Mark 1:14-20

Text: Mark 1:14–20

Introduction: When Everything Changes

We have moved houses and states a bit.  I think sometimes that is the nature of ministry especially early.  Throughout my ministry career, I have been…

Kids pastor

Youth pastor

Executive Pastor

Campus Pastor

Assisted a church planter 

Senior Pastor

And dabbled in the educational arena.

We also flipped a few houses and just moved within the city a few times…

When the girls were babies, moving was easy.  You just put them in the car and show them their new room in a new state and forced new friends upon them.  

However, when they got older, we had to have a formal talk.  I remember when we exploring the possibility of ministry opportunities in California.  Rachel and I took a trip out to Visalia to explore some possibilities.  

We kind of agonized over it because the girls were teenagers or early teenagers.  

So, my mom and dad watched them while we were in California and we (who are pretty open to our girls were pretty tight lipped).  

We get back from the trip and on the car ride to pick up the girls we were strategizing how to tell them.  We had a plan of how we were going to do it.  We would get them home and tell them that after praying a lot about our future, we had decided to move to California and do this ministry endeavor.

Rachel would tell the girls in her customary fashion….”If it is right for dad, then it is right for us.”

So, that was the plan.

When we get in the car, Clara kind of blows up the plan.  She was a freshmen and was being really inquisitive about the trip.

We pull into our driveway, and she says, “Something is weird with you guys…what is going on…are you guys pregnant?”

“Uhhhh…no,” we both said emphatically.  Well, she kept persisting…”Then what is it? Are we moving?”  

Rachel grabbed my hand and I nodded to her, and Rachel said, “Yes.  Dad and I have decided to take a ministry job in California.”

Clara (who we thought would be devastated) was excited.  

Ellie, who we thought would be excited was devastated.  As Clara is celebrating in the back seat, Ellie (a sixth grader) burst into tears…

Rachel asked, Ellie, why are you so sad?  Ellie says through the tears, “the boy I like all year just told me he liked me.”

Oh boy…I am not sure who the boy was and I am not sure Ellie does either.  

BUT I REMEMBER THOSE TALKS LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

We moved and it had its thrilling moments and difficult moments.

The thrilling was a couple years later, I am elected as the pastor of this great church.

The difficult, commuting and leaving family.

Have you noticed how life can change in a single sentence?

“We are moving”

“You got the job.”

“The test is positive.”

“We need to talk.”

Words can be powerful.  Life altering. Transformative.

I want you to look at Mark and lets talk about Jesus’ famous words to his first disciples. 

BIBLE VERSE

Mark 1:14-20

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”16 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. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 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. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

In Mark 1:14–20, everything changes with just two words from Jesus: “Follow me.”

These words don’t just invite curiosity. They demand direction.

They don’t ask for admiration. They call for allegiance.

Mark wastes no time getting us there. No birth story. No angels. No manger.

Just Jesus stepping onto the scene and saying: It’s time.

I. The Moment Is Urgent (vv. 14–15)

14 Now after John was arrested, 

Notice how Mark frames this moment: John is arrested. Darkness is rising. Pressure is increasing.

And that’s when Jesus begins.

Jesus doesn’t wait for perfect conditions. He steps into broken ones.

1. The Kingdom Has a Timeline

Jesus says:

5 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

HOLD YOUR HAND OUT.  THIS IS AS CLOSE AS THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS TO YOU RIGHT NOW.  ITS RIGHT HERE.

In Greek, “time” here is kairos—not clock time, but God’s appointed moment.

Meaning: This is not just another day. This is your day.

2. The Kingdom Has a Call

Jesus gives two commands:

Repent – change your direction

Believe – trust the good news

NOTICE HOW SIMPLE.  SOMETIMES GOD’S COMMANDS ARE SO SIMPLE BUT WE MAKE IT DIFFICULT.

Repentance isn’t about shame—it’s about turning. Faith isn’t about feelings—it’s about following.

Before Jesus ever says “Follow me,” He says:

“Turn around. Something better is here.”

II. The Call Is Personal (vv. 16–17)

16 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. 

This is one of the most astonishing moments in Scripture.

Jesus doesn’t go to the synagogue first. He doesn’t start at the palace. He doesn’t recruit from Jerusalem.

He walks along a shoreline and calls working men with nets on their hands and fish on their clothes.

THESE WORKING CLASS MEN WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THE TYPICAL FIRST CHOICE.

In first-century Jewish culture, education followed a fairly structured path:

Stage 1 – Bet Sefer (House of the Book)

Ages 5–10

All boys learned to read and memorize the Torah (Genesis–Deuteronomy).

By age 10, many had large portions memorized.

Stage 2 – Bet Talmud (House of Learning)

Ages 10–14

The best students continued, memorizing the rest of the Hebrew Scriptures and learning interpretation.

Others were sent home to learn the family trade…fishing, construction…sales

Stage 3 – Bet Midrash (House of Study)

Only the very best of the best were invited.

These students sought out a rabbi and asked, “May I follow you?”

If accepted, they would literally leave everything and follow that rabbi, learning not just his teaching but his way of life.

To be chosen by a rabbi meant: You are elite. You are worthy to become a rabbi yourself one day.

So follow me here…These men at the boat…the first Jesus called…well, they were in a sense deemed not worthy to follow a rabbi…probably made it past stage one…they were not elite.

PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR MINDS.

(PETER FEELS HIS TIME IS PAST…MAYBE FELT HE WAS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS…BUT WAS PASSED OVER…BUT GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT)…

IN A MOMENT, PETER GOES FROM SOMEONE NOT BEING SEEN TO FINALLY SOMEONE SEES ME

WHY?????

1. Jesus Meets Us Where We Are

They weren’t praying. They weren’t searching. They were just working.

In that world, students chased rabbis.

But in Mark 1, everything is reversed:

Jesus chooses them.

Not scholars. Not priests. Not the top seminary students. But fishermen—men who had already been passed over.

And Jesus doesn’t say, “Come study my Torah.” He says:

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

That is rabbinical language for:

I believe you can become what others said you could not.

And Jesus walks right into the middle of their ordinary day and says:

“Follow me.” I BELIEVE IN YOU.

The call of God often comes:

Not in a church service

Not on a retreat

But in the middle of Monday

IN THE MUNDANE, BECAUSE JESUS MEETS US WHERE WE ARE…AND

2. Jesus Redefines Their Identity

“I will make you fishers of people.”

He doesn’t just change their schedule—He changes their purpose.

They thought their life was about catching fish… Jesus shows them it’s about catching hearts.

SOME OF YOU ARE DYING FOR SELF WORTH…BUT YOU’RE IN THE DEAD END JOB. AND YOU FILL LIKE YOUVE BEEN PASSED OVER.

HERE’S JESUS. Just in the right time!!!!

IDENTITY IS MADE THROUGH THE RIGHT TIMING:

THE RIGHT THING IN THE WRONG TIMING CAN BE THE WRONG THING.

LEARN TO COVET THE TIMING OF GOD AS MUCH AS THE WILL OF GOD.

When you follow Jesus:

Your job may stay the same

Your address may stay the same

But your mission changes completely

AND WE HAVE TO BLOOM WHERE WE ARE PLANTED.

And that’s what’s revolutionary.

JESUS STEPS INTO THE MUNDANE…CHANGES THEIR IDENTITY AND DEMANDS

III. The Response Is Immediate (vv. 18, 20)

18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 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. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

AS I WAS REVIEWING THIS MESSAGE THIS MORNING, I SPOTTED THIS.  The Zebedee’s owned this fishing business.  It says they left the dad with the hired help.  They were owners…employers.

Three words that define discipleship: At once they left.

1. Real Faith Acts

They don’t say:

“Let us think about it.”

“Let us pray about it.”

“Let us finish the season.”

They obey before they understand everything.

Delayed obedience is often disguised as wisdom—but it’s still disobedience.

2. Following Jesus Costs Something

They left:

Nets = their livelihood

WHAT IS YOUR LIVELIHOOD?

Boats = their security

WHAT IS YOUR SECURITY?

Father = their comfort

WHERE ARE YOU MOST COMFORTABLE?

Jesus never hid the cost of discipleship. He never said, “Follow me and life will be easier.” He said, “Follow me and life will be worth it.”

IV. The Pattern of Discipleship

In this short passage, we see the rhythm of Christian life:

– graceJesus comes near

– invitationJesus calls out

– surrenderWe leave behind

– missionWe follow forward

Christianity is not:

Just believing facts

Just attending services

Just holding values

It is walking behind Jesus.

Conclusion: The Question That Won’t Go Away

Mark 1:14–20 leaves us with one unavoidable question:

What will you do with “Follow me”?

Not:

“Do you admire Jesus?”

“Do you agree with Jesus?”

“Do you believe in Jesus?”

But:

Are you following Him?

Some of us are still holding our nets:

Comfort

Control

Old habits

Fear

Approval of people

Jesus isn’t standing far away. He’s walking right by you today, just like He did by the Sea of Galilee.

And He’s still saying the same two words:

“Follow me.”

Closing Prayer - DARE YOU TO MOVE!!!!!!!

Lord Jesus, You stepped into ordinary lives and called ordinary people to an extraordinary purpose. Today we hear Your voice again. Give us courage to leave what holds us back and faith to follow where You lead. We don’t want to just believe in You— we want to walk with You. In Your name, Amen.