Sunday 08 November 2009

Background

The beginning of Mark's Gospel describes how John the Baptisthad been preparing the way for Jesus, whom John had baptised in theRiver Jordan (Mark1:1-12) before being arrested and killed (seeMark 6). AfterJohn's arrest, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good newswith his message of urgency: "The time is fulfilled, and thekingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the goodnews." He then set out on a recruitment drive for others to helphim in his task. From the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he askedSimon, Andrew and then James and John to join up.

"And immediately," we read, "they left their nets and followedhim." Jesus' call is urgent, and the response is instantaneous andaffirmative. Both Jesus and the disciples were alive to oneanother. They recognised something special in each other and wereprepared to give up everything in self-sacrificial giving.

The four fishermen were likely to have been quite prosperous. Weknow that Simon and Andrew had a house and family (Mark 1:29-31) andthat James and John, along with their father Zebedee, were wealthyenough to own a boat and hire additional help in the family fishingbusiness. By immediately following Jesus they left not just theirnets but their livelihoods, their family, their security and theirreputations. But they recognised the urgency of Jesus' call todiscipleship. They believed in him and the cause hedescribed.

Today is Remembrance Sunday and we give thanks for all those peoplewho have given their lives for a cause they believed in. Inremembering, we are calling the past into the present and remindingourselves that hope for the future lies not in self-interest, butin self-sacrifice: the very attribute that Jesus and the disciplesdisplayed.

To Ponder

If you are a Christian, how can you maintainJesus' sense of urgency in making disciples?

What do you think it was about Jesus thatcompelled the disciples to give up everything as soon as he askedthem?

Can you think of a person or a cause that hasinspired you to take immediate action? What was it that immediatelyattracted you? And how did you respond?