Who is Jesus? By what name will you call Him? What does it mean to now this Jesus Christ?
(A) Authority to Call (Mark 1:16-20)
Mark writes in an action-packed manner. In the opening verses in Mark 1, many things were recorded for us. Just like that, Jesus entered the scene and proclaimed the message of the kingdom – “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:15)”
Why does Mark pause and focus on the next event – the calling of the disciples (Mark 1:16)? Jesus goes out and calls Simon and Andrew (Mark 1:16). It is a simple, directed call and Jesus was not campaigning or persuading. Jesus approaches the average person – not nobility or the leaders – to join the kingdom. The first people He calls are fishermen. There is a subversion of expectations right from the start. Like what Psalm 72 shows us, the people of God have been waiting for a ruler that God promised.
The kingdom of God is not so much about where you are or what your circumstances are like, but whose you are. Belonging in this kingdom is about whose you are. Mark’s gospel calls us to centre on this King. Christianity is centred on this King, Jesus.
Is this how you think of yourself? How do you estimate your belonging in this kingdom?
Mark records for us how the fishermen respond immediately (Mark 1:18). They were likely followers of John and they would have heard Jesus’ teachings before. Thus, when He issued this call, they followed Him.
The word “follow” may take on a different meaning and sense for us today. We can choose to “follow” people at the click of a button and “unfollow” if it makes us uncomfortable. It is helpful for us to look at the text and see what following Jesus meant for the first disciples. Notice how they left their nets and livelihood (Mark 1:18).
Even the best of our relationships, and the best thing in this life will not satisfy and guarantee that they will be worth our sacrifices. The only way that we will find that our lives make sense is if we find our lives folded into the eternal God and His eternal plans. We cannot fold ourselves into them. As Jeremiah 16:14-16 recorded for us, God had promised that even though His people had failed, He would one day bring them back. Jesus comes as this Promised One and issues this call to us to follow Him for all who are called according to His purposes, He will work out all things for our God. And to follow Him means to take up our cross and deny ourselves. We die to comfort and pleasure. And in dying, we find that we live in Christ. This is what Jesus says later on in Mark 8:34-37. Do you know what it means to follow Jesus in such a way today? Look at your hopes, dreams and fears today, and say, “To these things, I die”.
Have you resolved in your heart to follow this Jesus?
(B) Authority to Teach (Mark 1:21-22)
Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 1:21) doing what every good Jew would do! There, Jesus taught with authority (Mark 1:22). He did not teach as the scribes did. Jesus does not speak as an interpreter of Scripture. He teaches with authority because He is its author. Authority, rightly exercised, will have an impact on its listeners.
In subsequent chapters, Jesus also warns about being ashamed of Him and His words (c.f. Mark 8:38). Jesus also speaks to our hearts. Are we ashamed of this Jesus Christ and His teachings? Have we familiarised ourselves with His teachings? How do we feel about it in different circumstances? Shame condemns us but it also means that the path to life is if we glory and delight in His words. As Psalm 119 states, we keep our way pure by keeping and guarding His word. Similarly in Psalm 19, God’s words are more precious than gold. Do we really recognise it as good and true? It also changes the way we use our earthly possessions.
How do we relate to this authoritative teaching today?
(C) Authority to Obey (Mark 1:23-28)
Next, a man with an unclean spirit recognises who Jesus is (Mark 1:23). The spirits see and know who Jesus is and they call out to Him (Mark 1:24). He also says “I know who you are – the Holy One of God”. Jesus drives out the Spirit and shows Himself victorious and powerful (Mark 1:25).
These things happen again and again, and Jesus’ popularity grows. Yet, Jesus is not interested in this, and is focused on preaching (Mark 1:37). We might think that He should have capitalised on this popularity to reach more, but Jesus knew what He came to do.
There are also a few ironies in the text. The first to recognise Him was a demon-possessed man. As the gospel unfolds, we will also see that His disciples do not fully understand and recognise who He is. We also see how the unclean spirit obeyed Him immediately, Yet, the crows were stuck in their unbelief. And through these, we see the wisdom of Jesus. It is not miracles but the message – the good news of Jesus Christ – that saves. This message has to go forth, and when we believe and know it to be true, it saves us.
When might we be ashamed of Jesus and His words? We may be tempted to be ashamed of grace. This grace means that we bring nothing that can save us when we stand before this holy God. Nothing we do merits us entry into this Kingdom. Only the work of Jesus saves.
The title that the demon calls Jesus by – “the Holy One of God” only appears in this instance in Mark. It means that Jesus is the promised deliverer, holy and God’s king that will usher in the Kingdom. Though the demon claimed that he knows who Jesus is, the extent of Jesus’ work is unfathomable.
Do you think the demon-possessed man imagined this in Mark 15:33-38? What did the Holy One of God come to do? He came to live the life we should have lived, and died the life we should have died on that cross. He endured sin and shame for us on that cross and made a way for us back to God. We will not enter the Kingdom on our own, unless an atoning sacrifice is made on our behalf.
Resolve to know this Jesus, His words and turn from sins and believe in His words. Resolve to know the power of this Jesus.
How might this text shape the way you “follow” Jesus? How do you relate to Jesus and His Word today? What would it look like to “obey” Jesus today?