Follow Immediately

​Mark 1:18 ~ “And immediately they left their nets and followed him.”
 
How long does it take to process the command when Jesus issues it? For the disciples, there was an immediate response. And there must be the same from all of those who hear the call of Christ, for it is best for us to obey immediately and not linger long in the dreariness of doubt. And how will you know it is a command of the Savior King? Because, my dear friends, it comes directly from His word. Any other source than His direct command from His word must be subject to scrutiny, evaluation and even some skepticism. Our own hearts can lead us astray, even as we find in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” The apostles didn’t “follow their heart” as is the mantra of many today, but they followed the LORD and submitted to His command to come.
 
As we consider our text for today, a brief understanding of what the word “immediately” actually means. In short it means, “right away, right now, or at once.” Why do I include this, since the definition is precisely what it says? Because there are many who will try to cover over the notion that Christ does not mean for us to wait until a more opportune time to obey His commands. He does not issue a directive in order for us to bandy about with our own notions or agendas, but puts before us His word and then issues His mandate. And then we have a determined response—either obey or not. And what was the command of Christ. In Mark 1:17 Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” The command from Jesus is “follow Me.” That’s it—no more direction than that. Simple, authoritative, and without opinion. Jesus does not seek our estimation of His command, but merely issues it and then opens the way for us to obey.
 
So, the first thing we discover from the response of the apostles is that they “immediately” responded to Jesus. The Gospel of Mark is replete with the term “immediately.” Many opportunities are lost because the moment of obedience is replaced with hesitation. Lest we forget at this point in our reading, we are speaking of obeying God’s word, not responding to our own or other’s intuitions and ideas. Consider the response of another disciple, “Another of the disciples said to him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead’” (Matthew 8:21-22). Do not think that the LORD was not compassionate to the man’s need, but there is a sense in which the excuses we make become the reasons why we do not obey the LORD.
 
The next thing to observe is that the disciples “left their nets” to follow Christ. They were not going to be bogged down with other interests when the singular command of the LORD waits before them. Jesus told us in Luke 9:23-24, “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.’” Ask yourself, is there anything that prevents you from obedience to Christ? Are there things in your hands that you love more than the LORD Jesus? The rich young ruler held his resources as of greater worth than obedience. We read in Mark 10:21-22, “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” So, beloved, if obedience to Christ requires the relinquishing of some worldly possession, hold them with loose hands and be willing to part with it in obedience to Christ.
 
Finally, we gaze upon their obedience when we see in the text, they “followed him.” The call to preach would come. The requirement to go into all the world had not yet been given. Their obedience to the point of death had not yet presented itself. It was a simple command that required a simple obedience—merely, come and follow. 1 Samuel 15:22 reminds us, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.” As the apostles did what the LORD commanded, responding to His directives in like obedience, so we must do the same. Heed the commands of the LORD in His word and let your obedience reflect the command.
 
And so, we live this day-by-day life with our ears open, our heart ready and our life moving to follow our LORD who commands us through His word.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

---