Is there any one worth following?

Turn with me to Mark 1:16. The first section of Mark chapter 1 reads as an announcement of a new King. Last week we learned that this new King, Jesus, is the good news we are hoping for. The stories that follow this grand announcement continue to build on the theme of authority. Something was very different about this Rabbi Jesus. Listen as I read Mark 1:16-28.

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Let’s pray.

Have you ever had someone with authority speak into your life? When I was a teenager, my older brother started calling me “beautiful” as a nickname. At first I smirked and thought he was being obnoxious like brothers can sometimes be. But he was persistent, and it had an effect. I started to believe I was beautiful. I wasn’t really at the time. Big bushy eyebrows, untamable long hair, acne, and eye glasses with zero fashion sense…I was not the most attractive 14 year old you’ve ever seen. But I started to believe I was beautiful, and I blame my brother for that. I looked up to him, so naturally his words carried weight.

Has that ever happened to you, for better or worse? Someone with authority speaks into your life and suddenly you find yourself believing differently or acting differently. It changes us. Words spoken with authority have power.

We see something like this happen here in this passage. Jesus speaks with authority in a way that completely changes the lives of those who listen. Back then it was common for someone to choose to become a disciple. Disciples would seek out a particular Rabbi they liked and follow them to learn from them. It was a bit shocking then that Jesus doesn’t wait for someone to choose to follow him: he actively sought them out. Jesus spoke with authority and their lives were changed forever because they said YES to following Jesus.

This response to Jesus’ invitation cost them something, though. Each of these four chose to leave something behind. In verse 18, Peter and Andrew left their nets. In verse 20, James and John left their father and the whole fishing business. The word used in both sentences is the Greek word ἀφίημι aphiemi, and it can mean to “leave behind” or “forgive.” All four of them heard the invitation from Jesus, left behind what they were holding onto, and immediately followed him.

How about you? Is there something you need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus? Is there someone you need to forgive? Imagine yourself in your boat, minding your own business, and Jesus calls to you. With authority, Jesus speaks into your life. He told those four that he would make them fishers of men. He can speak just as powerfully into your life today, too, with truth about who you are and what you are gifted to do. Jesus is inviting you to follow Him.

There are all kinds of people we can follow today. You can actually make a living as a “Social Media Influencer” on Instagram, twitter or tiktok. Influencers are ranked by their number of followers. Do you follow any? Some of them are celebrities, but many of them are just average people who happen to have grown an audience who is interested in whatever their particular topic is: fitness, parenting, comedy, gardening, you name it! If there’s something you like, there is probably an Influencer out there talking about it. The thing is, they really do influence us. Not only on social media, but in all areas of our life. Do you follow a particular newscaster? Or a talk show host? Or a doctor? Do you have a favorite Uncle Dan who you believe everything he says? Who are you following? Is there something you need to let go, like Peter Andrew James and John let go, so that you can be a disciple, a follower of Jesus? What is in your hand that you need to let go? Who is in your boat that you need to forgive? Jesus speaks with authority into our lives and invites us to follow him.

These 4 disciples immediately go with Jesus to Capernaum and visit the synagogue on sabbath. Jesus starts to teach, because that’s what Rabbi’s do, except this is different somehow. The people didn’t just notice something different, they were amazed because he taught with authority. The people were not the only ones who noticed. Demons noticed, too. These “unclean” or “impure” spirits drastically contrast the very name they use for Jesus: Holy One of God. They did not call him son of God, like we read last week. Holy One. It was the authority and holiness of Jesus that caused these impure spirits to cry out. They could not stand to be in His presence.

The same is actually true of us. All the impure, unholy parts of our lives can not stand to be in the presence of Jesus. That does NOT mean you have to clean yourself up and be perfect before you come to church. It means that the more time you spend in God’s presence… whether that’s in your own home, at work, in the truck, or here at church…. The more time you spend with God, allowing him to speak into your life with authority, you will begin to see those unholy and impure parts of you change. It’s as if you are in a dark room and there is a small light on the opposite side. With each step closer you can see more clearly the dirt and grime on you that needs to be cleaned. Jesus doesn’t say you have to be perfectly clean before you can follow Him. But as you follow him and get closer and closer to him you will see the things that need to be cleaned up in yourself. And it doesn’t feel like punishment. It feels like healing.

Imagine that man who had the impure spirit. Day after day tormented by the evil thoughts and actions that were not his own When Jesus spoke the word with authority into his life and the demons left, do you think he felt as if he had been disciplined? Or punished for being impure? No!! He was healed. He was free. That is what it feels like to grow in holiness as we get closer to the Holy One. And you know what? People will be amazed when they see the change in us, just like the people back then in the synagogue were amazed at what Jesus did.

Right now the church as a whole in the US needs some healing words of authority from Jesus. When the world looks at us, is it amazed? I don’t think it is. But I long for that day. I long for the day when the people of Cortland say, “Have you been to Living Word yet? Those people are different. I’m amazed every time I’m around them.”

What will it take for us, for me and you to get to that place where the change that Jesus has made in our lives amazes our neighbors and friends and coworkers? What will it take to make them curious and wonder at Who this Jesus Is that we follow? I think it will take a willingness on our part to let go, to leave behind the things that we have trusted in and followed for so long. I think it means we need to forgive and respond to Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. Jesus is speaking with authority into your life today. He is calling you, and he is calling me. Will you say yes?

As Charles comes to lead us in a closing song, I invite you to be honest with yourself and with Jesus. Who are you following instead of Jesus? What do you need to leave behind? Who do you need to forgive? Do you want to be free to grow in holiness as you walk with Jesus? As Charles plays, let’s listen and pray for a few moments before we sing. If you would like to pray with me about taking the next step in your walk with Jesus, I’ll be right up here. Feel free to come up and I’ll pray with you. Jesus is inviting you to let go and follow Him. Will you say yes?