When Jesus Speaks: What does it mean to follow him?
Mark 1:16-18 records Jesus' calling of his first four disciples with typical flair and urgency that marks this whole Gospel.
"And going away the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting their nets by the sea. For they were fisherman. And Jesus said to them, Follow me (literally, Come after me with a great sense of urgency)! And I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately leaving their nets they followed him."
The story is amazing in that Mark does not indicate a previous meeting between Jesus and these disciples, and thus the impression is that the first time these men come into contact with Jesus, he passionately commands them to follow him and they drop everything to follow. Impulsive, passionate, immediate, life-changing--makes for great theater.
But is that the way it really happened?
According to John 1:35-42, the answer is "NO."
In fact, John's Gospel gives us insight into a process, not a moment, that led Peter, Andrew, James, and John into the acceptance of this call.
Still, this look at Mark and John enlightens me on how the salvation process can work. The call to repentance and baptism is essential because it shows a humility and acceptance of a life change. The call to discipleship (follow Christ) is also essential. Thus, both of these experiences need to occur, but they are not necessarily the same thing. The baptism of repentance prepares the heart for what the Spirit would do, but each one of us must take the next step beyond repentance and say "YES" to Jesus when he comes to us and asks us to submit to his will and to love and serve and he himself loved and served.
So, what should we do then? If you want to be a disciple of Christ, start with a humble attitude of repentance and confession. Followers of Christ also submit to Jesus, regardless of his command. Remember, Jesus' calling is often tailored to his followers. Not all left fishing nets. Not all were family. Not all were family men. They were not the same age. Their personalities were different. And Jesus' calling and purpose was unique for each one within the building of HIS KINGDOM. Followers of Christ seeks to build Jesus' kingdom, not their own. And they follow Jesus and none other, including their own desires.
NOTE: For clarification, I believe that confession and repentance, as symbolized in the act of baptism, cleanses the heart and person from sin and initiates a life change. This is the salvation moment. However, Jesus also calls all of us to follow him, albeit in unique ways. There is no possible way for a Christian to truly call himself a disciple of Jesus unless he is submitting to the will of Christ on a daily basis.
"And going away the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting their nets by the sea. For they were fisherman. And Jesus said to them, Follow me (literally, Come after me with a great sense of urgency)! And I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately leaving their nets they followed him."
The story is amazing in that Mark does not indicate a previous meeting between Jesus and these disciples, and thus the impression is that the first time these men come into contact with Jesus, he passionately commands them to follow him and they drop everything to follow. Impulsive, passionate, immediate, life-changing--makes for great theater.
But is that the way it really happened?
According to John 1:35-42, the answer is "NO."
In fact, John's Gospel gives us insight into a process, not a moment, that led Peter, Andrew, James, and John into the acceptance of this call.
The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.
So, according to John, Peter had already met Jesus in Judea, near the Jordan River, through his brother Andrew and through John the Baptist. And why were Andrew and John in Judea in the first place? Shouldn't they be fishing in Galilee? Well, either they were in the off season and took a trip to Jerusalem where them met John the Baptist, or they left Galilee intentionally to hear what John the Baptist was all about. Either way, their faith in Jesus, and their response to his call to follow, was preceded by belief in the original message of repentance and baptism by John. They found the water first, and the fire of Jesus' followed.
This is not to doubt Mark's story or perspective. Indeed, Mark's brevity of description and focus on action allows the reader to focus on the moment of the calling, while John's introspective perspective allows the reader to see the story unfold. Complementary, not competitive, perspectives.Still, this look at Mark and John enlightens me on how the salvation process can work. The call to repentance and baptism is essential because it shows a humility and acceptance of a life change. The call to discipleship (follow Christ) is also essential. Thus, both of these experiences need to occur, but they are not necessarily the same thing. The baptism of repentance prepares the heart for what the Spirit would do, but each one of us must take the next step beyond repentance and say "YES" to Jesus when he comes to us and asks us to submit to his will and to love and serve and he himself loved and served.
So, what should we do then? If you want to be a disciple of Christ, start with a humble attitude of repentance and confession. Followers of Christ also submit to Jesus, regardless of his command. Remember, Jesus' calling is often tailored to his followers. Not all left fishing nets. Not all were family. Not all were family men. They were not the same age. Their personalities were different. And Jesus' calling and purpose was unique for each one within the building of HIS KINGDOM. Followers of Christ seeks to build Jesus' kingdom, not their own. And they follow Jesus and none other, including their own desires.
NOTE: For clarification, I believe that confession and repentance, as symbolized in the act of baptism, cleanses the heart and person from sin and initiates a life change. This is the salvation moment. However, Jesus also calls all of us to follow him, albeit in unique ways. There is no possible way for a Christian to truly call himself a disciple of Jesus unless he is submitting to the will of Christ on a daily basis.
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