“Does Jesus Need Our Help” ~ Mark 1:14-20
January 26, 2003
Purpose: Jesus needs our help!
Introduction – Why did Jesus call these disciples in the first place?
Wasn’t he the Son of God? Why did he need these simple fishermen?
And if he needed them, why didn’t he choose someone else….someone with more
status…someone with more clout…someone with position and power?
Jesus’ simple message of “repent and believe” didn’t need these disciples, or did it?
And if that simple message needed their help, does Jesus need our help in sharing that
same message today?
This is what we’re going to spend these next few moments on this morning.
Will you join me in prayer…
Does Jesus need our help? I was amazed that as I looked through my commentaries and the many books on my shelves, I couldn’t find any author willing to approach these verses asking that question. Which tells me one of three things?
1. It doesn’t matter…it’s not important enough to be discussed.
2. I’ve discovered something new and when I become published, I’m going to be rich!
3. Maybe the Spirit led me here for a particular purpose, for this particular time.
I tend to believe the latter. Just like the star quarterback who needs his front line in order to make the big plays, I’m convinced that not only did Jesus need help in his day, but that he asked for it then, and he’s asking for it now.
So, we’re going to look at this set of verses this morning looking for what the Spirit has to say to us. Are you with me?
Question #1 - Did Jesus need any help?
First, in looking at any good history lesson, we need to look at the characters.
First, we have Simon, whom we’ll eventually know as Peter. What do we know of Peter?
It was Peter who uttered those memorable words when Jesus asked his disciples if they
would also desert him, “Lord, to whom can we go? We have come to believe and
know that you are the Holy One of God.” (john 6:67-69)
It was of Peter who responded to Jesus’ question of “who do they say I am” with “Lord,
you are the Messiah, the Christ.” It was such a good answer that Jesus responded by saying, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). No longer a “man of a reed” which is what Simon means, Jesus now calls this man Peter which means “the rock.” The rock on which the foundation of the church would begin.
Wasn’t it Peter who tried to dissuade Jesus from going to Jerusalem because of fear for
Jesus’ safety. In front of the whole group of disciples, Peter was chastised with
those haunting words, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me…”
(Matthew 16:23)
It was in Peter’s denial and Jesus’ subsequent forgiveness that we find hope when we fail.
Peter was the first disciple to enter the tomb.
He was the one who suggested another disciple to replace Judas.
Peter preached the first Christian sermon following Pentecost.
It was Peter who, along with John, healed the lame man at the gate by saying, “Silver and
gold have I none, but such as I have, I give to thee…” (Acts 3:1-11)
It was Peter who traveled to Samaria and preached the gospel.
It was Peter who dealt with the false ministry of Simon Magus, the false magician.
(Acts 8:14-24)
It was Peter who dealt with the duplicity of Anania and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
We cannot doubt that Peter was a leader, and Jesus needed his help in the ministry that was ahead.
And we say the same of the others….
Andrew, known as the introducer or the invitier, found it easy to bring people all people, stranger and family alike, into the presence of this Jesus.
And then there were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who always seemed to be linked together. Where one was so was the other. Jesus once called these brothers the “sons of thunder” (Mark 3:17) because of their strong emotions, and it was James who was the first of the twelve to be killed for his faith, who had a straight-forward approach to the gospel recorded in his book in Scripture.
And it was John, who from the island of Patmos, wrote what we call Revelation, but also other letters to the churches for their encouragement.
And we could list the disciples one-by-one, but here we have these two sets of brothers, and their stories…these hardworking, blue-collar (if any collar) people that Jesus eventually used to building his kingdom. Did Jesus need them? I think he did.
Second, beyond looking at the characters of these verses, we need to look at the setting…did Jesus need this place to do ministry.
Again, this may not matter, but this “Sea of Galilee” where Jesus began his ministry, and for that matter, where he accomplished much of his ministry, was a beautiful place.
Being the only fresh-water lake in the area, it is fed by the Jordan River. In fact,v this fourteen mile long, six mile wide, lake has been known throughout our Scriptures.
In Old Testament times, it was known as the Sea of Kinnereth. (Numbers 34:11)
In Luke it was referred to as the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1).
And in John (6:1, 21:1) it was called the Sea of Tiberias.
Whatever its name, this body of water, even to this day, is where everyone comes to do business. Fishermen, tradesmen, people shopping near its shores in the market places…this was the place to be. There was no better place to find disciples and to begin a ministry.
Jesus needed this setting as well as his disciples in order to help his ministry.
Which leads us to our second questions – How did Jesus solicit the help he needed?
Well, we have only two phrases that Jesus gave us in this passage….
The first, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the
gospel.” (v.15)
The second, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (v.17)
Both of these are well documented and often quoted. But in the light of our question this morning, they take on some new meanings…
If Jesus needs us, and the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand, then we’d better
get busy..Amen?
If Jesus needs us, and we are called to share the message “repent and believe” than we’d better
not let him down.
If Jesus needs us, then we follow him, no matter where, no matter through what, because we
know that we’re being trained to be fishers of humankind.
If Jesus needs us, then we have to look at where we’ve been planted and how that setting could
be used to share that “repent and believe” kingdom message.
Jesus solicited help by telling people the truth!
It was the same truth that John the Baptist had started preaching
It is the same truth that the church should be preaching today.
And it is the same truth will happen in the future in the lives of those who believe.
“Through the life, death, resurrection, and second coming of Jesus Christ, we as the church in the kingdom-building business.” Jesus’ message is simple, “Come, follow me” and let me show how its going to get done!
Which leaves us with the last question – How does Jesus need our help?
And if the Spirit is trying to tell us anything this morning, it’s that we all are needed.
Let me share with you a couple of stories…
…woman choosing not to abort her child (story based on a phone conversation and subsequent follow-up counseling - the church was there to help)
…a man dying and his last request (A long-time church member was dying of pnuemonia - the church was there to help)
…the jungle-gym at McDonald’s (the epitamy of theological divergance! Everyone has to take off their shoes (holiness?)...children are encouraged to help other children...parents who have never met other parents become istant friends as they watch their kids - the church can help by being like the jungle gym at McDonalds.)
Just as Jesus did not set out on his own to change the world, he’s not calling us to do it alone either.
As the body of Christ, each and every one of us is equipped with God-given gifts and talents, that allow us to be something better when we’re together, then when we’re on our own.
Does Jesus Need Our Help? Of course he does…
Jesus did many astounding things as his disciples watched and learned. But when three years of ministry culminated in a crucifixion and a resurrection, Jesus left the ministry into the hands of his disciples by saying, “Go into the world and preach the gospel to every creature…”
Folks, if we don’t feel needed by anyone else …we need know that Jesus Christ needs us more than anything else.
And if we do feel needed, we need to put Jesus Christ’s need for us above all else.
What we do in this world will satisfy the wants and needs of today, but how we help Jesus Christ will satisfy the wants and needs of an eternity.
Did Jesus need help in the past? Yes, he called his disciples.
Did Jesus solicit our help? Yes, he called us to be fishers of humankind.
How does Jesus need our help today? He wants first priority in our lives.
Praise God we’re needed! We’re needed to continue the Spiritual kingdom-building that Christ had begun and is continuing to accomplish.
Will you join me in prayer?
Heavenly Father,
For those of us hear who have decided to follow you, we know that we are needed.
For those of us who have never made that commitment, we are called to repent and
believe, and to begin that process of following you.
Just as those disciples were called off the shores of the sea of Galilee, we know Lord that
we too are being called.
We’re being called to follow you in the midst of our busyness.
We’re being called to follow you in the depth of our pain.
We’re being called to follow you in the power of Spirit.
We’re being called to follow you in the restlessness of our many
commitments.
We’re being called because you need us to complete the building of your
kingdom here on earth.
We know that you need our help. We know that you’ve empowered us through your
Spirit to be your church, in this day and age, to go and make disciples in your name.
Forgive us Father when we fail to help you.
Instead of our last priority, may we give you our first priority.
So that when we stand before your throne, we will be able to say with the clearest of
consciences, “Lord, when you needed my help, I tried my best to be there.”
Help us to follow closer to you and your will for our lives…In the name of Christ we
pray….Amen.
#338 – Where He Leads Me I Will Follow
Closing Blessing –
As we leave this place…
May the Christ, who needs you, be with you.
May the Christ who called the disciples from the sea of Galilee,
call you out of your existence.
And may the Christ who guides, leads, and directs, show us the way as we
continue in our journey following Him.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, may this be our
prayer…Amen
NOTE: If you did not find this sermon helpful, please contact me (gb@clergy.net) and tell me why. I appreciate everyone’s advice. Thanks.
