The sense of mission received at the time of baptism and the style of mission revealed through the temptations in the wilderness guided Jesus to select his early disciples. Jesus selected his early disciples from the banks of the sea of Galilee. The same sea is also called Gennesaret, and the Tiberios. It was a lake with a length of 14 miles and the width of 6 miles, enriched by the flow of river Jordan. It was a good centre of fishing.
1.The shore of Galilee was the centre of Jesus' mission in the beginning. Capernaum was a junction through which a trade route to other provinces passed through. The description of the calling begins by stating that Jesus was walking on the seashore of Galilee. A Spirit-filled person was to do his ministry in the temple and synagogue. Instead, we see him on the seashore. Jesus represented a different value system and a different concept of authority. He wanted his disciples also to carry that. The kingdom of God is not to be manifested through some spectacular and pompous developments but through some minute, primary and potential things like the mustard seed.
2. The brother duos viz. Simon-Andrew; James-John were the first disciples to follow him. All of them were involved in their daily tasks. When Jesus asked them to follow him, they left the nets and boats, the father and their hired labourers. We need not assume that it was for the first time they saw Jesus at that time. They were called to be the fishers of men. The term 'fishers of men' could be read in the Old Testament background. (Jer. 16:16; Amos 4:2; Eze. 29:4). People are to be invited to the peace of the kingdom of God. In his attempt to remould the social structure, Jesus desired the involvement and participation of the ordinary people. Following is not merely an emotional and sentimental attachment, but it includes rearrangement in the socio-economic involvements of the person. That is why they left everything 'valuable' to them. They found out something more precious than everything they held close to them. In later times, we find Jesus using their boats for travel. We find Jesus using their houses also for his rest. They surrendered everything for the glory of God. Even today Jesus challenges us for such priorities in our lives.
3. Jesus was inviting the early disciples for some revolutionary beginnings. James and John are named sons of Zebedee to identify them from others holding the same names. They were having the financial position to own their own boats and hired servants. They left that. The existing pattern of students searching for their gurus has been changed here. The guru is searching for the disciples. The disciples whom he selected are not perfect human beings. Many often they fail and frustrate their master. But the kingdom of God is founded through them. Mark, while describing the stories of their failures and victories, motivate the ordinary humans to imitate them in their daily walk to be the subjects of the kingdom.
Point to ponder:
Do we feel the call of Jesus in our daily walks of life?
Prayer:
Pray for somebody to be motivated to a different style of life which will make their lives more meaningful.
1.The shore of Galilee was the centre of Jesus' mission in the beginning. Capernaum was a junction through which a trade route to other provinces passed through. The description of the calling begins by stating that Jesus was walking on the seashore of Galilee. A Spirit-filled person was to do his ministry in the temple and synagogue. Instead, we see him on the seashore. Jesus represented a different value system and a different concept of authority. He wanted his disciples also to carry that. The kingdom of God is not to be manifested through some spectacular and pompous developments but through some minute, primary and potential things like the mustard seed.
2. The brother duos viz. Simon-Andrew; James-John were the first disciples to follow him. All of them were involved in their daily tasks. When Jesus asked them to follow him, they left the nets and boats, the father and their hired labourers. We need not assume that it was for the first time they saw Jesus at that time. They were called to be the fishers of men. The term 'fishers of men' could be read in the Old Testament background. (Jer. 16:16; Amos 4:2; Eze. 29:4). People are to be invited to the peace of the kingdom of God. In his attempt to remould the social structure, Jesus desired the involvement and participation of the ordinary people. Following is not merely an emotional and sentimental attachment, but it includes rearrangement in the socio-economic involvements of the person. That is why they left everything 'valuable' to them. They found out something more precious than everything they held close to them. In later times, we find Jesus using their boats for travel. We find Jesus using their houses also for his rest. They surrendered everything for the glory of God. Even today Jesus challenges us for such priorities in our lives.
3. Jesus was inviting the early disciples for some revolutionary beginnings. James and John are named sons of Zebedee to identify them from others holding the same names. They were having the financial position to own their own boats and hired servants. They left that. The existing pattern of students searching for their gurus has been changed here. The guru is searching for the disciples. The disciples whom he selected are not perfect human beings. Many often they fail and frustrate their master. But the kingdom of God is founded through them. Mark, while describing the stories of their failures and victories, motivate the ordinary humans to imitate them in their daily walk to be the subjects of the kingdom.
Point to ponder:
Do we feel the call of Jesus in our daily walks of life?
Prayer:
Pray for somebody to be motivated to a different style of life which will make their lives more meaningful.
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