to his disciples both had to do with witnessing. His first
command found here in Mark is “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” His last
command in Acts 1:8 was: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you
will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Jesus’ call to Simon and Andrew is the same call he issues to you today. He calls you to follow
him personally, and when you do, he promises to change you; he will make you to become
fishers of men.

III. Our appropriate response (verses 18-20)

If that’s the call, then what should be our response to Jesus’ call? Mark presents the disciples’
response in a positive light as something that we should follow in our own lives. Basically, their
response was two-fold.

A. Immediate obedience to Jesus’ call

First, they immediately obeyed Jesus’ call. Look at verse 18: “At once they left their nets and
followed him.” (Mark 1:18) Now that is awesome. “At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Remember, Mark said that when Jesus saw them they were casting their net into the lake. You
almost get the impression that they didn’t even take the time to pull the net back in. They cast
their net into the ocean; Jesus calls them; they leave the net, fish and all, and immediately begin
following Jesus.

Notice that this is how we should respond to Jesus. But the truth is we don’t always do this.
More often than not we take a long time to come to this decision. But let me assure you, every
person who has ever come to Christ always wishes they had done it sooner. They always ask,
“Why did I wait so long? Why did I keep putting this decision off? Why did I waste so much of
my life not knowing and following Jesus Christ?”

Jesus is Lord. He is the King, and the only proper response when Jesus calls you to follow him
is to do so immediately. When Jesus calls, it’s time to go. Anything less is sin, but thank God he
is gracious to us and patient with us, even in our sin of delaying to follow Christ when he calls.

B. Leave everything else behind

Not only did the disciples immediately respond in obedience to Jesus’ call. They left everything
behind to do it. Look at verses 19-20: “When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of
Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and
they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.” (Mark 1:19-20)

Jesus, now followed by Simon and Andrew, walks a little further on down the shore and he sees
James and John. They are in a boat with their father preparing their nets for the next round of
fishing. Jesus calls them, and they leave everything behind to follow him. Simon and Andrew left
their nets behind. James and John left their nets, they left the boat, they left the family business,
and they even left their father in order to follow Jesus.

Does Jesus always call us away from our possessions, our occupation or our family? No, but he
does call us to follow him without hesitation or reservation, which means we must be willing to
leave all those things behind should Jesus so command. Why? Because the time has come.
The kingdom of God has arrived in the person of Jesus Christ. We must repent, and believe the
good news.

CONCLUSION: This passage of Jesus calling his disciples is a challenging passage to us this
morning. It is meant to be. It is meant to challenge you with the message of God’s kingdom, with
the call to discipleship, and your appropriate response.

Are you following Jesus? If not, you need to ask yourself, “Am I really a Christian? Am I really
saved?” A Christian is someone who follows Jesus. That’s the call. If you are not following
Jesus, then what are you doing?

Jesus said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) Jesus calls you
to follow him, and in following him you are to bring others along. God’s kingdom is meant to be
shared. We need to be wise and looking for opportunities to lead other people to Christ. Is
Jesus making you a fisher of men?

The disciples left everything behind in order to follow Jesus. Following Jesus is actually a whole
series of leaving things behind. When we first begin to follow Jesus, we leave our old way of life
behind, but as we continue to follow, we will have to leave other things behind along the way.
What might God be asking you to leave behind? What is standing in the way of you following
Jesus today?

The call to follow Jesus is the call to discipleship. Christ is calling you. How will you respond?