Day 02 of Journey Through Mark: THE CALL AND COST OF FOLLOWING JESUS

COMMENTARY At the end of yesterday’s reading, Jesus proclaimed that “the kingdom of God has come near” (Mark 1:15). In today’s reading, we encounter the first detailed stories of Jesus’ kingdom work. Jesus begins to recruit followers, show signs that the kingdom is approaching, and give people a glimpse of His identity and character. The first story in this series reveals something unique about Jesus’ character: He’s an invitational leader. When He sees two pairs of brothers fishing in the Sea of Galilee, He calls to them, “Come, follow me” (Mark 1:17). For a person of Jesus’ position, this invitation was counter-cultural. Writings from Jesus’ time show that rabbis expected prospective students to seek them out, not the other way around. Jesus could have followed this custom. In fact, crowds repeatedly sought Him out (Mark 1:32-33, 37, 45). However, in spite of His position and influence, Jesus took the initiative to go out and find followers for Himself. This is a model for us. Too often, we sit inside the walls of our churches and expect that potential believers should come to us. But in the kingdom of God, we make disciples by first going out to them (Mark 6:6-12). This story also reveals something about the cost of following Jesus. Mark tells us that after hearing the call, both sets of fishermen follow Him “at once,” leaving behind valuable possessions like nets, a boat, and hired men (Mark 1:17-20). Two of them even abandon their father, a social crime that a contemporary Jewish text compares to blasphemy. The fishermen’s total rejection of all that they have in order to follow Jesus reflects a theme that we see throughout Mark. Jesus will bless those who choose to follow Him “a hundred times,” but following Him requires that they “deny” themselves completely (Mark 8:34; 10:28-31). Jesus’ call extends to us today. He invites us on the adventure of a lifetime. But following Him means surrendering all we have and all we are. How will you choose to answer His call? SCRIPTURE MARK 1:16–45 JESUS CALLS HIS FIRST DISCIPLES 16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew cast- ing a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. 19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. JESUS DRIVES OUT AN IMPURE SPIRIT 21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “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!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. 27 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.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. JESUS HEALS MANY 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon- possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. JESUS PRAYS IN A SOLITARY PLACE 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. JESUS HEALS A MAN WITH LEPROSY 40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses command- ed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. REFLECTION 1. Mark 1:35 tells us that Jesus woke up early and went to a “solitary place.” Interestingly, the word translated as “solitary place” is the same word translated in Mark 1:12-13 as “wilderness.” This is a type of place we might normally try to avoid, but Jesus frequently sought it out (e.g., Mark 1:45; 6:31-32). Why do you suppose Jesus did this? How might we benefit from spending more time in places like this? 2. For Jesus’ first disciples, following Jesus literally meant walking with and behind Him. What do you suppose it should look like for people to follow Jesus today?