This year the Church emphasizes the Gospel of Mark. I love the traditions of the church about Mark, some biblical, some traditional. Tradition that he was the young man, boy really, in Mark 14:51-52 in the Garden with Jesus, an eye-witness to the events of Holy Week. Biblical that he was the cousin of Barnabas and companion on the First Missionary Journey. Tradition that he was the secretary to Peter and author of the first Gospel written (yes, Matthew comes first in order, but Mark the first written). It is an urgent Gospel, using the word immediately 27 times! At Peter’s death, Mark felt an urgent need to tell the story.
It begins, “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (1:1) Good News. What is the Good News? Not what taught or what he said, but who he is, the birth, the life, the death, the resurrection, and the Spirit of Christ. That is the Good News. In just 14 verses, Mark urgently declares the Good News, introduces John the Baptist and the baptism, drives him into the wilderness, and begins Jesus’ ministry. Then here comes Jesus!
He calls his disciples, first Peter and Andrew, the James and John. Peter first because of the primacy of Peter among the disciples, but also because he was the source of Mark’s gospel. He calls them, then begins teaching. Verse 16 tells us that they were astounded at his teaching because he taught them as one with authority. Not because of what he said, but because of who he was! Yet until his resurrection, his divinity was hidden from them. But he had authority!
Do you remember the old radio show, “The Greatest Story Ever Told”? You can google it. It would tell the stories, the parables, the miracles, the signs; but listening to it, I couldn’t wait until Jesus spoke. Not because of what he said, but because he was Jesus There was something about the voice of Jesus. Not his words, but Jesus had authority.
And then he calls: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” I have often wondered if I would have answered the call. How about you. Yet we are all called, every day. I think the point of it all is that Jesus didn’t ask us to get ready, to go to seminary, to become perfect. No, he said, “Follow me.” Now is the time. We may not fully understand God, but know he exists, understand sin but know we are imperfect, understand salvation but know we need it. Now is the time; “Follow me.”
What we need to do is to ask what is it that I need to do, or not do, or stop doing right now to follow Jesus. And maybe that is a daily question. Jesus has the authority to call. What must we do to follow?
No comments:
Post a Comment