When the King Calls: A New Beginning Requires a New Commitment

Big Idea: Every new movement of God begins with sacrifice—and every person God uses is called, not because they are the same, but because they are surrendered.

Bible Passage: Mark 1:14–20

Introduction

The one constant in life is change. Life is always changing and here we find ourselves attending the first Sunday of 2026, January 4, 2026.

Change. Again, we reflect on where we’ve been. We perform a freeze frame and consider where we are. And most importantly, we focus on where we want to go...and all those things with not the backdrop, but at the forefront by the will of God. We do not want to outrun God. Amen.

So, we talk about fresh starts, new goals and renewed commitment, but what is interesting, when the Lord starts something new, He rarely starts with resolutions. He starts with sacrifice.

As we find ourselves this morning back in Mark’s gospel in Chapter 1, we are not just stepping into a new year, we are stepping into the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.

And we will read in just a moment that before there are any miracles, before there are crowds, and before their is opposition, there is a call.

If the kingdom of God is going to advance, it will require people who are willing to give up in order to follow Someone greater and that Someone is Jesus.

Turn in your Bibles this morning to Mark 1:14-20. Let’s stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Mark 1:14-20

Mark 1:14–20 NKJV

14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Prayer

Message

In the beginning of Mark that we studied prior to Advent we see in the prior verses that Jesus voluntarily chose to identify with us both by setting and example and identifying with us by temptation of sin. Jesus, All God and all man never committed a sin or has ever committed a sin had no reason to be baptized, but was baptized as an example to emulate the idea of dying to self and the example of this newness we discuss today. A new chapter, a new period in our lives. The idea of repentance, the change of direction. Jesus sets the example for us to be raised and walk in newness of life without ever looking back.

In these very verses this morning we study, we see the action aspect of Jesus’ call. Today’s story puts feet to our faith.

Furthermore, Jesus could identify with us in temptation as He went into the wilderness 40 days and nights, yet by the power of Scripture, He was strengthened to remain the sinless lamb of God that will take away our sins.

Hebrews 4:15 “15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus passed that test in the wilderness and it is the same Scriptures that strengthen us to avoid sin and the same Holy Spirit that strengthens us when we are being tempted.

Mark opens the section we study this morning with a sobering statement:

“Now after John was put into prison...”

John the Baptist’ ministry did not end with cheers, it ended with chains. Let’s go further, his ministry ended with decapitation. You can read that story in Matthew 14:1-12 or Mark 6:14-29 in detail.

This morning we are discussing sacrifice. What am I willing to sacrifice in the New Year to see the Kingdom of God flourish?

John sacrificed his freedom and very life that Christ could be made known. We would call John the Baptist the the last martyr of the Old Covenant and the first martyr connected to Christ.

We see a passing of the baton. We see a forerunner, a herald, John the Baptist being that voice from the wilderness, “prepare the way of the Lord” and we see Jesus come on the scene.

Jesus steps forward, He leaves obscurity and enters into a resistance early on. And from this very first sermon Jesus preaches , the shadows of the cross are already present.

And soon after, fishermen will be asked to leave their nets. From the very beginning, Mark’s gospel wants us to see clearly:

Every movement of God begins with sacrifice.

1. The Proclamation of the Kingdom VV. 14-15

Mark 1:14–15 “14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.””

“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God.”

Shift

Mark 1:14 “14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,”

We read in:

Matthew 4:12 “12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.”

Matthew teaches more specifically that Jesus’ shift was responsive. He knew His time was at hand.

When Mark tells us that Jesus came preaching in Galilee, that detail is not incidental—it is intentional. Israel was divided into three regions. To the south was Judea, where Jerusalem stood—the religious center, the temple, the familiar rhythms of Jewish life. In the middle was Samaria, a region despised because of racial and religious compromise. But to the north was Galilee—green, fertile, and mixed with both Jews and Gentiles. Galilee was not the religious hub. It was the margins. It was what we might call Mission Field 101.

And here’s the shift—when John the Baptist is arrested, Jesus does not retreat deeper into religious comfort. He moves outward. He leaves the security of the familiar and steps into the complexity of Galilee. The King chooses not the center of religious power, but the crossroads of brokenness and diversity. The message of the Kingdom begins not behind temple walls, but along open roads and ordinary shorelines.

Oh listen, the message of the Kingdom, happens in here, yes, but nothing to compare to the effectiveness out there in ordinary daily life.

That shift matters for us as we begin a new year. God’s work did not stall when John left the scene—it shifted. And when God shifts, He invites His people to shift with Him. If the Kingdom is at hand, then ministry cannot remain only where it is comfortable, familiar, or convenient. Like Jesus, we are called to move—outward, forward, and toward people who may not look like us, think like us, or live like us. A new year in the Kingdom often begins with a willingness to step into Galilee.

Statement (and...that statement is a Sermon)

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Firstly, He says:

“The Time is Fulfilled.”

God’s redemptive plan had reached its decisive moment.

When Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled,” He is not talking about minutes on a clock or dates on a calendar. Mark uses a word that means God’s appointed moment—the right time, the decisive time. In other words, Jesus is saying, “Everything God has been preparing for has now arrived.” The promises of the Old Testament, the prophets, the waiting, the longing—none of it was wasted. God has been working behind the scenes, and now the curtain is being pulled back.

This is important theology for us as we enter a new year. We often think new beginnings happen when we decide it’s time. Scripture reminds us that true change happens when God says it’s time. The fulfillment Jesus announces is not rushed, and it is not late. It is precise. God is never early, never late—always on time.

Here’s where it becomes personal. Many of us step into a new year thinking, “Maybe this will be my year.” Jesus’ words gently reframe that thinking. The question is not whether this is our time—it is whether we are willing to step into God’s time. For some, this year may be the moment God has been patiently preparing you for: a step of faith, a conversation you’ve avoided, a calling you’ve postponed. The time is fulfilled means God is already at work—you are being invited to respond.

Illustration: It’s like standing at a train platform. The schedule has been posted for years. The tracks were laid long before you arrived. When the train pulls in, the announcement doesn’t say, “Get ready.” It says, “Now boarding.” Jesus is saying, “The train has arrived. This is the moment.”

“THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND”

(God’s Reign – A New Reality)

Next, Jesus declares, “The kingdom of God is at hand.” This does not mean heaven is nearby in a geographical sense. The kingdom of God is God’s active reign, His rule breaking into human history through the presence of the King Himself. Where Jesus is, the kingdom is present. God’s authority, God’s mercy, God’s power—all made visible in Christ.

Theologically, this means the kingdom is both already and not yet. It has arrived in Jesus, but it has not yet been fully realized. We live in the overlap—where God’s reign is present, but the world is still broken. That’s why Jesus heals, forgives, restores, and calls people to follow. He is showing us what life looks like when God is King.

That has real application for a new year. If the kingdom is at hand, then God is not asking for a place on our calendar—He is asking for the throne of our lives. The kingdom is not something we visit on Sundays; it is something we live under every day. The question becomes: Who is ruling my decisions? My priorities? My schedule?

Illustration: Imagine moving into a new house but refusing to use the electrical system. The power is available. The wiring is in place. But you keep living in the dark because you never flip the switch. The kingdom being “at hand” means God’s reign is available—but it must be received and lived under.

“REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL”

Jesus offers us a new direction

Finally, Jesus gives the required response: “Repent and believe in the gospel.” These are not two separate actions—they are two sides of the same response. Repentance is a change of mind that leads to a change of direction. Belief is not intellectual agreement—it is trust, surrender, allegiance.

Theologically, repentance is not self-improvement. It is reorientation. It is turning from self-rule to God’s rule. And belief is not just believing about Jesus—it is believing into Jesus. One without the other is incomplete. Repentance without belief leads to guilt. Belief without repentance leads to empty religion.

This is where New Year language often falls short. We talk about habits, goals, and discipline. Jesus talks about direction. The call is not, “Try harder this year,” but, “Follow Me.” Christianity is not about adding Jesus to your life—it is about letting Jesus redefine your life.

Illustration: If you’re driving south and realize your destination is north, slowing down won’t help. Decorating the car won’t help. You must turn around. Repentance is the turn. Belief is trusting the new direction will actually take you home.

As a new year begins, Jesus stands at the beginning of His ministry and says the same thing to us: This is God’s moment. God’s reign is present. Now choose your direction.

Oh listen, a new year does not automatically bring new life, but responding to Jesus’ call always does.

2. The Pursuit of the King VV. 16-19

Mark 1:16–19 “16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.”

We see this new calling being lived out.

Mark then shows us something remarkable.

Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee. He’s not walking through a seminary, not walking through a palace, He’s not walking in the temple or the synagogue, nor is He searching at some university.

Jesus stops and sees everyday ordinary people like you and me, fishermen. These men were ordinary, working men with calloused hands and modest expectations as to what this life holds.

And notice something. Listen to what Jesus says:

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”

When we read Mark’s Gospel alone, it can almost sound as if these men dropped everything on a whim—as if Jesus spoke four words and lives were instantly abandoned. But Scripture helps us here. John’s Gospel shows us that Jesus had already crossed paths with these men. They had heard Him. They had walked with Him. They had seen something in Him long before this shoreline moment.

John 1:35–42 “35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).”

Mark records the call to obedience—but John reveals the relationship. And that matters. Because it reminds us that the Holy Spirit often prepares hearts over time before calling for commitment in a moment.

I hope you write this statement down:

Jesus often calls publicly what He has already shaped privately.

Jesus did not manipulate these men—He invested in them. And when the call finally came, they were ready to respond.

Now, let’s not diminish the power of the Holy Spirit, but it does highlight how the Spirit works through our relationships, our witnessing and the time we invest in others.

Oh listen, when you invest in others and a conversation moves toward the spiritual-God is at work. When someone begins to be curious about you and what is different about you-God is at work. And, then...after the questions of curiosity or gradual understanding the other person reaches, then...at the right moment...He calls for a decision.

That should encourage us as we enter a new year. Our responsibility is not to force decisions—it is to faithfully build relationships, live the gospel, and trust God with the timing. When God says, “Now,” hearts that have been shaped by truth will be ready to follow.

Oh listen, Jesus calls us to follow Him.

He does not say, “Clean yourselves up.” He does not say, “Get more training.” He does not say, “Prove yourselves first.”

He says, “Follow Me—and I will make you.”

You want to know how to follow Jesus in an all new way in the New year? Surrender. Surrender to Him and His will for your life.

John prepared the way. Jesus proclaimed the way. And now the disciples are invited to walk the way.

The future of God’s work has always moved forward through ordinary people who simply said yes.

3. The Price of Following V. 20

Mark 1:20 “20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.”

We see a new commitment in the men God called.

Then Mark gives us one word that should not be rushed past:

“Immediately…”

Immediately they left their nets. Specifically, we read by the best we know that James & John, the sons of Zebedee dropped their nets mean that they walked away from what we can know at least a second generation fishing business. There were hired servants. I imagine the business was lucrative to afford employees.

Luke 18:28 “28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all and followed You.””

They left everything to follow Jesus.

Those nets represented: Their future financial security or at least the way they could have saw it. Fishing represented these men’s identity. It was familiar, they thought they were good at it, it was comfortable. Let’s go ahead and say it, they left their livelihood. This trade had provided for their families. They were not only called to a new life commitment, but were to leave family to pursue this calling for Jesus. Lastly, they were giving up control. They were truly fulfilling the modern statement we hear, “let go...and let God.” Its one thing to say it and another thing to do it and they did.

They did not abandon responsibility—they reordered allegiance.

John sacrificed his freedom. Jesus sacrificed His life. The disciples sacrificed their security.

And the Kingdom advanced.

The Kingdom still advances the same way today.

It moves forward when God’s people loosen their grip on what is familiar and tighten their grip on Christ.

I want to ask you an important question:

What NET must you drop to begin anew in 2026 for Jesus?

Invitation

As we stand at the beginning of a new year, we are standing on the shoreline once again.

The nets are still in our hands. The call is still in our ears. And the question is not whether the Kingdom is moving forward.

The question is whether we are willing to move with it and follow.

Some need to respond for the first time— to repent and believe the gospel.

Some need to respond again— to leave nets they picked back up.

And some need to say together as a church:

“Lord, wherever You lead us this year—we will follow.”

Because every new beginning with God requires new commitment.

And when the King calls, the only faithful response is obedience