A call from the ordinary

Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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From the ordinary men come disciples who become apostles

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In the beginning

In the beginning there was the announcement of the Christ coming (Mk1:1-8). Then the beginning of His ministry work in baptism (Mk1:9-14) followed by the preaching ministry of Jesus (Mk1:14-15).
Jesus preaching was the proclaiming the kingdom of God (Mk1:14)
Mark 1:14 NASB95
14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
It was also stated that the time was fulfilled and the kingdom was at hand (Mk1:15)
Below for handout not to be said
So what we are looking at today:
Qualifications of disciple
The pairs of brothers
Peter and Andrew
James and John
Now back to the regular stuff to be said and discussed
Mark 1:15 NASB95
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus was not going to accomplish the mission of proclaiming the kingdom alone. He was going to call ordinary man to do the extra-ordinary thing of becoming Apostles and then proclaiming the gospel to all the world starting in Jerusalem (Act1:8)
This morning want to look at three things
Qualifications Jesus sought in disciple
Simon and Andrew
James and John
What do you think the qualification for a “disciple” is? Is there a difference between a disciple and an apostle?
Now we need to look at the passage so we have in context then will go and discuss the three points
Mark 1:16–17 NASB95
16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
Mark 1:18–19 NASB95
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
Mark 1:20 NASB95
20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

I. Qualifications Jesus sought in disciples

Here we have some ordinary guys, doing ordinary things, but what about those things made them to be chosen to be disciples?
Trustworthy (v.17)
Jesus told them to “follow Me” and what did they do and when did they do it?
Jesus instructions to them “follow Me” was a test of trust, for from trust comes loyalty, confidence and openness. Though they did not do it perfectly did they? - we will discuss that more shortly
So what do you think the first qualification for us to be a disciple is today? We need to be loyal, trustworthy, we need to have confidence in Jesus and we need to be open, honest with Him to be a true disciple.
Are we men who are loyal, trustworthy and have confidence in Jesus?
You don’t have to have it all right, you don’t have to be perfect but you do need to be teachable
Teachable (v.17)
Jesus says He will make them fishers of men, which means He will teach them. He is telling them it is a process not an event.
It was not by happenchance, not by accident that Jesus chose the unschooled, unsophisticated fisherman. Look at what Paul had to say about it:
1Cor1:26-
1 Corinthians 1:26–27 NASB95
26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
1 Corinthians 1:28–29 NASB95
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.
So when it comes to us, it is a process not an event, we are always learning. It is not about your ability it is about your availability. Are you teachable.
He chose ones who were not the religious ones, not the educated ones, but ones who had no intellectual preconceptions or cultural mindsets. FOr it is easier to learn than to unlearn.
Are we men who are teachable? Are we willing to learn each day?
Task-oriented men (v.17)
He chose fishermen to start and to be one they had to be task-oriented for if not, they would not catch and no catch, no eat. It is said that fishing is both a learned science and an art. It takes the balance between the two.
Jesus wants disciples who are ready to accept the consequences of their work.
Are we men who are willing to accept the consequences of our work?
When Jesus says “Follow Me” (v.17) he is asking for people he can trust, and those who are willing to trust Him to lead. A leader does not call a follower to a one-way commitment, but a leader follower covenant!
Jesus agrees to teach, to mentor this men as well as the others. He commits to all the joys and sorrows that come with it. He commits to the good and the hard times where they seem to be growing and digressing at other times. Like any good teacher He knows how much to push and applies that amount of pressure on them without too much. If He does not push enough they will not grow.
Isn’t that how it is with discipleship today?
One more point on the qualifications
Ability to make a decision (vv.18, 20)
Why these guys? look at (v.18, 20) see if you can tell
Mark 1:18 NASB95
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
Mark 1:20 NASB95
20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
Immediately, without hesitation, they made a decision and followed through.
Jesus still calls for trustworthy, teachable, task-oriented men who can make a decision to be His disciples. He promises to teach, to mentor, and to be our leader so we can go and fulfill the calling of taking the message to the world!

II. Simon Peter and Andrew

As we look at Peter and Andrew we want to look at them as disciples who became apostles. There is much we can learn about them.
Son’s of Jonah, from Bethsaida, Fishermen, partnered with James/John (Jn1:40-44, Mk1:16; Lk5:10)
John 1:40–41 NKJV
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).
John 1:42–43 NKJV
42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone). 43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”
John 1:44 NKJV
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Jn1:44
Mark 1:16 NKJV
16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
Now this was not a first encounter with Jesus
They had met Jesus previously, in Bethabara (Jn1:35-39, 1:28)
Side note, Andrew had been disciple of John and brought Peter to meet Jesus
John 1:35–36 NASB95
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
John 1:37–38 NASB95
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?”
John 1:39 NASB95
39 He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
and the other verse
John 1:28 NASB95
28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Their call to discipleship was while they were fishing (Mk1:16-18; Lk5:1-10)
Called while fishing
Mark 1:16 NASB95
16 As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.
(Have everyone open their own bibles to Lk5!) we will be discussing more)
They had been washing their nets
Luke 5:1–2 NASB95
1 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.
Luke 5:3 NASB95
3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.
Jesus even had Peter take him out on boat
Jesus even had Peter take him out on boat
Luke 5:4–5 NASB95
4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”
Luke 5:6–7 NASB95
6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.
Luke 5:8–9 NASB95
8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;
In looking at Lk5:1-9, what do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Jesus drew a large crowd, no wonder why He wanted help, wanted disciples (v.1)
To me obedience proceeded blessing (v.4-5)
Acknowledgment brought humility (v.8)
It was after this that Jesus called them to be fishers of men as we saw in Mk1:17; but here in Lk5:10
Luke 5:10 NASB95
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”
And we know the results, there was no delay
Mark 1:18 NASB95
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
As Apostles they served with others (Mk3:14-19) Peter was part of inner circle of three (Mk5:37, 9:2) and as for Andrew he was a man who loved to introduce people to Jesus (Jn1:40-42)
I wasn’t go to originally have us look at a long passage in Mark, but we need to.
Mark 3:14–15 NASB95
14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.
Mark 3:16–17 NASB95
16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), 17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);
Mark 3:18–19 NASB95
18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.
We need to see all the names of the Apostles, This is where we see the transition from just being a disciple to being an Apostle, look at at (v.14)
Mark 3:14 NASB95
14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,
An Apostle is appointed, an apostle is sent, sent with a message and sent with authority.
Pete was part of the the circle of 3
Mark 5:37 NASB95
37 And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James.
Mk5:37
We also know Peter and his denial, Andrew was one bringing people to Jesus too.
One other point, they were one’s who asked Jesus about the destruction of Jerusalem too found in Mk13:1-4 (just a little side point)
Here we have Simon Peter and Andrew, brothers, fishermen, disciples, apostles, both were martyrs, both faithful servants of the Lord. Now let’s move on and see James and John
re martyrs, both faithful servants of the Lord. Now let’s move on and see James and John

III. James and John

They were sons of Zebedee, mom was Salome, fishermen who had servants (Mk1:19-20, 16:1; Lk5:10-11)
Sons of Zebedee
Mark 1:19 NASB95
19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
Mother was Salome
Mark 16:1 NASB95
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him.
It was believed that Salome was Mary’s sister, so this would make them cousins to Jesus.
John 19:25 NASB95
25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
They were well off enough to have servants
They were well off enough to have servants
Mark 1:20 NASB95
20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
Luke 5:10–11 NASB95
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
Selected with others (Mk3:14-19)
Jesus named them “Son’s of Thunder” (Mk3:17; 9:54, 38)
Were part of inner circle of three (Mk5:37; 9:2; 14:33)
Asked for seats of honor glory (Mk10:35-37)
Their apostleship (some highlights)
Chosen with the others (Mk3:14-19); Separated as part of three (Mk5:37)
No need to expand on this, we already look at both of the passages here.
Jesus gave them special name “Son’s of Thunder” (Mk3:17)
Mark 3:17 NASB95
17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);
Mk3:17
It shows Boanerges, that was translated “Son’s of thunder”- remember Mark is writing to Gentile audience and defines the word so the readers would understand.
Were known for fiery temper (Lk9:54, MK9:38)
Luke 9:54 NASB95
54 When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
Mark 9:38 NASB95
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to prevent him because he was not following us.”
boy we could develop of both of those passages, but time is limited so that will be another day.
Asked for seats of honor in glory (Mk10:35-37)
Mark 10:35–36 NASB95
35 James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask of You.” 36 And He said to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Mark 10:37 NASB95
37 They said to Him, “Grant that we may sit, one on Your right and one on Your left, in Your glory.”
There is much more about their apostleship, like James was the first martyr (Act12:1-2); John was the One the Lord loved (Jn19:26) just to name a couple.
So here we have James and John: brothers, fishermen, disciples apostles, one an early martyr the other a lifelong witness.
(wrap up here if it is time; if not press on to below)
What can we learn about discipleship in these verses and the related ones we have looked at today?
Being a disciple may often require sacrifice (expand)
Being a disciple means seeking (fishing) for the lost
Being a disciple comes with being loyal, trustworthy, teachable, task-oriented
May we be true disciples of Jesus Christ today!
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