MESSAGE 2 — The Call of Jesus

Welcome!

What a joy it is to be together once again.

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we began this series called:… Following Jesus

And we learned that the disciple’s life begins with a miracle.

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

“You must be born again.”

Before we try to change the outside, God needs to transform the inside.

Before we change our behavior, we need to receive a new heart.

Before we follow Jesus, we need to receive life from Jesus.

But now, a very important question arises:

After being born again, what comes next?

After a person meets Jesus…

After receiving forgiveness… and their life begins to be transformed…

What is the next step?

The answer comes in words that are very easy to understand:

“Follow Me.”

Those words changed the stories of Peter, Andrew, James, and John (men who were unknown until then)…

And even today, those same words continue to change stories—like yours and mine.

Did you know that…

Jesus isn’t just looking for admirers?

He is making disciples.

He isn’t looking for people who simply agree with Him.

He is calling people to walk with Him.

And there is a huge difference between admiring Jesus and following Jesus.

Many people admire Jesus.

They like His teachings.

They respect His story.

They share quotes of things He said.

They listen to songs about Him.

Some even attend His church

But Jesus’ invitation goes far beyond that.

He doesn’t say:

“Admire Me.” Respect My story… sing My songs… be a church member…

He says:

“Follow Me.” Let’s read the text…

READING THE TEXT

Mark 1:14–20 ESV

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.

CONTEXT

Jesus is beginning His public ministry.

He had been proclaiming:

Mark 1:15 ESV

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

Then, He begins to recruit people to walk with Him.

It is interesting to observe where Jesus goes to look for His first disciples.

JESUS CALLS US IN REAL LIFE-vs.16

The text says:

Passing along the Sea of ​​Galilee, v. 16

Jesus goes to the beach!

To call whom? …

Fishermen.

Laborers.

People who were simply living another ordinary day.

They weren’t on a spiritual retreat.

They weren’t at a worship service.

They weren’t at an inspirational conference.

They were working!

Casting nets.

Mending nets.

Trying to earn some money to support their families.

And it was in the midst of the daily grind… that Jesus called them.

Perhaps this is one of the first truths we need to remember here today

Jesus calls us in the midst of life’s busyness.

He comes to us at work.

He comes to us at college.

In the car, stuck in traffic.

He arrives during times of physical weakness or illness, or an emotional crisis.

During a moment of transition—divorce, bankruptcy, loss, defeat…

He arrives in the midst of life’s busyness.

That’s how it was for those fishermen.

And perhaps that’s how it is for you.

What does this tell us, folks?

It tells us that it is God’s plan to take ordinary people!

Are you listening?

It is God’s plan to take ordinary people and do extraordinary things through them.

Believe it!

1. JESUS ​​SEES YOU IN THE MIDST OF YOUR ROUTINE

The text says:

Mark 1:16 ESV

16 … he saw Simon and Andrew …

Mark doesn’t just say that Jesus passed by them.

Jesus *saw* them.

There is a difference between passing by and seeing.

Many people pass us by.

But few truly see us.

I am talking about the people who pass us by and see our appearance.

Our social media profile.

Our profession.

Our college.

Our relationship.

Our clothes.

Our achievements.

But Jesus sees beyond. He sees the heart.

He sees the questions you tell no one about.

He sees the fear you try to hide.

He sees the anxiety behind the smile.

He sees the frustration behind the beautiful posts.

He sees your struggles.

He sees your loneliness.

He sees your dreams.

He sees the wounds you carry.

Jesus saw… Simon and Andrew.

To most people, they were just ...fishermen.

To Jesus, they were disciples in training.

Others saw ordinary men.

Jesus saw what grace could do through them.

I knew a woman who defined herself by a mistake she made... she never (as far as I know) forgave herself for that mistake...

APPLICATION

Perhaps you are here today in the same situation, defining yourself by a past failure (or failures)...

Perhaps you say:

“I am what happened to me.”

“I am that relationship that didn’t work out.”

“I am that wrong decision.”

“I am the person who let everyone down.”

But Jesus doesn’t see you only by what happened in the past.

(Strong, emotional tone)

He sees you in light of what His grace can do from this point forward.

Don’t let your worst moment become your identity.

You are not just your mistake.

You are not just your anxiety.

You are not just your insecurity.

You are not just the person who let everyone down.

Listen and believe:

When Jesus calls someone, He doesn’t ignore the past.

But He doesn’t allow the past to have the final word.

Abraham was an idolater (and later lied)...

Moses committed murder.

David was an adulterer.

Gideon was a coward.

Peter denied Jesus...

Paul persecuted the church...

He will not allow your past to have the final word in your life!

Trust in the Lord...

2. JESUS ​​TAKES THE INITIATIVE

Mark 1:16 ESV

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, ...

The text shows that it is Jesus who approaches the fishermen.

They didn’t go to Him first.

It was Jesus who went to meet them.

This is the pattern of grace.

Before we sought Jesus, He sought us.

Before we thought of Him, He was already at work in our story.

Before we understood our purpose, He already knew our name.

Perhaps you think you came to God by chance...

Perhaps someone invited you to a service. Perhaps you watched a message online.

Perhaps you started seeking God because your life was falling apart.

But when we look at things from the perspective of faith, we realize:

Jesus was already walking toward us.

Salvation doesn't begin with our search for God.

It begins with God seeking us.

APPLICATION

Perhaps you are going through a season of restlessness.

Nothing seems to be going right... or satisfying you.

You’ve achieved some things, yet you still feel empty.

You’ve gained many followers, but when you’re alone, you feel something is missing.

Perhaps this restlessness is more than just a crisis.

Perhaps it is Jesus calling you.

Perhaps it is God’s grace saying:

“I have so much more for you.”

“You weren’t created just for the life you’re living right now.”

“You weren’t created merely to work, pay bills, grow old, get sick, and die...”

“I have a much greater plan for you... follow Me...”

3. JESUS ​​CALLS ORDINARY PEOPLE

He does not start at the palace. (Rome, the seat of power at the time… or Athens, the home of philosophers and orators… or Asia, in search of the best physicians of the day, or the seminary in Jerusalem, the cradle of theology/religion…

He doesn’t start by seeking out society’s most influential leaders…

He doesn’t start among the most well-known religious figures.

Jesus looks at those men and says:

“Follow Me.”

Peter and Andrew were not famous.

They weren’t influencers.

They didn’t have a huge platform.

They held no religious titles.

They were fishermen.

James and John were also simple men.

Jesus began His movement with ordinary people.

This is encouraging because it shows that

God isn’t looking for impressive people.

He looks for available people.

We look at ourselves and think:

“I don’t know how to speak well.”

“I don’t know the Bible well enough.”

“I have too many problems.”

“I lack discipline.”

“I have no talent.”

But Jesus didn’t call those men because they were ready.

He called them because He was willing to prepare them.

Jesus doesn’t just choose the qualified.

He qualifies those He chooses.

ILLUSTRATION

When someone starts a new profession, they usually don’t know how to do everything on the first day.

A doctor spends years learning. An engineer needs training.

A musician needs to practice.

An athlete needs development.

No one starts out fully prepared.

Likewise, you don’t need to have everything figured out to start following Jesus.

You don’t need to understand the entire Bible.

You don’t need to win every battle before responding.

You don’t need to get your whole life in order.

Jesus doesn’t say:

“Get yourself together, and then come.”

He says:

“Come, and I will do something in you.”

APPLICATION

Jesus doesn’t expect you to have all the answers.

He simply asks:

“Are you willing to walk with Me?”

And that changes everything.

4. JESUS’ CALL IS PERSONAL

Jesus says:

“Follow Me.”

Christianity doesn’t begin with a list of rules.

It begins with a Person.

Jesus doesn’t say:

“Come to a religion.”

He says:

“Follow Me.”

The Christian faith is about relationship.

It is walking with Jesus.

Knowing His voice.

Learning His character.

Obeying His teachings.

Trusting Him when we don’t understand the path.

Following Jesus means allowing Him to define our direction.

Many people want Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord.

They want forgiveness, but not direction.

They want comfort, but not correction.

They want the blessings, but not Christ’s authority.

They want Jesus to help their plans.

But following Jesus means allowing Him to change the plans.

APPLICATION:

Following Jesus doesn’t mean we’ll never have opinions or dreams.

It means we submit everything to Him.

Proverbs 16:1 “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the answer of the tongue.”

Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

5. JESUS TRANSFORMS US

Jesus says:

Mark 1:17 ESV

17 “… I will make you…”

Note the phrase:

“I will make you.”

Jesus doesn’t say:

“Follow me because you are already prepared.”

He says:

“Follow me, and I will transform you.”

The call includes a promise.

Jesus doesn’t just give us direction.

He works on our character.

Peter was impulsive.

He spoke before thinking.

He made mistakes.

He denied Jesus.

But Christ didn’t give up on him.

Andrew had a more low-key profile.

James and John were called “Sons of Thunder” because of their temperaments.

At one point, they wanted to call down fire from heaven on people who hadn’t received Jesus.

They weren’t ready.

But they were walking with the One who could transform them.

ILLUSTRATION

Think of a renovation.

When you walk into a house undergoing renovation, there is dust.

Noise.

Broken walls.

Exposed wiring.

Everything looks disorganized.

But the fact that the house is messy doesn’t mean it’s been abandoned.

It means someone is at work.

Sometimes, your life looks like a construction site.

You still struggle with emotions.

You still make mistakes.

You still have areas that are disorganized.

But if you are following Jesus, He is at work.

You haven’t arrived yet.

But you aren’t the same person anymore, either.

APPLICATION

You might be frustrated with yourself.

You think:

“I should be doing better.”

“I still struggle with this.”

“I’m not yet the person I wanted to be.”

Do not use this as an excuse to remain in sin.

But do not ignore the process of grace, either.

Jesus transforms people as they walk with Him.

Your role is to stay close.

To keep obeying.

To keep learning.

To keep repenting.

To keep allowing Him to work.

6. WE MUST LEAVE THE NETS

The text says:

Mark 1:18 ESV

18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Mark 1:19 “19 Going a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.”

Mark 1:20 “20 Without delay he called them, and they followed him,… ”

They left the nets behind.

The nets represented work.

Security.

Income.

Routine.

Identity.

And, in a sense, control.

It was through the nets that they tried to secure their future.

Jesus does not call everyone to literally abandon their professions.

But every disciple will need to leave something behind.

We cannot follow Jesus without letting go of whatever competes with Him.

Perhaps your net is a sin.

Perhaps it is a relationship that draws you away from God.

Perhaps it is the need to please everyone.

Perhaps it is your ambition.

Perhaps it is pride.

Perhaps it is an image you try to maintain.

Perhaps it is the desire to control everything.

ILLUSTRATION

There is a story about hunters who used to catch monkeys using a container with a narrow opening.

They would place something desirable inside.

The monkey would put its hand in, grab the object, and try to pull its arm out. But with a closed fist, he couldn't do it.

To be free, he needed to let go of the object.

But he wouldn't let go.

He remained trapped not because the hunter was holding his hand, but because he refused to open his fingers.

Many people cannot follow Jesus because they do not want to let go of something.

They want Christ.

But they also want to keep holding onto what binds them.

They want peace.

But they do not want to forgive.

They want freedom.

But they do not want to abandon sin.

They want a new life.

But they keep clinging to their old identity.

APPLICATION

What do you need to let go of?

What is in your hand?

Perhaps you fear that if you surrender it to God, you will lose something.

But what if what you are holding onto is exactly what is keeping you from truly living?

Perhaps you are holding onto a relationship that has already destroyed your peace.

Holding onto a hurt that is poisoning your heart.

Holding onto a plan because you are afraid to trust God’s plan.

Holding onto a double life.

Holding onto a secret sin.

You cannot walk freely with Jesus while carrying it all.

Some things need to be left on the shore.

TRANSITION TO THE NEXT MESSAGE

Today we heard the invitation:

“Follow Me.”

And we saw that the disciples left their nets to walk with Jesus.

But this leads us to a new question:

What does it really mean to leave the nets behind?

Are the nets merely external objects?

Or do they represent everything that tries to take first place in our hearts?

In the next message of the series, we will look at Luke 5:1–11.

Peter will have a profound encounter with the power, holiness, and grace of Jesus.

And he will discover that following Christ requires more than admiration.

It requires surrender.

NEXT MESSAGE:

LEAVING THE NETS

Text: Luke 5:1–11

Theme: What we do not surrender to Christ can hinder us from walking fully with Him.

7. THE CALL DEMANDS A RESPONSE

The text says they left their nets— “immediately”

Mark 1:18 ESV

18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

This does not mean that every decision must be impulsive.

But it shows they understood that Jesus' call demanded a response.

There are moments when we know what God is saying.

We do not lack information.

We lack a decision.

There are people who spend years putting it off.

"One day I will truly surrender."

"One day I will give this up."

"One day I will serve."

"One day I will return to God."

"“One day, I’ll sort out my spiritual life.”

But Jesus’ call comes today.

Delayed obedience often turns into disobedience.

ILLUSTRATION

When the alarm goes off in the morning, there’s an option called “snooze.”

You hit it once.

Then again.

Then again.

Until you realize you’ve overslept.

Many people treat God’s voice like an alarm.

God calls.

The person hits snooze.

The Spirit nudges.

They hit snooze.

The Word confronts.

They hit snooze.

Until the heart begins to grow numb.

We don’t know how many opportunities we’ll have.

We only know that Jesus is calling today.

8. JESUS ​​CALLS US TO A GREATER PURPOSE

Jesus says:

“…fishers of men…”

Illustration:

At the end of World War II, a pastor had the responsibility and the privilege of delivering a specific message. The message was this: There was a young man who had been reported missing in action and later declared dead. The church, the town, the family, and the mother had all mourned because the young man had been killed. They hadn't even found his body. Then, later, they discovered he wasn't dead at all. He was alive! The State Department approached this pastor and said, "Pastor, we believe you are the right person to go and tell this mother that her son is alive."

Can you imagine that privilege and responsibility?

Moms, can you imagine knowing for a fact that your son is dead, and then hearing a message that he isn't dead—that he is alive and will be home in a few days?

So, they asked the pastor, "Can you go and tell his mother?"

Now, what do you think he did?

Do you think he said, "Well, if I have time in a month or two, maybe I’ll go—if it’s convenient"?

Do you think that’s what he did?

Of course not! With a heart pounding with joy and anticipation, he went to tell the mother the good news that her son was alive.

That is how we should share the gospel of Jesus!

Folks, "gospel" means "good news." It is good, exciting news.

And who tells this good news?

The Bible calls the people who share this good news "fishers of men."

Every disciple is called to participate in Jesus’ mission.

You might not be a pastor.

You might never preach from a pulpit.

But your life can point people to Christ.

At college.

At work.

In your family.

In your circle of friends.

In the way you love.

In the way you react.

In the way you serve.

APPLICATION

Many young adults spend their lives searching for purpose.

They ask:

“What is my vocation?”

“What is my career?”

“What is my calling?”

These questions are important.

But there is an even deeper question:

“How can my life serve God’s purposes?”

Your profession can become a mission field.

Your home can be a place of discipleship.

Your story of overcoming adversity can help someone.

Your generosity can reach people.

Your testimony can open doors.

God doesn't just want to bless your dreams.

He desires to use your life.

CONCLUSION

Jesus walked along the shore and saw ordinary men.

He called them by name.

He invited them to walk with Him.

He promised to transform them.

He gave them a new mission.

But they had to respond.

They had to leave their nets behind.

They had to take the first step.

That same voice is still calling today:

“Follow Me.”

Jesus isn't asking you to have everything figured out.

He isn't demanding that you be perfect.

He isn't expecting you to know all the answers.

He is asking:

“Do you trust Me enough to walk with Me?”

Perhaps you are in a season of making many decisions.

Jesus doesn't promise to show you every detail of the future.

But He promises to be with you on the journey.

Invitation (standing)

I want to invite you to close your eyes for a few moments.

Perhaps you are here but have never truly responded to Jesus' call.

You know about Him.

You admire Jesus.

You may have even attended church for some time.

But you have never surrendered control of your life.

Today, He calls you:

“Follow Me.”

It is not a call to a life without problems.

It is a call to a life with purpose.

It is not a call to have all the answers.

It is a call to walk with the One who knows the way.

You might be thinking:

“I’m not ready.”

The disciples weren't ready either.

Jesus doesn't say:

“Get ready, and then come.”

He says:

“Come, and I will make you.”

Perhaps there is a net you need to let go of.

A hurt.

A sin.

A relationship.

An addiction.

A need for approval.

A double life.

A plan that was never surrendered to God.

What is holding you back from following Jesus?

Today, you can open your hands.

You can say:

“Jesus, I trust You.”

“I surrender control to You.”

“I don’t know all the details, but I want to walk with You.”

Perhaps you started following Jesus but stopped along the way.

Your faith grew cold.

You went back to your old nets.

You returned to old habits.

Today, Jesus walks along the shore of your life once again.

And He says:

“Follow Me again.”

It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed.

Peter failed.

But Jesus didn’t give up on him.

Grace is still calling.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for seeing us.

You know our hearts.

You know our fears.

Our insecurities.

Our questions.

Our dreams.

Thank You for not calling us because we are perfect.

You call us by Your grace.

Lord, help us hear Your voice amidst our daily routine.

Give us the courage to respond.

Show us which nets we need to leave behind.

Which sins we need to abandon.

Which fears we need to surrender.

Which areas of life we ​​are still trying to control.

We confess that, often, we want to follow You without giving anything up.

We want to follow You but keep holding the steering wheel.

Today, we open our hands.

We surrender our plans.

Our future.

Our relationships.

Our careers.

Our dreams.

Our identity.

Make us into who You desire us to be.

Transform our character.

Heal our wounds.

Correct our motives.

Use our lives to reach others.

May we not merely be admirers......followers of Jesus.

May we be disciples.

May our generation see in us people who have decided to walk with You.

And when we do not know the way, help us to trust in the One who is guiding us.

We answer Your call.

We want to follow You.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.