King Jesus: The Calling of The Ordinary

Today, the announcement of good news, of great news, of world transforming news would be shared virally across social media, it would make headlines on news websites, it would be part of the regular conversation down the street and with neighbours. So it should be a little surprising to us that the first place Jesus proclaims the good news of the gospel of God (Mark 1:14-15) is in a small town up in the north of the country of Israel, away from the power and influence of Jerusalem and its religious leaders. 

Here in Melbourne, important political news comes from Spring St, and important AFL news comes from AFL House. These are the places where the power and influence of our city come from. However, here in Mark’s gospel this news of Jesus and the good news he has to share appears in an out of the way, quite backward place, among ordinary people going about their ordinary days. 

And we read of this in Mark 1:16-20: 

16 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. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus sees Simon (Peter) and Andrew at work, casting their nets. A little farther along he see these guys James and John preparing their nets. These fisherman are in the middle of their normal work day and Jesus comes along and calls them to follow him into a completely new direction and purpose. 

Notice who Jesus doesn’t call. 

He hasn’t gone to the highly ranked schools and universities. He hasn’t gone to find who is the smartest or brightest in the country. He doesn’t look for the leading academics and performers. He doesn’t start with the religious elite. 

Who does he call? 

The ordinary. Ordinary people doing ordinary things. Everyday people. People getting on with their jobs and responsibilities. 

How encouraging is it to know that God’s kingdom isn’t built by the impressive, the influential, and the highly credentialed. Jesus calls those who have not made it in the eyes of the world. He doesn’t choose people because of their status or education or reputation. 

Jesus calls ordinary people to follow him. 

And what’s even more amazing is that Jesus is the one who takes the initiative. It was usually the other way around in the first century, a prospective student would approach a rabbi to be their disciple. Here, however, Jesus takes the initiative. He is the one who calls. He chose those who are to follow him. 

This is a pattern throughout the Bible. God calls a people to himself. He takes the initiative and forms a people who belong to him and live under his rule. This same pattern is here in Mark 1, but in personal form. Jesus calls these men to come follow and become part of God’s mission in the world. 

We are called in the same way today.

Those of us who follow Jesus can say that God has taken the initiative toward us. He has called us to belong to him. 

On one hand this is personal and individual, but on the other it’s not. Jesus calls these fishermen into a small group, a small community of followers who will become the early church as the New Testament unfolds.

Following Jesus is personal, but it’s not isolated. We follow Jesus together and are shaped by him as we walk with others in faith. 

When Jesus calls these fishermen he calls them into a life that will be changed and reshaped. One moment they are known locally for their trade, expertise, and work. In the next moment they are disciples of the Son of God, leaving behind all that is familiar to them.

What a call we are part of! What a calling we have in Christ Jesus!