St.
Mark 1:14-20 MARKAN MEDITATIONS
Meditations in the Gospel of St. Mark
St.
Mark 1:14-20
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THIS short section of Mark's Gospel tells us of three important events. It tells us of the imprisonment of John the Baptist, of the preaching of Jesus, and of the call by Jesus of the disciples. Let us see what we learn from these events.
The imprisonment of John reminds us that Jesus never promised that the life of the Christian would be easy. In fact Jesus warned his disciples before he went to the cross that they must not be surprised at the hate of the world, and told them that the same hate the world directed at himself, would be direct at all who were his disciples. In the imprisonment of John we have an example of this. John was a good man, and he was faithful in the ministry God had called him to do. By the example of his life and by the fearlessness of his preaching he told people the true way of God. In spite of this, or indeed because of this, he found himself in prison. The world does not like its evil ways exposed or rebuked. The devil will be sure to mobilise his forces against all those who assault his kingdom. It is often the most faithful servants of Christ who receive the most persecution. The life of the Apostle Paul is one very good example. He tells us of his trials in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33. It is not all faithful Christians that have to suffer as John the Baptist and Paul, but as Jesus never promised that our pilgrimage in this life would be easy, we must not be surprised if we meet difficulties on the way, specially when we are giving the most for Jesus. Further let us find in the trials evidence that we are really accomplishing things in the master's service, as the persecutions show the devil fighting back. Let us also remember that if Jesus did not promise ease, he did promise that he would always be with us and never leave us, and that our reward would be truly in heaven.
Next let us understand the great importance of preaching the Gospel. We are told that Jesus, engaging in his saving ministry, went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. As we read the gospels we tend to have our minds captured by the spectacular events of the life of Jesus, his miracles and his conflict with the Pharisees, and because of this we can easily miss the many references we have to Jesus preaching and teaching both his disciples and the people. It may be only a sentence as here, but when we notice them we see that preaching the gospel was the first priority in the ministry of Jesus which came before his miracles. In fact we so often read the parables, and miss the fact that they are examples of this ministry of preaching the gospel. Preaching, in spite of the way teaching through speaking is despised today, is the chosen means of God for the proclamation of the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. Paul made this point in Roman 10:14,15. Preaching should hold a central place in all Christian worship and services. It should never be left out for any reason. It should be attended to by all with sincere attention. It should be looked upon by us all as the place where God does the most conversion work, because he has ordained preaching for this means. It should never be crowded out by other things or relegated to a subordinate place.
Then still under the heading of the preaching of Jesus we are told in this scripture what the message is that we have to preach. It is the same message Jesus preached which is just as true today as it was when Jesus first preached it. It is the message that the kingdom of God is near, and also the response we should make to this gospel - repent and believe it.
Belonging to the kingdom of God is to be saved. It is to be reconciled to God by the forgiveness of all our sins, and welcomed into the presence of God as our King and Saviour, and to know fellowship with God, which is the beginning of the experience of eternal life. Jesus brought this kingdom near, and by his life and death opened the door into the kingdom. The Gospel is this that for Christ's sake and what he has done for us in his living and dying, God forgives us all our sins, delivers us from judgement and eternal punishment and gives us the blessing of eternal happiness in fellowship with himself.
The promise of the kingdom is free, but to receive the promise we must repent of our sins, i.e. see that it is our sins that keep us from God; then believe the gospel that in Jesus Christ all our sins are forgiven and we are welcome into the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God being near means all of this and all the depth of meaning in this also. Jesus preached this gospel and every true minister will preach it also and make this good news the centre of their preaching. This is the preaching we all need to do, even though it is only one to one as the Lord opens the way for us to speak.
The last event we learn from here is the call of the disciples by Jesus. Again the account is quite short and basic. If we go to the gospel of St.Luke chapter 5 and verses 1-12 we find that the call of Peter was preceded by Jesus teaching the crowd from a boat and then giving the disciples a miraculous catch of fish. In fact the call was preceded by intensive preaching and teaching and a demonstration of the divine power of Jesus. However, although teaching usually precedes anyone answering the call of Jesus to discipleship, and the call is based on knowledge acquired, we must not suppose that anyone can choose to become a Christian simply by the act of their minds and wills assessing the evidence and then deciding to believe in Jesus and follow him. What we have in the account of the call of the disciples is what is often called the effectual call of God. This call is the essential power which draws a soul to believe and be saved.
This divine call, without which none truly believe, is vividly described here in this call of the disciples. These disciples had families. Although these disciples had been impressed by Jesus they had no intention of leaving their employment and their families for the uncertain life with Jesus. They also took their responsibility to their families seriously. What would their families do without them providing for their daily needs. Yet Jesus calls them and in spite of the problems of following Jesus, they immediately left their net mending and followed Jesus. They did not know what the future may hold, but they still left all and followed Jesus. This can be none other than a demonstration of the divine call of God which is irresistible.
This divine call is a demonstration of the love and mercy of God. It is necessary for anyone to be saved. God knows that we are dead spiritually and whatever the mind is able to perceive in its natural condition, it cannot see or desire the kingdom of heaven. No one would embrace salvation but for God's irresistible grace. Our call may be less spectacular and hardly discernible when we receive it, but we would not have believed without it. This truth is impressed upon our souls as we view the invincible unbelief all around us, and as we come to understand the power of our flesh and its attraction for the world. How blest were the disciples that they were called. They did great service for the Lord in later life, but they would be the first to confess that there was no glory in this for them. They knew, as we must understand, that as we would not believe unless divine grace made us, so we never can persevere without divine grace keeping us.
There is one little thought to end with. It is no more then a suggestion based on the account in Luke. Is it not possible that Jesus gave the great catch of fishes, so that the disciple's families and dependents would be amply provided for even though they had lost their bread winner? What a wise and gracious God we serve and belong to.