Imagine that two people are playing the game “follow the leader.” One person has his eyes fixed on the leader whose motions he is called to mimic, while the other looks in the opposite direction, distracted by the people and things around her. Which person will correctly play the game? Of course, the person focused on the leader will play the game properly because he is focused on the leader and copying that leader. On a much grander scale, our call as followers of Christ is to, indeed, follow Him. We do this by keeping our eyes and minds set on Him and His kingdom rather than anything else in this world.
Peter understood the importance of following and keeping His eyes on Jesus as he set out to be fully devoted to Christ. Because he was originally called Simon and later called Peter by Jesus, we will call him Simon Peter in our Bible study today. Yesterday in our Bible study, we looked at Luke’s account of Jesus calling Simon Peter. Today, we will look at Mark’s account of this calling. Mark tells us in Mark chapter 1 that as Simon Peter was fishing with his brother, Andrew, Jesus said to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people” (verse 17). In a remarkable act of faith, these brothers “left their nets at once and followed Him” (verse 18). This began their journey of a lifetime of being disciples of Jesus. Mark’s recounting of Simon Peter’s calling is shorter than Luke’s recording of this calling, but there is so much to learn in this short account. Jesus’ instruction to them was simple: “Come, follow Me.” What Simon Peter and his brother had to do was follow, nothing more and nothing less. As they followed, Jesus promised to show them “how to fish for people,” or how to be disciples. For three years, along with all of Jesus’ disciples, Simon Peter followed Jesus and learned from Him. He heard His teachings and saw Him perform miracles. He learned how to be a disciple of Jesus. That is exactly what happens when we follow anyone. We learn from them. We begin thinking, talking, and acting like them because that is what happens as we spend time around anyone.
What does it mean to be followers of Jesus today? It means to spend time with Him through His word and prayer. It means setting our hearts and minds on Him rather than anything else in this world and pointing others to faith. The author of Hebrews helps us understand what following Christ looks like. He wrote in Hebrews 12, “Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (verses 1-2). We follow Jesus by “keeping our eyes on Jesus” as we spend time with Him regularly, looking to Him rather than anything or anyone else in this world. As we set our eyes on Him, He “initiates and perfects our faith.” In other words, He transforms our hearts from the inside out.
Jesus’ invitation to follow Him is a journey of a lifetime. Simon Peter and his brother answered Jesus’ call and followed Him closely, and their lives were forever changed. May we, too, answer this call with determination and full devotion and follow Him fully. If we do, our lives will never be the same.
What step can you take to set your heart and mind on Christ today? Maybe you can memorize Scripture or focus on praying throughout the day about whatever is on your mind. Whatever it looks like for you, make focusing on Christ a habit. As you do, God will transform your heart and mind to become more and more like Him.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
1 This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began 2 just as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way.
3 He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!
Clear the road for him!’”
4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. 5 All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. 6 His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
7 John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
9 One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
12 The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, 13 where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
14 Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. 15 “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
The First Disciples
16 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 18 And they left their nets at once and followed him.
19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. 20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit
21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31 So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.
32 That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. 33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch. 34 So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. 36 Later Simon and the others went out to find him. 37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.” 39 So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.
