Refection on Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, turn your lives around, memorize religious doctrine, drink some Lutheran coffee, and believe sola scriptura."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people who will memorize and recite things you failed to memorize and recite during your confirmation." And, with such a strong incentive, they left their nets and followed him.

As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them saying, “hey we got some great organ music and some cool Nicene Creed reciting going on, come to church;” and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

There is definitely one thing that the call to follow Jesus was not; it was not the call to follow some great and glorious belief or complex religious creed. It was not the call to follow the ideals of the French Revolution nor was it the call to shout “yes we can” for a greater America. It was not the call to go to a great church with great programming for the entire family. The call of Jesus was none of those things. The call was a little more personal than that.

The call was more like this: while sitting at home with your laptop, working on some reports that are now consuming your entire life, work or school after-all consumes your entire life; and while gazing at the computer screen engulfed in the mind frame of just getting the job done so that you can move on to more important things like watching a movies or eating the strawberry shortcake that is waiting right now in the kitchen; you see move across your window a figure. You glance up, and to your shock, it is a person just staring at you. It isn’t the sort of staring that says “I’m ready to steal everything and leave you as crow food.” Rather, it is the stare that says, “You seem to need help. You seem stuck to your chair…you seem stuck in life. You seem like you need something more.” Looking into the concerned eyes, you move to the front door and open it.

Jesus says only a few words, “turn your life around and follow me. Oh, and bring your laptop, it will no longer surf for information, it will now surf to find people.” And with that you grab your laptop and follow.

Perhaps, it is not a laptop you have but a bundle of knitting and Jesus says, “bring your knitting, no longer will you just knit together patterns, but you will now knit together some beautiful people.” And with that you grab your knitting and follow.

Perhaps, it is not even knitting, but working on a car and he says, “bring the car, no longer will you just put cars back together, but you will put people together.” And with that, you get in the car and follow.

Whatever it is that Jesus asks you to bring along, you grab it, you turn your life from whatever was consuming so much of your time, and you follow, trusting that Jesus knows where he is going.

The life of faith is not singing certain songs, though that may be a part of it. The life of faith is not memorizing and reciting certain beliefs, though they may influence it. The life of faith is not knowing all the answers to the mysteries of life and of God. The life of faith is not staying stuck in the same rut for your whole life. The life of faith is a relationship with Christ.

It is a relationship similar to the one you had with your parents while you were young, you had no idea where they were taking you, but you trusted that they would not only get you there, but would not leave you stranded.

The life of faith is a relationship with Christ, in which we trust where we are being led, and trust that we will not be left alone with no direction. The life of faith is one of turning our life around, and following.

Jesus is calling you to a new and wonderful life. Grab your things and follow. Who knows where it will lead?


All Scripture quotes are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyrighted, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and is used by permission. All rights reserved.