Jesus’ Invitation to Follow – Br. Curtis Almquist
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Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Mark 1:14-20
The news is not necessarily good. If you follow a newspaper or some online news source, or if you take in the news by TV or radio, you will not presume that the news you learn will be good news. NPR reported not long ago on a study which researched the relationship between being well informed with the news, and being happy. Are people who spend more time and energy getting more news more happy in life? No. It’s largely the opposite, an inverted relationship: the people with more news are more unhappy. Well, I’m not about to suggest we become News Luddites; but I am saying that good news is remarkable, because there’s so much bad news, and that is as true today as it was in Jesus’ own day. Which is why the news that people heard on Jesus’ lips was compelling: because it was so good. He called it that – good news – and people voted with their feet. If Jesus had been a political candidate, we could call it an enormous swelling of grassroots’ support. They followed him in hordes.
The Gospel lesson appointed for today gives us a picture of the response to Jesus’ good news by two pairs of brothers, Simon and Andrew, and James and John. These are career fishermen. We know little else. Were they happy? Were they successful in their trade? Were they in debt? Were they similar in temperament? Were they honorable? Were they healthy? Did they have good family and social relationships? Were they active and in good standing in their religious practice? We have no idea. What we do know is that something happened in their encounter with Jesus. It’s like their souls had been primed for something more, or for something different, or for something new, and what they uniformly heard from Jesus was such compellingly good news that they dropped everything. Literally. The adverb used to describe their response to Jesus’ invitation is “immediately.” All four of them. “Immediately they left their nets and followed Jesus.” And it’s not as if Jesus told them where they were going. Jesus simply invited them to follow him, and, on the spot they did, with all their heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.
On the surface, these responses to Jesus are counter-intuitive. Where’s the good news in Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptist, having just been arrested? John the Baptist was Jesus’ “front man,” so this clearly does not bode well for other people associated with Jesus. In short order, John is beheaded by the authorities, which hardly good news for anyone. The other curiosity, why people would find Jesus’ news so good and so immediately compelling, was his repeated use of the word, “repent.” The verb “repent” has a little sting. It’s a word of compassionate judgment. To repent is about changing your mind. Whatever you’re thinking, you’ve got it wrong. You need to repent, to change your mind and believe something new, namely, some good news.1 Rather than believing the bad news, believe the good news on Jesus’ lips.
So here’s three good news clips:
1) What’s so compellingly good is not about being exposed or found out by Jesus, but simply being found by Jesus. Called by Jesus. Included by Jesus. Loved by Jesus. No qualifiers are front-loaded in the relationship. These four fishermen are not hearing Jesus say when they get their act cleaned up, when they get their boats in order, when they get their spiritual disciplines well honed, when they change their disgusting fish-stinking clothes, he will have time for them. That would be mixed news. No, Jesus’ compelling invitation is to them in real time, as we would say. And it’s true for you, too. There’s no kind of pre-existing condition that you must satisfy before Jesus will call you, include you, love you, make plans with you. Jesus comes to us, like to these simple fishermen, and what Jesus finds in us he adores. We need not change to be loved by Jesus; but by being loved by Jesus we will change. Jesus’ love certainly changed Peter and Andrew, James and John, and it is true also for you. Love makes us real. Love, only love, heals. And what we see and hear in Jesus is God’s love… for you: love without qualification. And that’s really good news for you and for us all.
2) Secondly, the verb “repent” gets bad press quite unfairly. “Repent” does have a little sting of judgment. If someone has ever told you to your face, “you’ve got it wrong,” you will understand the sting. You could rile to that judgment. Except what Jesus is saying to these fishermen, and to us, is that you’ve unwittingly embraced bad news, and the bad news is about you, and it’s not true. Give it up. Change your mind. I’ll use here a phrase from the psalms: you are “the apple of God’s eye,” and God adores you.”2 Jesus’ use of the verb “repent” implies a judgment on us all, but it’s a judgment of love. Take that in; wrap your brain around that; change your mind. All that bad stuff you learned to think about yourself, your unworthiness, your hopelessness, your brokenness; how pathetic, inadequate, lost, and damned you are… all that bad news is absolutely not true about you. Jesus is this eternal change agent come among us to convince you to change your mind, to convince you that you are lovable and loved for all eternity. Jesus has come to personally deliver that good news. In Jesus’ day this amazingly good news perked people’s ears, and changed their minds, and broke open their hearts, and they followed him in droves.
3) Lastly, this is good news because it’s news. That Jesus loves you may be old news stored somewhere in the archives of your soul. If pushed, you might say Jesus used to love you, when you were more innocent and less complicated, or that Jesus’ love for you is theoretically true for the most part, or that it’s true with a qualification; however that qualification – something you know about yourself – keeps you from completely embracing the truth of Jesus’ love for you today. Well, this is news. This is not olds. This is news for you, today, now. Jesus loves you. If you didn’t wake up today with that awareness, I’ve got news for you. Actually, Jesus has news for you, good news. God loves you. Has big plans for you that span all eternity. In the meantime, where will this good news lead you? Where will Jesus lead you? I wouldn’t know. His invitation to all of us is simply to follow. Your life will unfold day-at-a-time. That’s pretty much all we can deal with. Just take Jesus at his word: he loves you, and he is with you always.3 And between the two of you – Jesus operating and you co-operating – your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength will be infused by Jesus’ light and life and love.4 The truth of that good news will absolutely change your life for the better; much better. It will give you hope for the future, what you cannot yet see;5 and it will make a world of difference.
1 To repent – metάnoia – from the preposition μετά (after, with) and the verb νοέω (to perceive, to think; metάnoia means “a change of mind.” To believe – pisteuō – is to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to place confidence or trust, i.e., confidence in Jesus’ good news for you.
5 St. Paul writes, “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:24-25.
“Come unto Me all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest…” He takes us as we are, weighted down with our sins and guilt, and changes us. We just have to come. This sermon is so true. Jesus is our God of Love. “God is love.” REW
Seems Curtis you know what I need to hear when I need it! Today rabah!
Brother Curtis,
Thanks for this wonderful takeaway today. I wake up.and read these devotionals and comments and they add spiritual light and the love of Jesus to my everyday challenges. I can’t thank you enough!
JustJesus at his word: he loves you, and he is with you always.3 And between the two of you – Jesus operating and you co-operating – your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength will be infused by “Jesus’ light and life and love.4 The truth of that good news will absolutely change your life for the better; much better.
1 John 2:15-17 King James Version (KJV)
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
I agree with the brother’s statement that Christ’s New Hope for a mended world in the time of his life is a grass roots beginning. Christ subdued the pain of sin that was so ingrained in the people of that era.
The above noted verses 15-17 from John supports the brother’s words and reminds us to shy away from the desires of the world. John’s verse reminds us even today that the love of this world is not for man. Man is not strong enough to control the, ‘bad news’ or, ‘good news’ and will only fall victim to it’s passion.
This following verse further supports the words of the brother who explains the Love of Christ in his essay in easy to understand ways. John in verse 3:16 writes;
‘God who so loves the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’
These words remind us that God alone controls compassion, and that He alone can subdue the wrongs that are in His creation with Love.
You can conclude that the earth is not for man. God only offers heaven to mankind. Humanity can only control Faith that is delivered as Love of Christ. We as people can Love God, but only with the aid of the Spirit of God. God has provided many books, two worlds, and His Spirit to humanity, to aid us.
The brother’s concern that some of John’s words are as relevant today as they were in the days of Jesus, is not true-yet. As my child is alive and home with me tonight. I will pray to the Merciful Christ, begging that there will never be such passion for the world as there was during the time of Christ, and that God will never see a need for another John to live.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
We are trained from birth to mistrust everyone and everything. This causes egocentric behavior. Perhaps if we begin to trust others, we can learn to trust God. Another way to look at this is if we learn to trust God, we will learn to trust everyone. Truly, a two-way street.
Unfortunately, Russel, we don’t live in a world that that is realistic. About three weeks ago, I was scammed. Believe me, thousands of people are scammed every day and the sum total is enormous. It is easy for listeners to say, ‘I would never be taken in, ‘ but the records show that so many vulnerable people are violated. Fortunately for me, I came out of the mess reasonably well – The most difficult part was having all my bank accounts closed down and new ones put in place. That entailed everything that we do to pay our bills are compromised and have to be reinstated. I think now – nearly a month later that I have caught up with all of them. I am 84 years old – I don’t see dark shadows surround the people around me, but one has to be conscious that not everyone is what you would wish them to be. Christina
This is the message of the gospel. I am so glad he included me when he loved the world and gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes on him may not perish but have everlasting life. He loves us all— rich, poor, male, female, all cultures, all political parties, children, adults, those who are well and those who are ill–ALL of us!! He is my light and my salvation! Such good news indeed!!
This reminds me and recenters me on the fact the only thing I’m required to do is love Christ it is he who changes me. That is an awesome concept and a way to forgive myself for my short comings truly good news.
Absolutely, wonderfully true. Thank you! Well said for so many* to be able to hear!! *All, I wish!
I heard it preached:
“Jesus did not say “worship me”, Jesus said “follow me” “.
Which is both harder and more important as it is about what we do in the world.
I think this is a really important distinction. I also think you are right: Following Jesus IS harder and more important. If we are true followers of Jesus, we can make a valuable difference in the world. My reading of the Gospels and Jesus’ words leads me to the understanding that his repeated message is, “Follow me! Do as I do! Go make a difference in the world!”
This message speaks to me how we are loved by the perfect parental love. I love that we are asked to call him Father. He loves us in all our states of incapacitation. The repentance (freedom) ) Jesus offers unburdens us to become more, love more, believe more and give more than we ever thought we could. This became my repentance – the turning to joy, the desire to do good and be good, the longing to live in the presence of God. Alas, I am human and easily thwarted…good thing His love and grace is deeper and wider than my comprehension.
Thank you for reminding me.
Your messages are clear and concise. Thank you for leading us to Jesus.
It has taken me a long time to accept the fact that God loves me in my imperfection. And now I am having to learn to love me in my imperfection.
Dear Brother Curtis,
Thank you for the revelation of the Holy Spirit through you. “Deep calls unto deep” and my spirit is restored with hope after reading your words anew this morning.
God bless you and refresh you this day as He has me by way of your clarity of message about the Good News in Christ.
With grateful heart for you,
Lucy
Thank you, Brother Curtis
I felt my soul leap for joy with a resounding, “YES”! Thank you!
Dear Brother Curtis Almquist, you have provided us over the past days and years very clear messages that have provided us to be reinstated in our relationship and understanding of God’s suggestions. Thank you sooooo
much and a wonderful day to you! Rick Wheeler
Thanks for the reading, (and the interpretation) Very encouraging.
Thank you. To know that I am the apple of Gods eye and love is a wonderful means to repent. The crazies can carry their signs proclaiming: Repent the end is near! And I will agree how the end of fear and anxiety indeed is near. One thing I am less sure of is if our fishermen friends really needed to change their disgusting fish-stinking clothes. One verse speaks of them being naked as they were working. Could their nakedness have helped them be better fishermen, better feeling the forces of the waters below them? Could their naked vulnerability against the wind and sun have enabled them to really get it when Jesus addressed them? In what figurative ways can I throw off my disgusting fish-stinking clothes or not put up my guard and image to start with?
This sermon is wonderful and a real eye-opener. And your thoughts, Anders, about naked vulnerability and the “clothes” we wear that can hinder or set us free give me much to ponder in my own life and spiritual awareness. Thank you!
Thanks, I needed that!
Thanks, Brother Curtis. Your words often help me, and today as well. I’ve been contemplating lately the words of the hymn, “Just as I am without one plea.” It hit home again today, because if He knew me…..but He does! and so I can go forth in his path, “just as I am”. Thank you, and bless you brothers every day.
Who’s to navigate and who’s to steer? I find I constantly attempt to take God’s role in my life and inevitable wind up crushing. To think God loves me as I am, warts and all is difficult to accept. Thanks for the ncouragement
thanks for your message curtis. it makes you stop and think you can do things with the help our Lord. I am really grateful for all the help i have had with john. One thing i am thankful for that john hasn’t complained about the different moves. jane
I’m struck by your words that “We need not change to be loved by Jesus; but by being loved by Jesus we will change.” Perhaps this is the key behind the verb “repent,” calling us to love others so that they can change. That`s not a love so people WILL change or, worse yet, a love for AFTER they change. Jesus’ idae of change stands in direct contrast to the exclusivism Christianity often purports—the set apart/city on a hill/good Christian spiel which serve neither Christians nor others well. Repent! The beginning is near.
This was a perfect message for me today. It is still sometimes hard to accept that Jesus loves me just as much when I’ve let myself become a spiritual couch potato for awhile, or let negative attitudes crowd out the positive. “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” (Lam. 3:21-23). Good news indeed.
Thanks Brother Curtis for this. My brokeness is an opening for The Light to shine through. May I become what I receive.
Thank you so much, Curtis!