Mark 1:16-20 “The Call to Follow”

Suggested Praise Songs:

• “Called to Praise” by “Kingdom Culture Worship   
• “I Will Follow” by Chris Tomlin
• “Peter’s Confession” by AGAPO Worship (Korean Praise Song with Eng. Sub.)
• “I the Lord of Sea and Sky” by Daniel L. Schutte

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• “This Little Light of Mine” by Northview Kids – Song for Kids
• “Deep Cries Out” by Bethel Music Kids – Song for Kids
• “Jesus Calls Peter” Bible Lesson for Kids (from Saddleback Kids)
• Question for Children – What is Calling?
  • A calling means that God has a special job or purpose for you. It’s like someone calls your name because they have something important to tell or ask you to do. But instead of just hearing with your ears, you hear God’s calling in your heart.
  
  
  • We can figure out our calling by praying, reading and studying the Bible, serving others, and asking other disciples of Jesus Christ (like parents, teachers, or pastors).
  
  
  • Answering Jesus Christ’s Call Like the First Disciples. In today’s passage, Jesus called his disciples while they were fishing. He said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” They left their boats and followed him because they trusted Jesus. They didn’t have all the answers, but they knew Jesus had something special for them to do. In the same way, Jesus calls us to follow him. We don’t have to know everything—we just need to trust him and say “yes” when he calls us to love, serve, and share his message.

Explanation:

Mark begins his account of Jesus’ public ministry with the calling of his first disciples. The stories in the Gospel of Mark are not always in strict chronological order but are chosen to highlight important moments in Jesus’ life and ministry.

Jesus was walking along the shore of the “Sea of Galilee” (verse 16). Although it is technically a lake, its large size made many consider it a sea. When Jesus saw Simon and Andrew fishing, he didn’t just happen to run into them—he was intentionally seeking them out. Jesus called out to them, saying, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of people” (verse 17). This metaphor suggests that people are like those trapped in the “waters.” In the Bible, water often symbolizes the force of death. Jesus invited Simon and Andrew to join his mission – saving people from sin and death. We are unsure whether Simon and Andrew understood fully what Jesus said, but they left their nets and followed him (verse 18).

A little further down the shore, Jesus saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus also called them, and they responded as Simon and Andrew did. “They immediately left their father and their work to follow him” (verse 20) means that James and John left everything behind.

Meditation:

The Gospel of Mark is all about Jesus—who he is and what he came to do. Mark wrote these stories so that we could understand that Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. If Jesus was just a wise teacher or a prophet, following him would be a personal choice. However, rejecting the One who came as the Savior is the path of destruction. We don’t have to take the medicine that benefits us in some ways. But taking the medicine that saves a life is not optional because if you don’t take it, you will die. Rejecting Jesus leads to a path of death.

Simon, Andrew, John, and James sensed something in Jesus that they couldn’t resist. They felt a strong call from Jesus’ look and attitude, so they immediately left everything and followed him. Their decision to follow Jesus wasn’t easy—it led to hardship, sacrifice, and even suffering. But they found joy, purpose, and fulfillment, making it all worthwhile. Through this decision, they were saved and became a channel for sharing salvation. By following Jesus Christ, they became “fishers of people.” They had to go through discipleship training, and they failed several times and got frustrated. However, they became witnesses of the Resurrection, leading many to Salvation.

In this way, the Gospel of Mark isn’t just about Jesus—it’s also about his disciples. It shows how ordinary people met Jesus, repented, grew in faith, and became part of his mission. Mark’s goal was for readers to follow the same path—repent, believe, and become disciples.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see who you really are. Help me to know you truly and believe in you. Lead me to genuine repentance and wholehearted faith. Don’t let me be content with my own salvation alone. Help me grow as your disciple so that I can lead others to you. Use my life as an instrument of your grace. Amen.