Our Adventure with Jesus Christ
From Mark 1:14-20: Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
Mark shares a crucial part of Jesus' ministry in this passage. Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist, is under arrest and Jesus knows that His job continues on. He takes the simple, but powerful sermon of John and uses it, for it is indeed good news. The message has four powerful point; 1) It is the fullness of time. 2) The Kingdom of God has arrived. 3) Repentance is vital. 4) Belief is key. The people hearing that knew about the fullness of time as the time when God would act; Jesus is saying the time is now. People had an understanding about kingdoms, if not about God's kingdom, but if God's kingdom was near, this would be the time to enter into it. Repent may have been a new message to them, but it was a needed one for we recognize and know when we have sinned. Repentance offers God's way out from that sin. This was the good news Jesus was bringing, the "main thing" as it were. Belief is the only response for hearing good news. With that message, Jesus begins to call those who would join Him as disciples. At the Sea of Galilee He sees Simon (Peter) and Andrew, two brothers who were casting news into the sea. Jesus invites them to join Him on this incredible adventure: "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." Their response was immediate. The three journey a ways and they see James and John, another pair of brothers, also fishermen, who are meaning their nets. They too are invited and they leave with Jesus, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired hands.
The lives of these four men would never be the same. We who have said yes to Jesus have had our lives changed and they would never be the same. In many of our cases we have said yes and left home and family to see where this adventure takes us. For some it leads right back home, for others to places never dreamed of, and people who have blessed us on this adventure. For others our life's perspective changed and the same people around us have been transformed as we journey with Christ. The call of Jesus begins our adventure and the instant we say yes, new and incredible things happen, and honestly, never a dull moment. To venture with Jesus knowing our sins are forgiven and forgotten is a destination in itself, but not so with Jesus; for there are those who have yet to hear about the good news of a savior, and so we journey on in this adventure.
Ours is an adventure that should keep the main thing the main thing. Sin claims too many lives, and too many die in their sins. Ours is a message of freedom, hope, and joy; for the God of love has spoken to us and we need to share with others that which has set us free.
PRAYER: Loving God, speak again the word forgiven to my ears and heart. And let me join in sharing that word with others. Let me keep the main thing the main thing in my life. I pray this in the name of He who set me free, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Happy Martin Luther King day!
Eradio Valverde
