Year B
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
January 25, 2015
Cross~Wind Ministries
Title: Living Out Loud with a Little Help From Friends
Quote of the day:
Going deeper
Mark 1:14-20
As Mark opens, we hear of John the
Baptist and his preaching. We read of John baptizing Jesus. We then read of
Jesus going off into the wilderness, the place of testing. Israel experienced
testing in the wilderness after its deliverance from Egypt. It passed through
the waters of the Red Sea. In its wilderness testing, it failed to trust in
God. We learn here that Jesus remained faithful to God in his test. Mark has
dismissed Satan from the scene for a moment.
Mark 1:14-15 provides an opportunity for Mark to offer a summary of the
preaching of Jesus. Jesus spoke of God’s rule as close or already
present but hidden, and thus in a way that frustrates ordinary
expectations. 14 Now
after John was arrested, [The
Greek verb paradidomi, here
translated "arrest," is used later in Mark for "betrayed"
and "handing over" Jesus to the authorities (9:31; 10:33; 14:21, 41).
The end of John's ministry reminds the reader of the fate awaiting Jesus. Mark dismisses John the Baptist for a moment,
setting the stage for Jesus. The time of John has passed.] Jesus came to Galilee,[for Mark, Jesus will spend most of his time
in Galilee] proclaiming the good news [Gospel]
of God, [Mark becomes the source for
our use of “the gospel” to refer to a comprehensive presentation of the
teaching of Jesus. Isaiah 52:7 speaks of the beauty of those who bring
good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, and who
says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” The central content of the message of peace is
the dawning of the reign of God, indeed in the sense that God has already
entered upon it. Pannenberg will note the similarity of this message to the
central theme of Jesus as identified by this verse, although in relation to its
future Jesus saw the divine reign as still in the process of dawning.[1]] 15
and saying, “The time is fulfilled,[Here is the first element in the
content of the proclamation of Jesus. Time is not chronological or extended
time, but the opportune or the right time. God steps into human history in a
unique and decisive way. To say time has its fulfillment here is to say that
the preaching of John finds fulfillment. More than that, it suggests Scripture,
its Law and Prophets, find their fulfillment here. The time for which the
people of God have been waiting is finally here. The glorious new day of the
rule of God has dawned. Paul will say in Galatians 4:4 that in the fullness of
time God sent the son into the world. Ephesians 1:10 says that in the fullness
of time God is summing up all things in Christ. The reign of God has arrived,
but in a hidden and surprising form. History has moved toward this time, and
history lives as it continues after this time. People have their time as they
orientate their lives in light of the time of fulfilled in Jesus.[2]] and
the kingdom of God has come near; [Here is the second part of the content
of the proclamation of Jesus. The kingdom is a near or immediate future
reality. Indeed, the appearance of Jesus and the appearance of kingdom are
practically the same. For Mark, the power of the kingdom becomes obvious in the
way various groups of people will respond to the message of Jesus. In that
sense, the kingdom is already here, but we also look forward to its coming,
even as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer.] repent,
[Here is the third part of the content of the proclamation of Jesus.
Although the focus is gospel or good news, the fact that repentance is part of
the preaching of Jesus means it becomes “bad news” in that we need to shift
course. John the Baptist preached repentance, and Jesus continues that
emphasis. Pannenberg says the prophetic theme of conversion is not
prominent in the message of Jesus, even though this passage brings it to the
fore as a theme of the preaching of Jesus. Yet, one could say that the summons
to subordinate all concerns to seeking the reign of God in human life naturally
implies very strongly a conversion to God. Conversion, for Jesus is not a
precondition of participation in the reign of God. At the center of his message
is the imminence and presence of the rule of God for believers.[3]
To repent does not mean merely to turn away from a specific sin, but turning
toward God in faith and obedience. He now calls his hearers to turn around, to
shift the direction of their lives, to look, listen and give their full
attention to the arrival of the kingdom. For Karl Barth repentance means complete
re-orientation, both inward and outward, of the whole person to the God who
truly has turned to humanity in time.[4]]
and
believe in the good news.”
[Here is the fourth part of the proclamation of Jesus. This becomes a major
theme of the preaching of Jesus. Where Jesus is, the kingdom is actively at
work. Its truth is not self-evident. To see it, one must believe. The call is
not an intellectual assent, but to personal trust. To believe in the
good news means to wager one's future on the reality of God's involvement in
the world through the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, despite the
skepticism of the modern worldview.
Mark 1:16-20 is a story involving
the call of the first disciples to follow Jesus. Here is the ideal way that
people will hear Jesus. True discipleship is hearing the invitation of Jesus,
leaving behind a former way of life in order to follow Jesus. In two successive
encounters, Jesus appears to four ordinary men engaged in routine activities.
He calls, and they follow.
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea
of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for
they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I
will make you fish for people.”[Jesus
invites the two brothers to follow him. However, the call is abrupt. It seems
more like a command than an invitation. We assume that they knew of Jesus
before this moment, but Mark is not concerned with this. The image of
fishing for people is one that “fits” only some of the disciples, for the
disciples came from a variety of professions. The story brings out the
authority of the command and the completeness of obedience. The story
represents the impact of the call of Jesus upon the lives of these men. The
story calls to mind I Kings 19:19-21, where Elijah found Elisha plowing in the
field. Elijah cast his mantle on him, and he would leave his family in order to
follow Elijah by becoming his servant. The gospel story will continue with the
theme of renunciation. These disciples do not have answers. In fact, I can imagine
they have many questions. They embark upon journey that, far from security,
will present rejection and danger. Yet, the simplest and most ordinary people
can perceive the presence of the kingdom in Jesus and respond to the call and
allow God to change them. Jeremiah 16:14-16 refers to God sending forth anglers
and hunters to bring the scattered people of God home. Jesus intended the focus
of his statement to be on the dramatic difference between his disciples' old
life as those consumed with worldly pursuits, and their new life as his
followers engaged in the supremely important business of salvation. In other
words, the important word in the verse is the noun "people," not the
verb "fish." When we think of fishing, we think hook and line and a
relaxing day at the lake. However, Jesus is talking about net fishing as a
business. Although some small nets were thrown and retrieved by individuals,
fishing was a team effort, not a solo venture. Jesus is calling followers to
work together to capture people for the kingdom. Effective evangelism is a
shared enterprise. "Fishing," as Simon and Andrew know, is demanding
work. It can be both tedious and exhausting. Even today, commercial fishing
ranks high on the list of "most hazardous" jobs. Boats, weather,
water, equipment‑‑all can either aid the fisher or be instruments of harm, even
death. Because the message he must
spread is so important and the time for action has grown so short, Jesus calls
these first disciples to a new, fully engaged, and totally consuming form of
discipleship. This invitation to discipleship, to "fishing," is no
less than a call to participate in Jesus' own mission. Instead of offering his
disciples a place at his feet, Jesus offers them a place at his side, joining
with him to proclaim the good news of the kingdom that is both present and yet‑to‑come. 18 And immediately they left their
nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James
son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20
Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the
boat with the hired men, and followed him. [It does extend the
command that Simon, Andrew, James and John "follow Jesus." Jesus
himself, of course, became the epitome of servanthood, for the purpose of the
incarnation itself is servanthood (Mark 10:45). All those, then, who would
genuinely "follow" Jesus, follow his footsteps into a life of service
to others.]
After Jesus announces the kingdom
of God, he calls people to enter it and to invite others to enter it, too. We
know little about the men Jesus called. Did they enjoy their work? Were they
prosperous or poor? Did the brothers get along with each other? What was the
relationship with the father? While we may find this information interesting,
it is not the point of the story. We find the point of the story in Jesus'
authoritative command "follow me" and then in how the men responded.
While we may not read this story
with shock, there is much here that is countercultural. To the ancient reader,
the summons to follow Jesus was an extraordinary disruption in a person's life.
It might even seem offensive. Simon is a married man (1:30), responsible for
support of his wife and children (unless he is widowed, but see I Corinthians
9:5) and perhaps his mother-in-law as well. His response to Jesus would have
been regarded by his family, friends and community as totally irresponsible.
Because of the patriarchal structure of society, James and John's decision to
leave their father's employment without securing his permission was a violation
of the cultural code, not to mention an act that could put the welfare of the
whole family at risk. For Jesus, however, the urgency of the kingdom of God
means normal expectations must be put aside. For Mark, life will be disrupted
when faithful readers become faithful disciples and answer the call of Jesus:
"Follow me."
Introduction
We need compatriots in the journey
of life if we are to reach the goal.
Eleven (2008) is by Leonard Sweet. The book lifts up eleven relationships in
the Bible that would be helpful for each of us to have. For example, David had
his Nathan, a prophet who could call him on the carpet when he did not live up
to what God wanted. David also had his Jonathan, who was like a second self; he
was such a close friend. Paul had his Barnabas, an encourager in the faith.
Peter had his Paul, to provide wisdom in how to apply Christian principles. The
list goes on.
In fact, Rich Mintzer of
Entrepreneur magazine offers a description of the “four people every business
owner needs.” These are the “four types of supporters who serve as emotional
backers and/or advisers. If you are fortunate enough to find all four, you may
have your own little village to help you raise a business.” Lance Eng, a real
estate broker, suggests that it is important for a business owner “to build his
or her own little board of directors, so to speak, to have key supporters around.”
Here are the four types.
• The Cheerleader: “Athletes have them,” says Mintzer, “so why
shouldn’t you? Cheerleaders are those who will rally behind an idea and provide
encouragement, especially during the initial headaches of a business start-up.
“Clearly, you need to have positive-thinking people around you at all times,”
says business coach Marian Banker. “You’ll notice the word courage is in there,
which is also something very important that a cheerleader helps you develop.”
• The Role Model: This is the “follow me and do as I do” person.
Watch this person, take mentoring from him or her, and you begin to see
important principles at work. A role model could be a teacher or mentor, but it
could also be someone close to you, including family. Family members with a
good work ethic or wise business acumen, for example, can be worth their weight
in gold to a budding business.
• The Expert: It is always good to surround yourself with people who
are smarter than you about certain areas. Experts provide the missing pieces
for entrepreneurs who are gifted in one part of the business but need help and
advice in another. Experts fill in the gaps by asking questions that begin
with, “Have you given any thought to …”
• The Techie: These folks are wizards with things: computers,
communication systems, manufacturing, infrastructure and the like. Someone with
the ability to provide efficient and timely technical support and advice can be
a godsend in today’s business world.
The point is that it takes a team to
be successful.
Jesus chose common people to be part of his band of friends. Part of
that band was hard-working, hands-on anglers. Another fact is that Jesus seems
to have felt the need for a close community of people and with whom he could
share his ideas and teachings. They must have spent many hours around the
campfire talking, arguing, and joking. Jesus could tell a humorous story.
Children liked to approach Jesus. In fact, the sick and the outcast alike felt
like they could approach Jesus. James and John were “sons of thunder,” in other
words hot-headed. They quite likely had many a heated discussion among this
band of friends.
Application
Let me ask
you: Was Jesus looking for a cheerleader, a role model, an expert and a techie?
Frankly, I doubt he made his choices based upon business principles. I want to
suggest two qualifications for the disciples of Jesus .
I think each has an implication for us modern followers of Jesus .
We are
considering elements of the pathway of discipleship. We invite people today to
follow Jesus and therefore believe or trust him. We invite people to allow
Jesus to make or form us into followers of Jesus, and therefore to grow in our
faith. We invite people to focus on the people in their sphere of influence. We
want people to consider to consider prayerfully their witness to these people.
We send them forth to fish for people.
First, Jesus was looking for one primary qualification for
discipleship: a willingness to follow.
So how can you figure out which way to go? According to Ignatius of
Loyola, the Spanish founder of the Society of Jesus, the process of discernment
always aims at enhancing your participation in the work of God, and it is
always performed for the glory of God and for the healing of the world. I am
sure you have heard the story of a man standing before God, heart breaking from
the pain and injustice in the world. His prayer was simple: “Dear God, look at
all the suffering and distress in the world. Why do you not send some help.”
God responded: “I did send help. I sent you.”[5] Frederick
Buechner famously said, "The place
God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's hunger
meet." I urge you. Listen to your deep gladness. Feel the hunger of the
world. Hear the call of God in your life.
By the way, Mark
is hard on the disciples. They are slow to understand. They display some
courage at the lakeshore, but remember it all dissolved in panic in the Garden of Gethsemane
Second, Jesus was looking for people willing to let him disrupt
their lives.
Imagine Jesus walking into an office building, a factory or a
grocery store and tapping a secretary, a welder or a checkout clerk on the
shoulder saying, “Follow me.” Imagine the looks on the faces of the coworkers
when the employee walks out, leaving the Plasterer file open, the doors of a
new car un-welded and the groceries un-bagged. We have a hard time fathoming
that kind of response. We like the idea of religious devotion to a cause, but
only insofar as it does not get in the way of our “normal” lives. Jesus will disrupt our lives
Many of us
have gotten comfortable in our journey. We miss that fact that Jesus is all
about disrupting our normal lives. The announcement of the kingdom was a
proclamation that everything was changing. Later, some leaders of the synagogue
in Thessalonica did not like the idea that Paul
and Silas persuaded some of their number that Jesus
was the promised Messiah. They took some of the converts before the judge and
made a curious accusation against these disciples.
Acts 17:6
When
they could not find them, they dragged Jason
and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people
who have been turning the world upside down have come here also.
Being a disciple means being willing to drop our own agendas
for life and get on board with the kingdom agenda of Jesus .
God has not called us to be advisers and supporters of Jesus ,
but true “friends” and investors who stake our lives and livelihoods on his
vision for the world.
You are my friends if
you do what I command you.
Whatever job we are working at, Jesus challenges us to see
our primary vocation as being kingdom people, spiritual entrepreneurs who are
fully invested — body, mind, spirit, wallet, time — in that venture!
Conclusion
We need a
team in this journey. At its best, the church is that team, in witness, in
worship, in learning, and in fellowship. We will not reach the goal, we will
not fulfill the mission, without a team.
Do I need
to persuade you further that you need a team in this journey?
I hope you
do not mind if I offer one more challenge. We want more people to be part of
this team. James C. Fenhagen wrote in, Invitation to Holiness, "The fruit of conversion is a life
that can be used by God for the healing of the world." You and I have the
privilege of inviting others to be disciples of Jesus Christ .
I came across this list of tips for reeling in disciples.[6]
*Be with people on their turf.
*Be real, be vulnerable, be honest.
*Be creative: Do old things in news ways.
*Be spiritual, not churchy.
*Be patient.
*Be ready for surprises.
*Be willing to step out of your comfort zone.
*Be on the lookout for where God is at work.
*Be praying.
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