Called to the Kingdom

Light in the Darkness: The Glory of Jesus in Mark PART III
Rev. John Lin
18 January 2015

Mark 1:14-34
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  15"The time has come," he said.  "The kingdom of God has come near.  Repent and believe the good news!"

16As 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."  18At once they left their nets and followed him.

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

21Thew went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.  22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.  23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly, "Come out of him!"  26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority!  He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him."  28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.  30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.  31So he went to her, took her and hand and helped her up.  The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed.  33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.  He also drove out many demons, but would not let the demon speak because they know who he was.

GOODNESS OF JESUS
--v14-15; First words were a message of joy!
--Christianity is news of what has been accomplished, not advice.
--Good news that unburdens you.
--Kingdom has come near and is one of healing.

AUTHORITY OF THE CALL
--Fishermen that followed him.
--Immediately left behind what they were doing.
--Any allegiance to other things need to pale in comparison in relation to following HIM.

PROCESS THAT CHANGES US
--If we obsess over other things, we'll elevate them to things to define our identity.
--Becoming a fisher of people parallels bringing those out of darkness.
--Who are these people that reflect His light on the world and to those around him.
--Jesus went from light to darkness so we can go from our darkness to light.