Believing Is Seeing
Opening Prayer
Lord, may the eyes of my heart be opened to see You and may I know You intimately.
Read Mark 1:14–20
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[14] After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. [15] “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” [16] As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. [17] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” [18] At once they left their nets and followed him. [19] When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. [20] Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does it mean to be ‘fishers of men’?Verse 14 records the sad end of John’s ministry and the beginning of the ministry of his slightly younger relative, Jesus. In contrast to John’s message of repentance and forgiveness of sins, Jesus proclaims to his listeners the good news that God’s reign is near, and calls them to repent and believe in that good news. John is calling them away from something in preparation for what Jesus is calling them into. Repentance means to see things and thus live in a new way; the Greek word pisteuo that we translate as believe means to adhere to, rely on, or trust in someone or something. So to truly repent and believe will inevitably lead to a radical change in the way we live, and Jesus’ first disciples (or apprentices in more contemporary words) demonstrate just that. On the basis of what they have perceived about Jesus (see John 1:35–39), they are willing to leave their livelihoods, families and businesses behind in order to travel through life with Jesus (18,20). I wonder what changes you and I need to make so that Jesus can reign more fully in us and over our concerns?
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Spend some time reviewing your life and how you spend your time, energy and income in the light of the purposes of Jesus’ reign.
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