Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee,
proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
As Jesus passed along
the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the
lake—for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will
make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed
him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother
John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they
left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
They went to
Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They
were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and
not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an
unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of
Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of
God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the
unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice,
came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another,
‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean
spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the
surrounding region of Galilee.
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What stands out to you as you read this beginning of Jesus' ministry? For me, this time it strikes me that, although Jesus forms a new community as he calls people to follow him, he doesn't abandon the community that gathered in the synagogue. But neither did he wait until he arrived at the "religious" site of the synagogue to speak about God's kingdom or call people to repent.
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What stands out to you as you read this beginning of Jesus' ministry? For me, this time it strikes me that, although Jesus forms a new community as he calls people to follow him, he doesn't abandon the community that gathered in the synagogue. But neither did he wait until he arrived at the "religious" site of the synagogue to speak about God's kingdom or call people to repent.
Jesus speaks to us in many ways and in many places. Being one who loves to fish I find that this is so true for me. Sitting on the edge of the water I find myself many times looking into the past and contemplating how my life has changed. God is there and real to me in the quietness of that moment. I am always reminded of this passage from Mark as I leave that place and I am reminded that I am never alone as long as I follow Jesus and his teachings. "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
ReplyDeleteI'm noticing that, from the very start of Jesus' public ministry, he is acting with confidence. How many people start out their careers with that kind of confidence?
ReplyDelete