The Summoned Students: The King's Call
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Introduction
Introduction
Welcome to the Anchor!
Last week, we talked about why our group is called the Anchor. We explored that question.
The Anchor, and the reason we are called that, is because of the King, Jesus Christ. Who wants to be the Anchor in our lives, as we go through every season. Someone who can be with us all ways, and can save us from ourselves and the punishment we deserve.
Does anyone remember the story we talked about last week?
We talked about John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus. The very start of Mark. But why are we reading Mark?
We are reading Mark to answer this question: who is Jesus? Who is this King? What is He like? Does He really care about me? How can I know Him?
So we are going to pick up right where we left off.
Something that I believe is important to do before we read the Bible every time is to ask God to help us understand what He wants us to know from it. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Prayer
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
This is what we talked about last time, the King’s message is to turn away from sin and to believe in the good news.
What happens next?
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
I. Jesus walks along the Sea of Galilee and calls out to the brothers Simon and Andrew to follow him. They follow him. (1:16-18)
The King shows up, declares his message and immediately goes to the Sea of Galilee and finds two fishermen. Then Jesus asks them to follow him.
Why do you think Jesus would ask two Fishermen to follow him?
He chose them. Jesus specifically chose Simon and his brother Andrew.
But what exactly does it mean to be a fisher of men? Is Jesus talking about kidnapping?
No, Jesus is talking about the proclamation of the good news to all people. Telling people Jesus’s message so they too can turn to Jesus, away from their sin and believe.
How exactly does Simon and Andrew respond?
And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
They leave and follow Him. Immediately. They promptly respond to His call / summon. Jesus called and they responded.
Why? This guy they just met? Isn’t that a little confusing?
How would you guys respond if some guy you had never met before walked up to you at school or at the park and asked you to follow him?
Time for a flashback: a rewind.
Back to John the Baptist, the guy in camels fur.
Does anyone remember what area John the Baptist was in?
The wilderness.
Before Jesus called Simon and Andrew.
Andrew was a student of John the Baptist.
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ).
Andrew and SImon knew who Jesus was, they knew this guy is the King, the Messiah. Does anyone know what the word Messiah means, Savior.
They had heard about Jesus, they knew who he was. So when Jesus finds them by the Sea they respond they drop everything and follow Him. What happens next?
And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.
And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Jesus goes on to call two more fishermen, James and John. Brothers who probably also already had heard about Jesus. They leave everything behind, completely, even their own Father.
Has anyone left for a summer camp, trip, or vacation before?
What did it feel like to leave home?
We learn two things from these 2 sets of brothers.
#1. They left to follow Jesus immediately. As soon as He called to them.
#2. They left to follow Jesus completely, leaving behind their lives.
But where was Jesus going that they needed to follow Him.
Jesus was inviting them to be His disciples, does anyone by chance know what disciple means?
Student or follower. Jesus is the King and the teacher, these men were invited to be followers of Jesus, seeking to live life how Jesus Himself lives. Seeking to proclaim His message of good news to all!
The good news, as we mentioned last week, applies and is for you too! To turn away from your evilness to Jesus, from your brokenness to His perfect completeness. To believe in Him.
Jesus invites everyone of us too to be a disciples, a student, a follower of Him.
Jesus says at the end of the Bible:
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Jesus invites us to follow Him today, and guess what, the rest of the book of Mark shows us how to follow Jesus, what it means to learn from Him.
If you are here and you believe in Jesus my question for all of us is this, Do we truly follow Him? Do you truly follow Him? Are you willing to leave your life behind and become a student of the king? Do you want to?
For those of you who want to talk more about that, again, you are welcome to stay in this room to chat with me after we pray and we break for small groups.
Let’s turn to the Lord in prayer.