February 10, 1999

LIFE & WORK SERIES:
Jesus deserves immediate, complete commitments
___ Mark 1:14-20; 2:13-14; 3:13-19
___By Thomas Lea
___Southwestern Seminary
___"Adults have a hard time making personal commitments." I heard this statement while watching a television commentary on American marriage. One of the threats to marriage in our society is the reluctance of some to make commitments.
___In this lesson, Jesus issues shocking calls for discipleship. Jesus wants his followers to obey instantly and completely. Three principles of response to Jesus emerge from our passages:
___ Obey instantly (Mark 1:16-20). These verses feature the call to discipleship of Peter, Andrew, James and John. The appeal to Peter and Andrew (v. 17) contained a command and a promise. The command was to attach themselves to Jesus. The promise was that they would become "fishers of men."
___The response of Peter and Andrew was "at once." They left a business which had given them ample income. They gained spiritual security in Jesus replacing earthly security.
___James and John were partners in the fishing business (v. 19). When Jesus called them, they responded "without delay." The ultimate cost for both was great. James was martyred early in Christian history (Acts 12:1-2). John became a prisoner for his faith (Revelation 1:9).
___Jesus wants his followers to respond instantly. As they yield to him, he will mold and shape them to influence others.
___ Commit totally (Mark 2:13-14). Commitment to Jesus involves making service to him our life goal. Serving him becomes more important than making money, having pleasure or obtaining recognition.
___In Mark 2:13-14, Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum. He passed the tax collector Levi, also known as Matthew, and invited him to follow.
___Levi's response was total. He exposed himself to danger and persecution. He could not return to his job if he later changed his mind.
___Many of Levi's contemporaries would have regarded his decision as unbalanced. Total commitment to Jesus may seem strange to our generation, but we must respond with persistence and trust.
___ Join with others to do Jesus' work (Mark 3:13-19). These verses present two purposes of Jesus' call. He wanted followers to "be with him." They were to receive formal and informal instruction. He also wanted them to go out "to preach and to have authority to drive out demons." They had authority to overthrow demonic forces in people's lives.
___Those Jesus chose were an incredibly diverse group. Simon Peter headed the list. The brothers James and John were nicknamed as "Sons of Thunder," perhaps a reference to their once fiery tempers. Andrew was the brother of Peter, who received his call to follow Jesus at the time of Peter (Mark 1:16-18).
___Jesus has the ability to take people from unpromising backgrounds and turn them into his committed followers. Peter moved from being a rash blusterer to becoming a "rock" among early church leaders. Christians today can experience Jesus' help in the same way.

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