Continuing a “question-based” study of Mark 1:14-45 (i.e., instead of studying the verses in strict order), here’s the next question: What was the role of Jesus’ disciples? Hopefully, you’ve read enough of the Bible to have additional context, but we learn some of the answer in verses 16-18 of this first chapter of the Gospel of Mark.
As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
Mark 1:16-18 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.1.16-18.NIV
Maybe you remember the children’s song, “I Will Make You Fishers of Men”, here. What does “fishers of men” mean, though? Should we go out and catch people with nets? (No!) Instead, I envision this as going out into the great sea of lost people in this world, and bringing them to a better place (which a commentator, cited below, points out is God’s kingdom).
While people, compared to fish, have more say in their lives in whether or not they respond to a fisherman, there are definitely some parallels:
- Like a feisty fish, some people resist the calling of Jesus when His disciples offer them insight into how they can be rescued from the consequences of their sins.
- And, for modern-day “fishers” like us, our job isn’t to drain the ocean. We reach out to those around us, where we are, and we hope that we can bring some of them home.
By the way, if the Gospel of Mark was indeed based on the teachings of Peter (which seems likely), I suspect that Peter would have often shared how Jesus calling him to be a disciple. After all, that would have been a big deal to anyone, including Peter.
Also, while teaching on the Gospel of Mark, a member of the class had mentioned how the gospel of Mark has a sense of hurry. When Jesus called Simon (probably before Jesus gave him the name Peter) and Andrew, they obeyed “at once” (or “immediately”). Using the metaphor of fishing, we may need to be patient for lost people to accept the good news about salvation through Jesus Christ, but we can be in a hurry to follow Jesus, and to share that good news when God prompts us to do so.
On the other hand, when we don’t obey God “at once”, how much time do we waste trying to negotiate with Him or trying to get more confirmation that the thing He wants us to do is really necessary? Now, God listens to our concerns, and there are times when His will might not seem clear. However, when we know the right thing to do and we don’t do it, we sin (see James 4:17). Sometimes, I think that this includes knowing what we should do, and putting it off.
So, let’s make sure that we’re not just giving the Lord Jesus our “lip service”, and merely claiming to follow Him while we haggle over doing what is obviously His will for our lives. May we recognize His authority, and “immediately” obey when He gives us direction…to the point of being in a hurry to do what He calls us to. Then, when we speak of His authority to others, they can see what impact our obedience to His authority has made in our lives.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for September 7, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 