Mark Chapter 1:16-20 God’s Calling & How To Respond

Mark 1:16-20

In this passage we find Jesus walking along the sea of Galilee, where He calls on his first named followers (also known as His disciples) - two fishermen brothers Andrew and Simon.

Following Jesus Comes First

These two men have careers and are in the middle of their work when Jesus calls on them to follow Him. So, how do they respond?

• They don’t say they’ll join Him after work.

• They don’t explain they’ll fit Jesus in around their current careers.

Instead, they “at once” left their work and followed Him. Is this not a great example of how we should handle the calling on our lives? Nothing should come before Jesus.

Jesus & God Do Not Discriminate

Now, it may not seem significant, but the fact that Jesus called upon fishermen is hugely important in understanding Jesus. Jesus had power like none other. He’s the Son of God. However, who does He call on first to spend time with Him and represent Him to the masses? Not royalty, not the rich and the famous, but He calls on 2 fishermen - men who were most likely part of the working class. In other words, Jesus does not discriminate based off of wealth, race, or social prowess - anyone can have a relationship with Him, and the God who sent Him - including you!

Remember what the Scriptures say in John 3:16-18 - God loved “the world” so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for it - meaning He died for everyone inside the world no matter what they looked like, what they had done, or where they were from. Jesus was sent to die for ALL of us as a sacrifice on our behalf, so that through accepting His sacrifice and following Him we could be saved from the brokenness and sin in our lives.

Our Talents, Testimony, And Skills Are Used By God

Now, what did Jesus exactly say to Andrew and Simon when He called them? He stated “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

This may simply be read as a metaphor, “be fishers of men,” but could it be that Jesus called these actual fishermen because He knew they had the skillset that would align with the task at hand? Fishermen are up early and may stay out late working to fill their nets. They also must be patient and continue to strive forward through failure and success. Their careers may lead them to times of bounty and to times of hunger. That life, and those expectations sound a lot like what's needed to be a follower of Jesus, and believer in God.

Don’t be surprised if your calling is tied to your past and/or current experiences, situations, and overall talents. This pattern is something we see throughout the Scriptures, whether it’s Joseph or Job in the Old Testament or Paul in the New Testament.

Jesus Before Family?

As this section continues, Jesus calls two more fishermen, brothers James and John. However, their situation seems to vary slightly from the first two. They don’t just leave their current careers, but they leave their father behind as well.

In other words, family was not an excuse that prevented these men from quickly following Jesus.

Be Ready, God Can Do Great Things Through You

Now, what would have happened if any of these men Jesus had called on had not been ready to drop everything and follow Him? They would have missed out on being a part of the most amazing story ever told! They would have missed out on everlasting fame. They would have missed out on becoming royalty one day through God’s anointing (Matthew 19:28).

The calling God has for you is greater than you can imagine. Trust in God. You may not see it now, or ever in this life, but if you allow Him to use you as He pleases, the impact you can have on this world is greater than you could ever imagine.

Mark 1:16-20 Wrap Up

So, what can we learn from this section?

• When we're called by our God, no matter where we are, or what we are doing, we need to drop everything and follow Him. If we don’t, we could miss out on the extraordinary both on earth and in heaven.

• Our God does not discriminate based on the things of this world – salvation, and guidance through the Holy Spirit, is offered to all of us through Jesus. All we need is to repent, accept, and follow.

• Our talents, experiences, and testimony, no matter how small they may seem, can and will be used by God if we accept His calling.

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