Straightway: The Urgent Beginning of the Gospel in Mark 1

I cannot start a new project until I clear the workbench. The old clamps and scraps and half-finished pieces have to go. If I try to build something new on a cluttered bench, I will lose tools in the mess and cut the wrong board. The clearing is part of the work.

Mark 1 is about clearing the way. John the Baptist appears in the wilderness preaching repentance. People come from everywhere to be baptized and confess their sins. The way is being prepared. Then Jesus arrives and the urgency accelerates. The word straightway drives the narrative from start to finish.

Meaning of Jesus Calling Fishers of Men Mark 1

John preaches a baptism of repentance. He wears camel's hair and eats locusts and wild honey. He tells the people that one mightier than he is coming. Jesus comes from Nazareth and is baptized by John in the Jordan. The heavens open and the Spirit descends like a dove. A voice from heaven says, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The Spirit immediately drives Jesus into the wilderness. He is tempted by Satan for forty days. He is with the wild beasts and angels minister to him. The testing comes right after the blessing. That pattern repeats in my own life. A high point followed by a trial.

After John is put in prison Jesus comes into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. He walks by the Sea of Galilee and sees Simon and Andrew casting a net. He says, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. Straightway they forsake their nets and follow him.

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Mark 1:16-17

A little farther he sees James and John mending their nets. He calls them and they leave their father in the ship and go after him. The nets were their livelihood. The ship was their father's. They left both straightway.

Why Did Jesus Touch the Leper in Mark 1

In Capernaum Jesus teaches in the synagogue. The people are astonished because he teaches with authority, not like the scribes. A man with an unclean spirit cries out and Jesus rebukes the spirit and casts it out. The news spreads.

He goes to Simon's house and heals his wife's mother. He takes her by the hand and lifts her up. At evening the whole city gathers at the door. Jesus heals many who are sick and casts out many devils.

The next morning while it is still dark Jesus rises and goes to a solitary place to pray. Simon and the others search for him and say everyone is looking for you. But Jesus says they must go to the next towns to preach there also.

This is the pattern. Healing and teaching and prayer. The solitary place before the crowded door. The power comes from the time alone with the Father.

This connects to Through the Roof: Healing, Calling, and the New Wine in Mark 2, where the same compassion drives men to tear apart a roof to reach Jesus.

Significance of Jesus Praying Before Daybreak

A leper comes to Jesus and kneels and says if thou wilt thou canst make me clean. Jesus is moved with compassion. He puts forth his hand and touches him. I will, he says. Be thou clean.

In that time lepers were untouchable. The law required them to keep their distance. Jesus does not keep his distance. He touches the man. The touch restores more than the skin. It restores the man's place in the community.

Jesus tells him to show himself to the priest as a testimony. But the man spreads the news so widely that Jesus can no longer enter a city openly. He stays in desert places and people come to him from everywhere.

The chapter that begins with John preparing the way ends with Jesus unable to enter a city because of the crowds. The ministry has begun.

How to Follow Jesus Like the First Disciples Mark 1

Mark 1 covers more ground than any other gospel chapter. Baptism, temptation, calling, teaching, healing, prayer. It is a compressed introduction to who Jesus is and what he does. The word straightway drives everything forward. There is no time to waste.

I think about what it means to follow straightway. Not after I finish what I am doing. Not when it becomes convenient. Now. The nets are left on the shore.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Jesus need to be baptized if he had no sins to repent for?

Jesus's baptism was not for remission of his own sins. It was to identify himself with humanity, to fulfill all righteousness, and to formally announce the beginning of his public ministry.

What is the significance of the dove descending upon Jesus?

The dove represents the Holy Ghost. Its descent signifies the empowering of Jesus with the Spirit for his mission on earth.

Why did Jesus tell the healed leper not to tell anyone?

Jesus sought to avoid premature fame that would distract from his message of repentance. He wanted the healing verified by the priest according to the law, creating a legal testimony rather than a rumor.

How can we apply the fishers of men concept today?

Being a fisher of men means seeking others with the same compassion Jesus used. It is about inviting people into a relationship with the Savior, not pressuring them but helping them find their way.

Closing

Clear the workbench. The old project has to be finished before the new one can begin. That is what John the Baptist did. He cleared the way so Jesus could work.

Mark 1 does not leave room for delay. Neither does the kingdom.

— D.