“What an apprenticeship!”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, March 8, 2022
(Mark 1:14-28 Forward, p. 38) CEV p. 1026
Jesus has just called the four fishermen, Peter and Andrew, James and John, to follow him and fish for people rather than for fish. Likely they had little idea of just what they were getting into, so what came next must have been a real surprise, a real eye-opener. They went in the synagogue in their hometown of Capernaum on the Sabbath, along with Jesus, and were rather in for a big surprise. Jesus started teaching the folks there, but then was interrupted midway by a man with an unclean (evil) spirit entering the premises. (By rights, he should not have even been there as people with this ailment were not allowed to eat with or worship with other people!)
We don’t know whether the synagogue authorities protested or not, as in all probability they didn’t get a chance to do that. The man immediately confronted Jesus and accosted Him verbally, demanding to know whether He had come to destroy him and his colleagues. Jesus responded by immediately commanding the spirit to be quiet and come out of the man, and the spirit did so.
Well, what an introduction to Jesus’ ministry, what an apprenticeship, you might say. But that was just the start. These four men, the rest of the Twelve, plus numerous others, would accompany Jesus for some three years, hearing Him speak and observing Him in action. And, eventually, they would try out their wings and practice some ministry on their own.
Actually, that is the model for ministry training. Jesus did that with His disciples, the apostle Paul appears to have done the same with his co-workers, and even Jesus Himself said that He simply imitated and followed what He saw His Father doing (see John 5:19-20). We learn by observing, by listening, and then by doing. But do we? Far too often, clergy act like ‘lone rangers’ and even those who are being raised up, are learning ‘the craft’ of ministry are on their own to struggle through this. We need to learn afresh the mentoring, the discipling, that Jesus and Paul practiced and that served them so well. Amen.
Forward notes: “And immediately they left their nets and followed him” (verse 18).
“Whenever I apply for a job, I research the employer, talk to people, polish my resume, and practice my interview skills. If I get an interview, I wait for the selection committee to call me with its decision. Feelings of confidence usually intermingle with doubt. Am I good enough? Maybe. Yes, I can do the job. Possibly.
“I notice in Mark’s passage that Jesus does not interview those he calls. Simon and Andrew are busy at their jobs when Jesus calls out to them to join him. James and John are also busy and likely not looking for other work. These fishermen weren’t looking for work—and didn’t have the opportunity to give two weeks’ notice. Jesus calls them to follow him “immediately.”
“Jesus came to Galilee with his compelling message of love. Maybe the four fishermen had heard this message and hoped they could be a part of his ministry but wondered if they were qualified. Jesus doesn’t ask about their qualifications. He doesn’t share their doubts. He knows he will equip them for the journey. They only need to say yes.”
Moving Forward: “Are you ready to say yes to the job of following Jesus?