Mark 1:14-20
The Calling of the First Disciples
14After 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 is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
16As 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 make you fishers of men." 18At once they left their nets and followed him.
19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
After Jesus was tempted in the desert, St. Mark tells us John the Baptist goes to prison...
Jesus goes to Galilee claiming the good news of God...Jesus tells us the time has come, the kingdom of God is near...We must repent and believe the good news of God...By repenting we tell our Creator we are sinners, who have offended Him...Jesus saves us from sin...Jesus knows we have sinned, but by sincerely repenting and believing God forgives us, we will learn and grow with Him...
Jesus meets four fisherman...The first two are the brothers, Andrew and Simon, also called Peter...He asks them to follow Him...He tells them He will make them fishers of men...Then He meets two more fisherman and brothers, John and James...
Jesus calls these men two be the first four of the Twelve Disciples...In their calling, they drop everything and follow Him... At first they probably don't know much about Jesus, other than hearing about Him...Andrew heard about Him through John the Baptist (John 1:40)...They would learn and grow, as He taught them...
The disciples would follow Jesus for three years...The Twelve would be eyewitnesses to many miracles...Their faith would be tested during this period...Even on the last night before He went to the cross, their faith would weaken...Judas would betray Him...St. Peter would deny Him and St. Thomas would doubt Him...
Take heart, He is resurrected...The disciples would carry on His message which lasts to this day...This message, the disciples carried, was from God...No man has been able to stop this good news that Jesus brought...Those who tried have been fighting with God (Acts 5:39)...