Becoming a "Fisher of Men"

The Gospel of Mark is unique (as are all the other Gospels in their own way). But what sets Mark apart from the other gospels is the way that Mark highlights Jesus as a servant. Tonight, I read Mark 1:16-45 and really pondered. While the entire gospel really focuses on Jesus as a servant and a teacher to us on how to serve Him and others around us, this particular portion of the gospel really focuses in on Jesus as an authority figure in our lives. I like this because, rightfully so, we asociate Jesus with compassion, love, healing, etc, but often forget the other side of Him, and that is His authoritative and just role that He plays in our lives.

In vs. 16-10, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew to "Follow Me, I will make you fishers of men." Without any hesitation, they drop everything, their nets, their lives, everything, to follow Jesus. Jesus' commands were irresistable to them. Jesus does not ask them if they want to go, He tells them to do so, and they just obey. Mark intentionally wants us to understand the quick response that these men had when Jesus commanded them to follow Him. The phrase "fisher of men" is used so many times in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 16:16, Ezekiel 38:4, Amos 4:2, Habakkuk 1:14-17, etc.). When someone becomes a Christian, they become a "fishermen" of human beings, hence the reason Jesus uses this phrase.

Through out the rest of these passages, we also see Mark highlighting all the people that Jesus heals, casting out demons, healing the paralytic, and Simon's mother-in-law. It is important to note their responses to Jesus as they heal them. They fall to their knees and gladly worship Him.
Reading through this, I had to ask myself "how do I respond to the amazing works that Jesus does in my own life?" This passage clearly has a running theme of Jesus' authority. In vs. 21-22, Mark calls attention to Jesus' teaching "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." Here, Mark doesn't even tell us what Jesus is teaching, He just wants us to reconize the awe-inspiring effect he had on the crowds.

We ought to have this same reaction but are so caught up in our daily lives, that we are too self-righteous to recognize the works that God has done in our lives. It is important to remember that to give your life to Jesus means great cost. We should look at these sacrifices as a blessing, a blessing to be given the opportunity to sacrifce them in the name of the Lord. Jesus has full authority over our lives and we are called to obey that authority. He was a great teacher, and calls us to do the same. In Mark 2: 17, Jesus says, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners." We ought to be living our lives the same way. In awe of his authority and calling on the "unhealthy".

Such great stuff! All of these thoughts are my notes taken from Tim Kellers study "The Gospel According to Mark".

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