Mark 1:14-20
Chapter 1
14
His Proclamation Begins
After John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee and began preaching the Good News of God.15
He said:
“The time has come; the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.”
16
He Calls His First Disciples
As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
17
Jesus said to them:
“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”
18
Immediately, they left their nets and followed him.
19
Jesus went a little farther on and saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee; they were in their boat mending their nets.
20
Immediately, Jesus called them, and they followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men.
Commentaries
His Proclamation Begins.
This brief passage concludes the introduction to the Gospel (1-13) and signals a new phase: Jesus’ activity in Galilee, which starts exactly when John the Baptist’s ends (14a). “Proclaiming” or ‘preaching’ is Jesus’ main focus. “The time is fulfilled” indicates the start of a new era. “The kingdom of God” isn’t a place but an experience of living according to God’s will (life, justice, solidarity, fraternity, peace). Jesus’ presence brings that kingdom closer. “Repent” means to change direction, to turn back to God, in this case, to believe in the Good News of Jesus.
He Calls His First Disciples.
Jesus calls and chooses his disciples to build a sense of community in his mission. Without community, there is no kingdom. Traditionally, the disciples would seek out their teacher. But here, it is Jesus who takes the initiative: he calls his disciples and gives them a mission—to be fishers of men. In response, the disciples act quickly, leaving everything behind to follow him. This is what the Christian vocation is about: following Jesus and living as he did.