Charles Spurgeon Commentary Mark 1
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Mark 1
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
Mark 1
"Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God," — Mark 1:14 (ASV)
When one servant of God is set aside, it is a call to the others to be more earnest. So after John the Baptist was put into prison, Jesus came into Galilee. Sometimes a loss may be a gain, and if the loss of John was the means of bringing out Jesus, certainly both the Church and the world were the gainers: Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, –
"and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel." — Mark 1:15 (ASV)
It is clear, from this passage, that our Lord exhorted men to repent, and to believe the gospel. There are some, who profess to be his followers, who will not allow us to do this. We may teach men, and warn them, they say, but we must not exhort them to repent and believe. Well, as the contention of these people is not in accordance with the Scriptures, we are content to follow the Scriptures, and to do as Jesus did, so we will say to sinners, Repent ye, and believe the gospel.
"And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in 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. And straightway they left the nets, and followed him." — Mark 1:16-18 (ASV)
The gospel minister is like the fisherman with a net. I have sometimes heard the comparison drawn as though the gospel fisherman had a hook and a line, which he does not. His business is not to entice a fish to swallow his bait but to cast the net all around him, and lift him, by His grace, out of the element in which he lies in sin, into the boat where Christ still sits, as He sat, in the olden days, in the boat on the Sea of Galilee. To shut the sinner up to faith in Jesus Christ – that is the main work of the true gospel fisherman.
"And going on a little further, he saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him." — Mark 1:19-20 (ASV)
They never had cause to regret that they did so. Whatever they left, they were abundantly rewarded. They had a rich reward here on earth; and they have a far richer reward in heaven. Whatever a man gives up for Christ is a blessed investment, which will, sooner or later, bring him good interest.
"And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes." — Mark 1:21-22 (ASV)
He did not do as the scribes did, who made a great parade of learning by quoting this Rabbi and the other, but Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you." He spoke as one who felt that he had authority to speak in his own name, and in the name of God his Father. This method of teaching quite astonished the Jews. I wish that those who now hear the gospel might be astonished at it, and be astonished into believing it by the power with which it comes home to their consciences and hearts.
Jump to: