Sermon: Jonah 3, 1-5,10 Mark 1:14-20

Jan. 25, 2009

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Preached by Reverend Hattie Jackson on January 25, 2009

Mark 1:14-20
Jonah 3:1-5, 10

We are called to follow Jesus

Timothy Merrill wrote that a kindergarten teacher asked each of her students to bring an object to share with the class about their religion. The first student stood and said, “My name is Benjamin and I am Jewish. This is a Star of David.” Another student shared that her name was Mary and she was Catholic. She said, “This is a rosary.” A third student said, “MY name is Tommy and I am a Methodist. This is my casserole.” The author surely intended this to be funny, however, we know that, we, Methodist may bring a casserole, but we also bring the Word of God.

Our Message, this morning is about taking the Word of God to the people of God. Today’s Scripture allows us to witness the beginning of Jesus’ ministry here on earth. Jesus called ordinary people, like you and me, and commissioned followers to tell others about the love, mercy, and grace of God. I will talk about 3 things that are unique to our “calling.” First among these are our qualifications. We must be willing to listen to the voice of the Lord—take up our cross and follow Jesus. In our Scripture today, we see that Jesus did not go to the Chief priests, elders, Scribes or Pharisees. Jesus called the ordinary workers who were struggling with life! The fishermen Jesus called had calloused or corns on their hands caused by the ropes and maintenance of the nets and boats. The Tax collectors Jesus called had known rejection, scorn, and hate of those they served. Many persons do not like the IRS today and are reluctant to pay taxes. Bob and I pay our taxes and I am sure you do as well, but it is not something that we like. Jesus said to the fishermen, tax collectors, and others he called, “Follow Me”.

Simon and Andrew were the first persons Jesus called, however, seven of the 12 apostles Jesus called were fishermen. Their faces were tanned by the sun and their skin made tough by the harsh winds. Galilee was a fishing community! The men were proud of doing a good days’ work. Some of the fish was sold—some eaten right away—and some dried and kept to be eaten during the Winter months. In response to Jesus’ call, these men walked away from their day job! Simon and Andrew immediately followed!

Jesus did not offer them a “retirement plan or paid vacations. Jesus did not even tell them where their job would be located—their job would be wherever they were sent! Jesus proceeded to call James (the son of Zebedee) and his brother John. They, too, left everything and followed Jesus! The Lord wants us to make him first in our lives as well! That is the essence of our qualifications. We do not have to be a graduate of a seminary nor is reading a lot of scholarly books a prerequisite—having a heart to follow Jesus is the main requirement.

The most important and authentic message we can give to others, I believe, is to tell them how Jesus has helped us—changed our lives—and what the Bible promises that God will do! Fear is not the best bait—to use in fishing for men and women. The “bait” God wants us to use is love! God does not want us to manipulate people by saying, “If you do not do this or that, you are going to hell.” They might be and we might be, but God does not want us to say that. God wants us to share his love. Jesus said, “I came not to condemn the world, but to save it.” Our business is that of saving lives. Some of you may remember David Koresh and Jim Jones who followers had a tragic ending because the divine will and Word of God was misrepresented.

God calls men and women who have known the hardship and joys of life to help others by showing them the way. God has helped me and I am sure God has helped you as well. Personal knowledge is the best measure of the impact of God in our lives. The persons we are called to influence may view a “born-again” person, with a sinful past, as having more credibility than a clergyperson. Former street hustlers who know they have been saved by God’s grace have a story to tell and may be more influential than a professor who never leaves the classroom to venture out into the life of the community. Jesus spent only three years teaching and training his disciples how to be in ministry to others. However, once we commit/surrender to the Lord, He gives us the Holy Spirit who guides and teaches us for the rest of our lives.

Jonah was asked to go and share the word of God to the people in Nineveh. Jonah did not want to go because he thought they were all sinners who were not worth saving. I don’t know about you, but back in the day before I knew the Lord, I thought some people were not worth saving. This included mass murderers, child abusers, and those persons who do terrible things. I would rather “write them off—and kick them to the curb!” Today, I know that every life is precious and worth saving. Jonah went to Nineveh and the people repented and were saved.

The bait is the second most important component of God’s plan. It is the ability to meet people where they are! The apostle Paul tells us when he was with a Jew—he became like a Jew. When he was with the weak he became weak! When he was with someone under the law—he became as someone under the law, and when he was with those not under the law, he became like one of them. Paul said, “I became ALL things to all people so that I might win souls for the Lord!” When we are with young persons, we might consider talking about music, entertainment, dating, clothing, driving, politics, etc. Older persons may be more interested in investments, the economy, finances, fitness/health issues, and politics. Senior citizens may have an interest in finding joy while aging, health, medicine, living alone vs assisted living. No matter where we start our conversation, let us end it by sharing something about Jesus Christ and the promises of God.

THIRD: Leave the past behind. The nets that were useful in catching fish in the sea would have been a hindrance if the disciples had carried them as they followed Jesus! We have all done some things we are not proud of which are a part of our former life. The psalmist David wrote, “If God should count iniquity, none of us could stand.” David was saying, “If God opened the door to our closets, skeletons would surely fall out!” God knows that we have not lived perfect lives. Yet Jesus says, “I can use you!” You see, in the fishing business, we are used to cleaning the fish we get—or perhaps Giant, Safeway or others clean our fish for us. However, when we catch men and women casted by nets of God’s love, God cleans them with the BLOOD of Jesus Christ!

Finally, to encourage us to follow the great commission of Jesus Christ, I leave you with the words of H. Ernst Nichols who wrote: “We’ve a story to tell to the nations, that shall turn their hearts to the right, a story of truth and mercy, a story of peace and light….We’ve a song to be sung to the nations. That shall lift their hearts to the Lord, a song that shall conquer evil and shatter the spear and sword….We’ve a message to give to the nations, that the Lord who reigneth above hath sent us his Son to save us, and show us that God is love….We’ve a Savior to show to the nations, who the path of sorrow hath trod, that all of the world’s great peoples might come to the truth of God. For the darkness shall turn to dawning, and the dawning to noon-day bright; and Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, the kingdom of love and light.”

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