“THAT IS WHY I HAVE COME”
Mark 1:16-39
Key Verse: 1:38
“Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’”
In the previous passage, we learned how the good news of Jesus Christ began. John the Baptist came and prepared the hearts of the people for the Lord, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins – “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near.”
He introduced Jesus, the Messiah, as the one who is powerful than him, and who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Then, Jesus came and started His Messianic Ministry, proclaiming the good news of God -“The time has come. The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.” Repentance is the beginning of renewing our mind and being transformed. Repentance is the beginning of presenting ourselves to God as workers who do not need to be ashamed. Repentance is how to offer ourselves to God as living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Let us turn back to God through repentance. In that place, there is a way to new life and a way to new hope. Jesus is the life, the truth, and the way.
In today’s passage, we see how Jesus advances the kingdom of God; through calling his first disciples, teaching the word of God, driving out demons and healing the sick. He does not work according to Human demands, but according to God’s sovereign plan and purpose. As we start the New Year, we may learn from Jesus How to advance His kingdom on Rutgers campus, and throughout campuses in NJ.
- Come, follow me (16-20)
In the beginning of his ministry, Jesus, the Son of God, could have done many things to establish his base. What did he do? To our surprise, firstly he called a few ordinary people as his disciples. Look at verses 16-20. As Jesus walked beside the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake. When he had gone a little farther, he also saw James and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. They were fishermen, trying to catch fish to make a living.
They were ordinary people doing some of the most ordinary work in the Sea of Galilee – just as when we walk along College Ave to reach out to students, we can see students waiting for the school bus, eating pizza or sandwiches or studying at a table. Like every other day, this was one of the many days of working tirelessly to survive. Then, what was it that transformed such an ordinary and seemingly insignificant life into something meaningful and special – and even extraordinary?
It was Jesus’ calling for them. “Come, fellow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” “Come, fellow me and I will make you fishers of men.”(NIV) Jesus, Messiah, the Son of God, began His ministry to carry out God’s redemptive work to save people of the world. To do so, Jesus called and raised disciples from the beginning. Disciple-making seems time-consuming and ineffective. However, history testifies that Jesus’ disciple-making was the wisdom of God to carry out His world salvation plan. Through History we can observe how the gospel spread from Galilee to the ends of the earth through His disciples. Raising disciples of Jesus is not just a UBF motto. It is Jesus’ method. We need to learn from Jesus what his ministry was focused on and how he raised his disciples.
Firstly, we can learn that Jesus called His disciples with hope and vision, regardless of their human background or conditions. These days in order to get a job one needs many credentials, degrees, certificates, experience, reference, background and security checks. Google, Apple, or Samsung look for excellent, talented, and extraordinary people. They choose people based on their abilities and merits. However, Jesus called (chose) these simple Galilean fishermen – rough, somewhat ignorant, uneducated, and insignificant men. Why such people? It is because Jesus had God’s hope and vision for them. Though now they were ordinary, even weak and powerless in the eyes of the world, he saw that as they followed him, learned from him, they would be transformed by the Holy Spirit and become shepherds who serve, lead, and feed thousands of people with the words of God; who would rescue people from eternal condemnation and bring them into eternal life. With this hope and vision, Jesus called them with a promise. “Follow me. I will send you out to fish for people.”
At this time, Simon was a fisher man, a man of big mouth, a man of selfish ambition, a man of self-centeredness. However, following him, Simone learned how to be humble like Jesus, how to serve sinners like Jesus, how to obey the word of God like Jesus, how to deny and sacrifice himself like Jesus, and how to love and take care of others like Jesus. Though he denied Jesus, Jesus never gave up on him. Jesus loved him to the end unconditionally. Following Jesus, Peter grew to be a shepherd like Jesus for God’s flock. Jesus’ calling is a most gracious invitation to the most meaningful life a person can invest his life. Itt is a gracious invitation to learn from Jesus, come to know Jesus, and become like Jesus. It is an invitation to New life. “Come, fellow me!”
Some of us feel that you do not have any talents or gifts to do God’s work. Others feel that you might not be ready yet for you are still a sinner with a lot of weaknesses. But, remember two things. Jesus has great hope and vision for us, for you! Second, Jesus’ calling is by grace, not by any other things. Jesus has the great hope and vision for us to be a fisher of man for this generation. That is how God has worked from the beginning. He called Abraham, old and Childless man; God called Moses, old and slow to speech; God called David, the youngest; God called Paul, the least and worst. Out of his grace, he called them with hope and vision – to be great man of God for his purpose!!
His calling also has changed many of us including myself.! It was truly by Grace alone. This lonely hermit, a sassy boy was transformed to be a bible teacher and bible messenger. Jesus’ calling made my life meaningful. It provided me purpose and direction to live for the glory of God. “Come Fellow me!” This calling is also for you! As a shepherd, we may not give up on one sheep, no matter what. Instead, we may serve them, pray for them, teach them, and discipline them with never giving up spirit, trusting Jesus’ promise “I will make you fishers of men.” We may hold on to God’s hope and vision for One sheep to the end!
What was their response? At once, Peter and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus (18). James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Courageously without hesitation, they began following Jesus. To follow Jesus, they left their families, their jobs behind. It was their decision of faith.
To follow Jesus, there is one thing we have to do. As they did, we have to leave our boats, nets, and even family members behind. To follow Jesus, we may have to say no to our parents, no to our friends; even no to our carriers or ambitions. Whom we fellow truly matters. Those who follow celebrities like Justin Bibber, they will dress like them, act like them and live like them. Then, what happens when we follow Jesus? Jesus says, “I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus will accomplish his promise as we follow him. He did not ask them to be fishers of men, but he promised “I will make you fishers of men.” All we need to do is simply to follow him. When we follow him, he will continually transform us into men and women who serve God’s purpose in the world. What a wonderful privilege and blessing to follow the son of God and to be part of God’s history as a shepherd. In Philippians, Paul confessed why he made his won decision to follow Jesus. “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” (Ph3:8) We may accept this wonderful invitation – Come, follow me!
Second, Jesus’ authority
Look at verses 21-22. Jesus and his new disciples went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee. When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach (21). What happened in the synagogue? People were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law (22). It seemed that Jesus’ teaching touched their hearts and captured their souls. No one fell asleep, but everyone fixed their eyes on Jesus. Their hearts were deeply moved and together they responded to the message with a heartfelt “Amen.” and “Hallelujah.” In reality, whenever I deliver a message, many people already seem ready to fall asleep. As a bible teacher and a messenger, I want to have such authority. How can we have such authority in our Bible study, out reach, ?
It comes from His faith, His attitude toward the Scripture. Jesus believed that all Scriptures are the word of God, the word of eternal life. To him, it is not just a moral lesson on how to live better. It is the word of life that saves sinners; raises the dead; and gives eternal life to all who believe. From the beginning to the very end, Jesus devoted himself to teaching the Word of God. Why did he do this so faithfully and persistently? Many people came to him seeking miracles, healings, and free bread. However, Jesus knew what people truly needed was not temporal satisfaction, but the word of God – the word of truth that gives life. The Scripture in Amos tells us that People suffer most, not because they lack material things, but because they lack God’s word (Am 8:11-13). Without God’s word, people don’t know why they exist. Without God’s word, they become enslaved to sin and death. But, the words of God set us free from the power of sin and death. Jesus truly believed and lived by every word of God in obedience. When Jesus proclaimed the word with such faith, authority and power flowed from Him, bringing life, freedom, and hope to all who heard.
I repent of my habitual and hypocritical attitude toward the Scriptures. We are not merely sharing knowledge or our understanding of the Scriptures. Actually we are sharing our faith and our very lives. I myself came to believe in the word of truth. It was not simply because my shepherd taught me well, but because my shepherd truly believed the word and lived by the words of truth. His faith and obedience to the Word of Jesus was powerful more than thousands of words. To be powerful and excellent bible teachers, we must first believe the word and live by the words. Then, power and authority naturally follow.
What happened when Jesus taught the words of God? A man who was possessed by an impure spirit began to react. Look at verse 24. He 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” (24). The demon knew who Jesus was and was terrified; because Jesus had power to destroy him. It was not a confession of faith, but demonic resistance to Jesus. We should acknowledge that demons, impure spirits, are real. They are working invisibly to cause all kinds of troubles. They are characterized by deception, violence. They suppress the truth with lies. Anyone can be possessed by impure spirits, demons.
Here one thing is very clear that Jesus has power and authority over demons. Jesus simply commands it. “Be quiet! Come out of him!” The demon could not resist, but obeyed Jesus. It could not but come out of him. Jesus set him free. People were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him” (27). Jesus’ word has the power to drive out demons and gives us true freedom. Though we are weak, we can fight against evil spirits with Jesus’ words of truth, depending on His power and authority. News about Jesus spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew (29). But there was a problem. The mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. They immediately told Jesus about her. Then, he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. Then the fever left her. Jesus healed her in a very intimate and tender way. This reveals the authority of Jesus over disease and also the deep compassion over an old woman who needed help. She was so thankful for Jesus’ love and healing, she began to wait on them.
Look at verses 32-34. Jesus had worked hard all day long. It might be time to take a rest. However, as the sun set that evening, which marked the end of the Sabbath day, people brought all the sick and demon-possessed to Jesus. Mark says, “The whole town gathered at the door.” (33) However, Jesus did not reject one. He welcomed them and healed all those who came to him, by placing his hand on them one by one. (Lk4:40) These days, so many people suffer from various physical diseases, mental and emotional illnesses and also spiritual diseases. We all need healing in some way. How can we be healed? We should come to Jesus. Jesus is our doctor, healer, who took up all our infirmities and diseases in his body so that we may be healed and be healthy. Let’s come to Jesus.
Third, that is why I have come (35-39).
Indeed, Jesus had successful day. He worked hard all day long, until late night to heal all who came to him. So, he could have slept late the next day. But what did Jesus do the very next day? Look at verse 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.” Jesus prayed very early in the morning. Jesus prioritized personal prayer with God. Though he was the Son of God, He prayed to God before he did anything. He asked God first in his prayer. He listened to God in his prayer first. Then, he could do what God wanted him to do instead of what people wanted him to do. Prayer is Jesus’ secret. All power to live the life of faith comes not from us, but from God. Such power will be given to those who ask in their prayers. God is our power source and we can receive his power through prayer.
Look at verses 36-37. Simon and his companions went to look for Jesus. When they found him, they exclaimed, “Everyone is looking for you!” They were excited, thinking that it might be a matter of time to have a big and successful ministry as a respected teacher or miracle worker in Capernaum. They might bream to build a big mega church in Capernaum. But, what was Jesus’ reply? Look at verse 38. Jesu replied “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Instead of settling down to enjoy success in Capernaum, Jesus decided to go somewhere else, to the nearby villages. It is a decision to live according to God’s purpose. “That is why I have come.”
In times of success it is so easy to forget God, settle down and live comfortably. However, Jesus followed God’s direction to go somewhere else and preach the word of God. Because that is why he had come. He did not come to achieve glory, fame and fortune, by healing the sick or driving out demons. But, he came to preach the good news of the kingdom of God to those suffering from sins. Look at verse 39. So Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Jesus lived according to God’s purpose, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. “That is why I have come.” Jesus carried out the will of God through prayer.
We must ask ourselves in our prayers. “Have I come to achieve something for myself, or have I come to fulfill God’s purpose in my life?” When I walked Eastern Ave on Friday night or Saturday night, I saw so many drunken students on the street here and there. I want to ask this question; “Why have they come to college?” In fact, life without God’s purpose becomes meaningless and empty – No matter who much fun or excitement or entertainment they enjoy.
We should come to know God’s purpose for us and devote ourselves to the purpose as a matter of life and death, like Jesus did. Such life will give us true satisfaction in our souls.
How and where can we find such a thing “God’s purpose for us” – the purpose of life? In order to find this purpose, we should find God first. When we find God, we can discover his calling and his purpose for us. Where can we find God? In the Bible – the Word of God. That is why Jesus preached, and taught the word of God as a matter of life and death. That is also the reason for us why we should teach the word of God with the first priority.
Through this Bible Study, we may listen to Jesus’ calling. “Come, follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” We may find God’s clear life purpose for us in Jesus, and make a personal confession. “That is why I have come!” We may follow Jesus, so that we may live the life that Jesus lived, as a shepherd and bible teacher for the lost.