Jesus Picked His Team (Mark 1:14-34)

Mark 1:14-22 – After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: 15) “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!” 16) As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 17) “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!” 18) Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19) Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets. 20) Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him. 21) Then they went into Capernaum, and right away He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. 22) They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority.

Mark 1:16-17 – As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 17) “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”

To understand the significance of those Jesus called, I refer to Alfred Edersheim’s book, Sketches of Jewish SocialLife. By the time of Jesus, the education of Hebrew children rested primarily on the parents. At about age three, the father was to be intentional in teaching the children. Verses of scripture, benedictions, wise sayings, etc. were impressed on the child. At age six or seven, the child was placed under the teachings of a “chazzan” or teacher at the synagogue. For every twenty-five to thirty kids, a “chazzan” was appointed and overseen by a Rabbi. By age ten, they were to be ready for instruction in the Mishnah. At age fifteen, they were to be ready for instruction in the Talmud. Rabbis then chose the best and brightest to be a part of their Rabbinical academies. The goal was to became a Rabbi. Teachers, including Rabbis were held in very high esteem. Edersheim continues, “If after three or, at the most five years of tuition, they had not made decided progress, there was little hope of his attaining to eminence.”

Mark 1:16-17 –  As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 17) “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!”

Jesus chose the ordinary to demonstrate the extra-ordinary. He chose the broken to bring healing. He chose the weak that He might make them strong.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 – Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27) Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. 28) God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, 29) so that no one can boast in His presence. 30) But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, 31) in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord.

He chose you so that that you might be a walking testimony of His grace, His power, and His strength.

(Following Him becomes the most important pursuit of my life.)

Jesus walked up to Peter, Andrew, James, and John and declared “I have a job or a plan for you and you. Follow me.”

What is the nature of Jesus’ mission? It is not about healing. It is not about sowing seeds of faith that you might gain wealth. It’s not even about living your best life now! Living the mission of Jesus is spiritual in nature, life giving at its core and transformation for the goal.

Mark 1:23-28 – Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, 24) “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25) But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26) And the unclean spirit convulsed him, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him. 27) Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28) News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.

Mark 1:29-31 – As soon as they left the synagogue, they went into Simon and Andrew’s house with James and John. 30) Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31) So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Mark 1:32-34 – When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33) The whole town was assembled at the door, 34) and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.