To this point in the gospel of Mark, we have seen how Mark sketches out the character of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah who is to come and is now here. Jesus is the Messiah who identifies with sinful humanity without succumbing to sin himself. Jesus can connect or identify with humanity because He is fully human and fully Divine at the same time. He is of the womb of the woman but not the seed of man.
As we have seen the Father declared that He is pleased with the Son and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus. We have seen Satan tempt Jesus in the Wilderness and Jesus respond to the temptation with the Word of God and the authority that only comes from being the Divine Son.
In our scripture text for this commentary, Mark leads us to the arrest of John the Baptist and the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. From the wilderness temptation until this point was over 8 month’s time. For the next 18 months, the ministry of Jesus will be in the region of Galilee.
As we walk through this text of scripture, we are going to focus on two areas. First, the Kingdom of God at Hand. Secondly, the first disciples chosen and called to be fishers of men. So, let’s journey with Mark as we look at the beginning of the ministry and the calling of the first disciples.
- The Kingdom of God is at Hand (vv. 14-15)
The Kingdom of God is synonymous with the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of God/Heaven is the sovereign and eternal rule of God in the past, present, and eternal future. It is the Lord who establishes earthly kings and rulers, because He is the ultimate Ruler and King.
“More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority. Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God. In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual—Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36), and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5–7, where Jesus says the kingdom of God must be entered into by being born again. See also 1 Corinthians 6:9.” (What is the kingdom of God? | GotQuestions.org)
Jesus begins the ministry in Galilee
Following the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus went to Galilee to begin the fullness of his ministry. Matthew records it this way; “Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles – the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:12-16)
Jesus had spent the first months after the time of wilderness back in the region of Nazareth, but at the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus moves his ministry to Galilee. For the next 18 months the region of Galilee would be home base for Jesus and the disciples.
Four primary phrases that jump out of verse 15:
- The Time is Fulfilled! The word translated time (Kairos) means a favorable, opportune, or significant time as opposed to mere chronology. Here Mark referred to the time appointed by God for the fulfillment of his promises. The period of preparation, the time of the prophets of ancient Israel and ministry of John the Baptist were now complete. The divinely appointed time had come. The Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah were being fulfilled in Jesus.
- The Kingdom of God is at Hand! With this we find the already/not yet of the Kingdom. What is meant by the already/not yet? Already – It was at hand because Jesus is here and with that the Kingdom of God! Not Yet – The fullness of the New Heaven and New Earth would come as would the glorification of those who are in Christ. The Kingdom of God is still at hand because we are the church are the messengers of the Kingdom of God.
- Repent! Those who are confronted with the Kingdom of God must repent, that is, change their minds leading to a change of behavior. It is both a rational decision and willful act to repent. It involves a turn from sin and a turn to the Savior. It is at the heart and soul of our response to the gospel and the coming of the King.
- Believe in the Gospel! When one encounters the Kingdom of God, repentance is complemented by belief in the Gospel. “Pisteuo – Believe” means to have a mental persuasion and to act on it. Belief highlights what (or whom) we turn toward. Both repent and believing are present imperatives. We are commanded to live in a state of repentance and trust. This is a life-altering change, a radical transformation of our life!
- Follow me, I will make you fishers of men. (vv. 16-20)
As Jesus approached the Peter, Andrew, James, and John, He knew exactly who He was seeking. This was not the first time that Jesus would have encountered these men. We find the first encounter with them in John 1:35-42. Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and he was at the baptism of Jesus.
After the time of temptation in the wilderness and during the 8 months that followed, Andrew and Peter went back to their jobs as fishermen. Once John the Baptist had been arrested, Jesus comes to Galilee and it was at this time that He approaches them and calls them to follow Him and become fishers of men.
Two important things take place in this calling and commissioning of the disciples.
- Jesus Calls and Commissions! The call and commission of the disciples is crystal clear! Jesus says Follow Me and I will Make you Fishers of Men. This call and commission are more than to just a call of receiving Christ, it is a call to discipleship.
As we think about this idea of calling and commissioning, it is not new to the disciples. Matter fact, what Jesus does with the disciples is consistent with how God has chosen His people throughout all of scripture. Let’s look at few examples from the Old Testament and see how they compare.
God chose Noah! Think back with me to Genesis 6, when God choses Noah the righteous man and his family. “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and out with pitch.” (Genesis 6:11-14)
God chose Abraham! Fast forward a few chapters in Genesis to chapter 12. “Now the Lord said to Abram, God from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-13)
God chose David! Fast forward 1000 years from Abraham and we find David. “Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” (1 Samuel 16:11-12)
Each one of those in Old Testament is called and commissioned by the Lord. God chose them as they were simply doing life, just as the disciples in New Testament were doing life.
- Disciples Answer the Call and Commission! There is only one Lord and Savior that is Jesus Christ. He has the authority and power to save and call to service. To answer that call to become a disciple is one of obedience and faith. Each one of these men, left everything they knew behind and went to follow the Lord. They didn’t know everything that was coming but what they did know was that the Messiah was calling them.
When God choses us, we have a responsibility to respond with obedience and action. As followers of Christ, we are called and commissioned to the task of taking the gospel to our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. In following the Lord, we have a responsibility to be the messengers of the Kingdom. We bring the message of hope, comfort, and eternal joy.
So, if you are follower of Christ, the question is are you obediently faithful to the calling and commissioning of the Lord? If not, what hinders you from following that call? My challenge to myself and to each of us to be obedient in our calling and commissioning and follower the Lord as Kingdom messengers.
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