King Jesus: Place and Purpose

There must have been something deeply compelling about Jesus.

When he calls his first disciples in Mark 1:16-20 his authority is already evident. We’re not told these disciples spent time thinking about whether they should follow, or talked to Jesus about what this might include, or had some sort of cooling off period. Jesus calls these very ordinary fellows to follow him and they do so, immediately.

Mark 1:17-18 is what Jesus says to Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew, the first two disciples:

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.

Evidently the call of Jesus is not easily ignored.

His call to follow him is powerful and with a purpose.

Jesus doesn’t invite these guys for a short stroll along the shoreline and back again. You know, one of those walks you might have on a hot summers evening while walking the dog and talking to your spouse. Instead, Jesus is calling them to place him over their work, their family business, their security, their future plans, and whatever they’re thinking about to come and follow him. Jesus is calling for total allegiance. He’s calling them to follow him with their whole lives, their whole selves.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “When Christ calls a man [or woman], he bids him come and die.” In this he means that discipleship involves dying to self and living for Christ. Just as Jesus himself says later in Mark, that whoever wants to follow him must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow (Mark 8:34–35).

This call is life changing (as we’ve discussed previously).

But it also comes with a purpose.

Jesus tells them they will become fishers of people. (or fishers of ‘men’ in the humanity sense if you would prefer).

They are drawn into mission. They are to participate in gathering others into the kingdom through the good news and calling them to repent and believe.

This purpose still stands. It is still our purpose as followers of Jesus too.

As followers of Jesus we are not only saved into his kingdom, but we are also sent into his mission. In our own settings, relationships, and practices we are part of his work in drawing people to himself.

Where might Jesus be calling you to follow him more fully? Remember, he’s asking for your whole heart, your whole self. We are to place him at number one.

What part of life might need to be more fully under his lead and into his purposes for the world?