2. Mark 1:14-20 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying,

3. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

4. As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

5. And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

6. Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

7. Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

8. How presumptuous and arrogant that Jesus would walk up to people who are gainfully employed, positively contributing to society, people who are faithfully participating in their family…

9. …and tell them to leave it all and blindly follow Him
…and tell them to leave it all and blindly follow Him. Unless they were being called to something greater… …something more significant …something eternal.

10. The Time is Fulfilled In the immediate – John’s ministry
In the big picture – God’s sovereignty

11. The Time is Fulfilled
"The figure is that of a vessel into which the days are poured until the vessel is full to the top." (Lenski, pg. 64)

12. The Time is Fulfilled
God’s work in history is never an afterthought. History is the unfolding of the plan of God in accomplishing His eternal purposes.

13. The Kingdom of God is at Hand
Kingdoms have kings
Kings and kingdoms have always been significant
Signifies the fulfillment of what God has promised

14. The Kingdom of God is at Hand
The King is announced
The King comes
The King gathers, instructs, and trains His followers
The King confronts the enemy

15. Repent and Believe
Repent – to change one’s mind and thereby change one’s direction
Believe – not mere mental assent but inseparably united with trust

16. Repent and Believe “Follow Me” – the essence of R&B
They acknowledged but hadn’t devoted themselves
They acknowledged but hadn’t changed direction

17. Repent and Believe Simon and Andrew submitted their careers
James and John submitted their…
Family
Social status
Financial status

18. Repent and Believe
To repent and believe in Jesus is to re-orient the entirety of one’s life around the person, priorities, and purpose of Jesus.

19. Don’t miss the MARK
The person and work of Jesus is the entire point of history.
Following Jesus is not an addition to an already busy life but the re-orienting of my life around Him as King.