The Call to Discipleship (Following Christ)

Last week, Poiema started a weekly, online Bible Study going through the gospel of Mark. And as we covered the first chapter, I was reminded once again of the call to discipleship. As He begins His ministry in Galilee, He calls His first four disciples (Simon, Andrew, James and John). He says to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). And what is their response? They immediately left their boats, nets, family and followed Jesus. Who was this Jesus that they would immediately leave everything and follow Him? 

The call to discipleship is twofold: first, we are called by Jesus, and second, we follow Him wherever He leads. The call to discipleship leads us to Christ and then sends us out. But there is also a cost. The cost of discipleship is that we leave, or forsake, our ambitions, dreams, family, etc. But why? As Jesus calls us to follow Him, we immediately obey because what we are proclaiming is that the source of our life, joy, peace, wealth, security… our identity is found in Christ and not in any worldly things. 

In the rest of the first chapter of Mark, there is an emphasis on Jesus’ authority. When Jesus calls His first disciples, it illustrates His authority over men (1:16-20). When He goes to Capernaum and teaches in the synagogue, He teaches with authority and also demonstrates His authority over evil spirits as He casts out an unclean spirit (1:21-28). Jesus shows His authority over disease and sickness as He heals Simon’s mother-in-law (1:29-34) and again when He heals a man with leprosy (1:40-45). 

Jesus has authority over all these things. And because of that, many people went looking for Him. He was teaching and proclaiming the Gospel saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (1:15). He was also performing all these miracles and healing many people. So then, why do we follow Jesus? Why do we go to Him? Is it because we are looking for a miracle? Is it because we are curious to see if He can help us during our time of need? Is it because we want relief of any physical or emotional pain we’re dealing with? Are we following Him in the hopes that He is like a vending machine; giving us what we want? 

Or, do we follow Jesus because He has saved us from eternal pain and suffering. Do we follow Jesus because He took upon Himself our sins which would have led to death and revealed who He truly is on that cross: Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1). Jesus is the Messiah; the anointed 

One, the saving One. He is the Son of God who came from heaven to earth to save sinners like you and me. 

Are we amazed when we see Christ? Is worship our natural response to understanding the true identity of Christ? Is Christ transforming us in a way that calls us to obey and follow Him? What would our lives look like if Christ was our identity? How would every fabric our of lives change if our lives were about obeying Christ? 

May we grow, individually and as a community, in becoming obedient followers/disciples of Jesus Christ! 

With blessings, 

Pastor Tim