최중현 교수(롬한인장로교회) 영어설교(마가복음 강해 #2)- I Will Make You Fishers of Men(Mark 1:12-20)

(Mark 1:12-20)

1. Today’s text, Mark 1:12-20, is from before the Lord began his public ministry, begins with the words where he was being tempted by Satan.

(1) Why did the Lord have to be tempted by Satan? That’s because he had to pass the test for our sins. So, in verse 12, it says that the Holy Spirit drove the Lord into the wilderness. That’s right. According to Romans 5:12-14, [the Lord will come as the second Adam] and must undergo the test that the first Adam failed and pass the gate of testing for original sin. So, if we look at the types of tests, in Matthew 4, he was tested on bread that is good to eat, a test on lowly things that are pleasing to the eye, and a test on children of God who are desirable.

(2) However, what we must remember here is that Mark, the author, emphasized the guidance of the Holy Spirit. However, the experience of the Holy Spirit was crucial for him to become an evangelist, writes the Gospel, and even become a martyr. So, if you look at verses 8, 10, and 13 of the text, you can see that he emphasized the Holy Spirit and especially used the word ‘ekbalo,’ which means driving it out. That’s right. Only by being guided by the Holy Spirit can we remain victorious and never waver even when wild beasts rage in this wilderness-like world.

(3) So today, as we think about the Lord’s public life and ministry, we would like to receive grace together about the gospel that author Mark means.

2. If you look closely at today’s text, there are words that the author emphasized.

(1) That is the word gospel. As I said at the beginning of verse 1, the author Mark was someone who risked his life for the gospel. So, if you look at the text, he often uses the word [gospel]. So what is the gospel that the author Mark emphasized? It is the kingdom of God of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, looking at verse 14, the author Mark makes it clear that the era of the law has ended and a new gospel era has arrived in the words [after John was arrested]. Regarding John the Baptist, in Matthew 11:13 it is said that he [all the law and prophets prophesied until John]. So, John’s death is the end of the Age of Law and the beginning of the Age of Gospel. So, in verse 15, the author emphasized the time of God’s providence called [Kairos]. That’s right. The death of John the Baptist marked the breaking of the 400-year interim period following Malachi and the advent of a new era of the gospel. So, in line with the age of the Gospel, the Lord’s first message was [repentance]. That’s right. In verse 15, repentance called [metanoia] is a place that must be filled with faith for the kingdom of God.

(2) So, verse 16 says that the Lord came from Galilee for the gospel. Then why did he come to Galilee? At that time, the area called Galilee was synonymous with a lowly and despised place. So, in Matthew 4:14, the Galilee region was called [the land of the Gentiles], and ordinary Jews looked down on the Galilee region. So, when the Messiah appeared in Galilee, they asked, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” So why did Mark emphasize Galilee so much in verses 9, 14, and 16? This is because the purpose of the Lord’s coming is here. That’s right. Galilee was a lowly region where sin was rampant, and he wanted to make God’s love known by giving hope to Galilee.

(3) That is why the Lord called fishermen from here to be workers. God gave the blessing of becoming disciples of the Lord to fishermen who had failed and were looked down on. Now let’s look at verse 16. It is said that a characteristic of the Galilee region at the time was that it was impossible to catch fish when the sun came out. So they fished all night, but they couldn’t catch anything. So, how disappointed were they? But this was the hope the Lord gave them at that time. What is that? It was his will to make them become fishers of men. That’s right. The Lord’s work takes place not through the human ability, but through what the Lord gives. So God’s way is to make things happen right, so the fishermen made a decision based on these words. Let’s look at verses 18 and 20 of the text. That’s right. The content of today’s text is that they decided to abandon everything, even their nets and boats, and follow the Lord.

3. Then, what is the lesson we should imitate today from the text?

(1) First, the Lord’s work is not accidental. So in verse 15, the author says, “When the time came…] God’s providence was made clear through Kairos. That’s right. God’s love for us can never be a coincidence. So, please believe that God called us [when the time was right] and brought us to this place. Therefore, let us move forward with the rest of our lives, trusting in God’s guidance.

(2) Second, we need a decision of faith in our lives. Everyone, how hard would it be to throw away the fish you caught with so much effort? But today the disciples made this decision. That’s right. As we follow the Lord, there are times when we have to make the decision to abandon something. However, please keep in mind that faith begins with this decision to let go, that is, to let go.

(3) So the Lord was tested for us and is still praying for us today.

[Conclusion]

So what should we decide now as we live our life of faith? Are there still things you hesitate about and don’t decide? That is why Mark, the author of the text, emphasized this part. That’s right. Mark can be a byword for a truly weak human being. So, because he was like that, we should gain strength through the Lord who has the appearance of a weak human being. And I pray that you will gain strength today as you realize that the Lord Himself is tested and prays for us.