Reflection--"Follow Me"

These verses launch Mark’s account of Jesus’ ministry.  Jesus announces the good news that God’s dominion is now very near.  Very soon after he begins preaching his message, he calls the first of his disciples, those who are to walk with him, listen and learn, and carry on when he was no longer with them.  Jesus breaks though to them and they follow, beginning new lives that will never be the same again.

Strangely enough, it still happens that way.  In one way or another, through many people and many different media, Jesus is still announcing that "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."  Sooner or later, even though we ignore the voices or even actively oppose them, Jesus breaks through into our spirit and our consciousness.  Perhaps after years of resistance and struggle, “good news” becomes much more than just a biblical phrase.  In faith we finally surrender and we fall into the loving arms of God.

That breakthrough may even come in the most mundane of circumstances, say in the middle of our work-a-day world, as it did with Simon, Andrew, James, and John.  The responding impulse of the soul is still the same as the one they experienced.  Nothing is ever quite the same again.  Often tentatively at first, making mistake after mistake; rising, falling, and rising again; we begin to follow.  Slowly, God prepares us to become part of the chorus that, in ways great and small, spreads the good news to new hearers and it all begins again. 

Albert Schweitzer wrote these words long ago, but they describe better than almost any words I know what it is all about.

He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lake-side, He came to those who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word: "Follow thou me!" and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.

Pray for it, hunger for it, seek it.  God will open the door.  There is no finer thing.

revclay

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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; repent, and believe in the good news." 

 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."  And immediately 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; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

[NRSV]