THE GOSPEL OF MARK "Behold My Servant!"

                                The kingdom draws near

Jesus announces the coming kingdom and calls His first disciples        chapter 1vv14-20.

First thing to notice is the courtesy of the perfect servant, a trait singularly missing at times in public life.   Jesus waited until the service of John was complete before He entered the public arena.   Paul was concerned about the same thing when he said in Romans 15v20 "...so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation".   John was the last of the prophets;   he was the forerunner of Christ;  like many of the prophets he would  be  martyred;  like His Lord he would be delivered up.   His short ministry of only 6-12 months was over, he had fulfilled the mission.                                                                                                                   Jesus would now proclaim a new dispensation "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand(hath drawn nigh)."   We are moving toward the end, the long-expected kingdom of God.   Jesus began "preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God....";   the good news that the kingdom was about to come.   What the Jews understood by the kingdom was probably of a piece of land God had given to them, on the possession of which, through them He would rule the world, themselves being at the head of nations.   The biblical view of the kingdom includes that, but it is much greater than that as they should have known.   What are we to understand by "the kingdom of God"?

We must not think of the kingdom in terms of territory or time only;   it is much greater than that.   It is in fact the RULE OF GOD, the sovereign rule of God, in whatever sphere we care to think about it...there is no sphere possible where He will not rule, whether of time or space.   Any usurpation of His rule will be overthrown.   It can be summarised in three ways;    this is the kingdom.

• It is the RIGHT of God to rule in all existence.
• It is the REALM or extent of that rule.
• It is the REALITY of His rule at all times.

God has never, (nor will ever). relinquished His sovereign control in the universe.  He demonstrates His authority in different ways at different times.   Every generation will know of it, even if it is not acknowledged or understood.   It is real, it is a daily fact, it will affect all our lives.   It is not yet visible, universally, but it will be.   His rule is universal (1 Chronicles 29vv11-12; Psalm 74v12; Psalm 93v1; Psalm 103v19/22; Psalm 148);   His rule is eternal (Psalm 10v16; Psalm 29v10; Psalm 145vv1-21; Jeremiah10v10; Lamentations 5v19.)   His rule is theocratic, through the nation of Israel by whom He introduced to the world the Divine law, the moral code, based on covenant.   His rule is spiritual  ( Luke 17v21 "the kingdom of God is within you")....He rules in the hearts of men who acknowledge Him.   His rule is mystical, today He rules, invisibly, but actually in the vast body of professing Christians(some real, some unreal), in what is called "Christendom"(Christ's dominion), which wields a huge restraining influence, globally( Matthew 13etc.).   There is a day coming when the rule of God will be literal and visible;   The great Millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ, when for 1000 years Christ will reign on the earth (Revelation 20vv4-6).   This is the kingdom to which Jesus refers, and He says it has "drawn nigh."   Jesus described this kingdom in Matthew 6v10 "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.   The coming kingdom, the one to supersede all kingdoms will see the will of God visibly enacted upon earth, as it is right now in heaven, it will literally be "heaven on earth."   The terms of the kingdom are clear "Repent and believe the gospel."   Change your mind and attitude to God and receive by faith the way of salvation, before the kingdom comes, otherwise you will not be part of it.   Peter, in Acts 3v19, sums it up perfectly "Repent ye therefore and be converted (turn ye) that your sins may be blotted out, so that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (R.V.).   Very soon God will alter the world order of things and set up His kingdom;   these words were uttered nigh on 2000 years ago, how near must it be now?!

What follows is the call to kingdom service of the first four disciples Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John.   Their call and response to it is nothing short of spectacular.   Verse 18 "...straightway they forsook their nets and followed Him.;   verse 20 " They left their father Zebedee...and went after Him.
So urgent was the business of the kingdom, and so important, they left business and family behind to pursue the greatest calling....leaving behind the most basic legitimate things of life for the superior calling of Jesus Christ.   He doesn't call everyone to abandon business and family life, but He does call all of us to put His cause as priority in our lives over even the most important things, such as business and family.   They were  to become "fishers of men" for God in His expert training.   The twin tasks of "casting the nets", " and mending the nets" were to be translated into the spiritual work with men.   The casting has to do with catching fish, which Peter did in the thousands as recorded in the book of Acts.   The work of John was more repair work, solving problems, caring for the saints as is evident in his writings.   The word for "mending" is katartizo  which means to complete fully, to repair, to equip, to restore to order.   It is used extensively in the new testament, as follows;   perfected Matthew 21v16;   fitted Romans 9v22;   perfectly joined together 1 Corinthians 1v10;   restore Galatians 6v1;   The picture is clear, the service of the kingdom involves catching fish(bringing people to conversion), and mending nets(after care of those converted).   The essential thing to observe is that Jesus calls men into partnership with Him in this great work.   There will be more as we proceed, and many followers in service to the Lord on behalf of all people.   The gospel ends with the Lord "working with them";   what began here continues until the present day.