The Call of Christ

Day 13

Chicago

It’s going on 1:00 A.M. Because of storms across the Midwest I got into Chicago four hours late. The building dedication I was speaking at began at 7:00 and I didn’t get the church until 8:30. I went directly from O’Hare to the church, threw on my suit in a conference room and went straight to the platform. The people were understanding and hungry for the word. The Lord blessed it. After the meeting the pastor took me out to dinner and we talked about the spiritual condition of Europe and the need for effective spiritual warfare. The pastor is from Ireland (and his name is Patrick!) I got into my hotel room a little before midnight, but I wanted begin my journey through the Gospel of Mark before I go to bed. Here are a few late night rambling thoughts

Last week we were with Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. This week we’re going to be with Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. Everything in Mark happens fast, there is a sense of urgency in this Gospel. Mark is in a hurry to get the news out. In the first three chapters, Mark uses the word “immediately” twelve times. I like Mark. I’m like Mark. I like for things to happen fast, preferably immediately.

Mark’s Gospel was the first Gospel written (somewhere between ten to twenty years after the resurrection). Mark was an assistant and traveling companion to the Apostle Peter. Peter is Mark’s primary source for his Gospel. In some ways you can think of the Gospel of Mark as Peter’s memoirs of his three years with Jesus. I can imagine Mark with quill in hand intently listening to Peter as he reminisces about his adventures with Jesus.

Mark says nothing about the birth of Jesus (possibly because this was not something Peter would reminisce about). Mark begins with a hasty account of the ministry of John the Baptist, the baptism of Jesus and the wilderness temptation. All of this is covered in just thirteen verses. Mark’s first detailed account comes when Jesus begins preaching in Galilee.

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fisherman. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

Of course this is where Peter’s reminiscing of his life with Jesus would begin. With the Call. Did Peter make some comment to Mark? Did Peter say, “Mark, the greatest thing that ever happened to me was when Jesus saw me and said, ‘Follow Me.'”? Did Peter say, “Mark, the best decision I ever made in my life was also the craziest thing I ever did — I left my nets and followed Him.”? Did Peter say something like that to Mark? I wonder.

I know for sure the greatest thing of all is the Call.

I’m still astounded that thirty years ago Jesus called a long-haired teenager nicknamed Fry to follow Him. When I made the crazy decision to really go for it and follow Jesus, it was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Thank you, Jesus. I want to say it again, I want to say it anew…I will follow You.

Goodnight, my friends.