Fishers of Men

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. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. 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 1:14-20

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.1.14-20

This is an explanation of the previous text--repent and believe.

This happened after John the baptist was put into prison. Jesus called his first disciples after the 'persecution' of John.

Follow Me - Come behind me as a disciple--a permanent disciple of Jesus. It was prioritization of their relationship to Jesus.

Peter and Andrew left their nets and followed him - they followed Jesus by quitting their jobs as fishermen.

James and John were 'middle class' probably because they have hired men with them. They left their father Zebedee with the hired men / they were sure that their father was taken care of. But they left their father, without delay--a picture of total allegiance.

"Come, follow me and I will send you our to fish for people" is the calling of every believer--to follow Jesus, becoming like Him (Christlikeness) and to be sent out for people (to make others become like Jesus also).

Repent and Believe

'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 has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” '

Mark 1:14-15

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.1.14-15

John was arrested because of his comments about Herod and his adulterous relationship.

Jesus 'retreated' to Galilee when John was arrested*

The time has come! - It was a Kairos moment.

The kingdom of God has come near. - because the King has come near. The Kingdom of God is where the rule of God is directly observed.

Repent - turning from something (180 degree turn)

Believe - embracing the new thing to believe in.

The good news - Because the Messiah is here.

Repent and Believe - that is the constant call for everyone. To turn away from my own self-sufficiency and embrace Jesus.

Fully Loved Fully Tried

'At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. '

Mark 1:9-13

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.1.9-13

The Baptism of Jesus is one of the events that pictures the trinity. The Father speaking from Heaven; The Son being baptized and the Holy Spirit descending like a dove.

Jesus underwent John's baptism to identify with man and man's sin. -Dr Constable's Notes on Mark, p. 21

The Father expressed his love and pleasure for the Son, even though the Son hasn't done anything yet.

God loves us and is pleased with us for who we are in Him not by what we do. 

In a world where, achievement and work has become that standard of love and pleasure and acceptance and belongingness and approval - everyone looks good on social media. Everyone is achieving in social media. We want reactions, hearts, likes, views, shares, etc. 

plot twist - God loves the Son and is pleased with Him but was immediately sent to the wilderness to fast and to be tempted by the enemy.

The same Holy Spirit who descended on Him like a dove is a the same Holy Spirit who led Jesus to the wilderness for forty days to be tempted by Satan. (Wild animals adds to the intensity of the temptation, angels adds to grace given in times of need)

God allowed Satan to tempt Jesus for two reasons: to show that He would not draw away from the Father's will, and to demonstrate His qualification for the mission.

Jesus came to overthrow the Kingdom of Darkness, and the Testing in the wilderness is an inevitable encounter.

*Adam was tempted in the perfect place and failed. Jesus was tempted in the worst environment, and he succeeded.

It's not about the environment.

God in his love send his people to trials and testing. Trials and testing helps in perfecting our faith. Suffering expands our emotional capacities and our spirituality and faith. It exposes what we know and what we really believe about God our Father. Temptations will be fierce, but the same Holy Spirit who dwelt in Jesus and overcame temptation from Satan is with us in our temptations.

Our suffering with the enemy is also God's way of initiating our own personal ministries.

Forerunners

'The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 

as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: 

“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” — “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” 

And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” '

Mark 1:1-8

https://my.bible.com/bible/111/MRK.1.1-8

Mark started his gospel with John the Baptist. He was the messenger ahead of Jesus, who prepared the hearts of people to receive and identify the Messiah. He is a a voice calling in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight paths for him.

His message of repentance, baptism. and the after me.... is all for the preparation for the hearts of people so that when Messiah comes, they won't miss him. He is calling all people to ready their hearts so that their hearts would be sensitive when God through the Messiah, reveals himself.

John's lifestyle--diet and fashion sense marks him as a typical prophet / man of God in those times.

Point: You are the first step for people before they encounter Jesus fully. Is our interactions with people prepare their hearts points to God. Is our lifestyle/behavior reflects someone who truly knows Jesus. Our we preparing the ways of Lord so that people would receive Jesus in their lives.