#9 - The Book of Mark - Follow Me; No Buts

 Mark 2: 16-20

"Now as he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 

And when he had gone a little farther there, he saw James and John his brother, who were also in the ship mending their nets.

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him


Five verses and three begin with and.  That seems to convey a sense of continuing motion.  It doesn't suggest a ponderous enterprise in the calling of his closest disciples.  Jesus didn't hesitate to ask and Peter, Andrew, James, and John did not hesitate to accept.  This is quite different from what occurred in Luke 9:60 :  

And he said unto another Follow me.     But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.  

In  Luke 9:61: Another said "I will follow thee, but let me  first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 


"Let me first before I follow" was their reply.  However he calling was and always will be, "seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things will be added unto you.

Consider the difference in Mark 1.  The future disciples were all busy and maybe a little worn out.  They were in the middle of something important to their livelihood "And straightway they left their nets and followed him."

"And straightway he called them: and they left--." 

There were not "buts" from the chosen, only obedience.  They didn't ask questions, make excuses, or look back.

Again, from Luke 9:62: And Jesus said unto him No man, having put his hand to the plough, and look back, is fit for the kingdom of God.


In the days ahead, am I going to be looking back or will I straightway leave my nets and follow an uncertain physical future to follow a certain Savior, seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven?

  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Hundred Years Old

Ellen Dittfurth – Age 100 Born 7/18/14 – a few weeks before World War I and about six years before women had the right to vote. She was the oldest of three children born to James and Abigail Thompson. Her father was an accountant and part-time preacher. Ellen used to recall how she loved to go on trips with her father to hear father preach. Ellen finished high school in Cold Springs, Texas, valedictorian of her class of twelve. During the depression her father had a job in a bank in Shepherd, Texas. Ellen often helped her father in the bank and learned her bookkeeping skills through this type of unpaid apprenticeship. One day the bank in Shepherd was robbed and Ellen’s father roughed up. The robbery had a telling physical and mental impact on her father, who recommended to the bank that they allow Ellen to take his place. She did and became the breadwinner of the family during these hard times. Her father died less than a year later. The Shepherd bank finally had to
Read more

Step Up to the Privilege

                    "What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer." How blessed we are in these uncertain times to have a sure and certain God.   How blessed we are to be in a position to stand against the wind for God.  Not everyone has a cause to wake up to.  Not everyone has a reason that makes sense to keep on keeping on, when all looks wasted and lost.   Not everyone has that infusion of heavenly minded vitality added to their lives.   Of course, the course and the calling are no easy road.  There are so many naysayers out there and then there is the tough job of working on yourself, to be more like Jesus.  We can't do that ourselves and have to humbly acknowledge where the real power comes from.  God gives us the strength to face our own stuff and in doing so make a live worth living and worthy of giving away.  We have such a great opportunity to serve the cause of Christ.  These are the days we live and die for. My prayer is for God help us to step up to t
Read more

I Have Jesus Even When I'm Invisible

“ My wife died you know?”  The one-time British sailor squinted up at me through ninety year old eyes as if to see if I were going to listen before he went on.  There was pain and need in those eyes.   “She was beautiful too; pretty as a picture; pretty as a picture, and played the piano like an angel.  Sixty years we been together.  She was beautiful.  Played the piano like an angel.  I miss her you know.  I got nobody now.  People don’t care about old folks like me.  They don’t even seem to see me.  It’s like I am some  kinda piece of garbage or something cause I’m  old and worthless now.  I miss her you know. She was beautiful.  Played the piano like an angel.” I am not too far from old and worthless myself.   Some say I am already worthless.      And for all the times I have gutted out races; all the times I have raised my arms in joy at some finish line,   for all the awards I have won and all my other moments of accomplishments, projects completed, gardens raised, pastures mowe
Read more