The call to discipleship is definite and requires a personal choice be made to either accept or reject.  The call to believe or to disbelieve in Messiah Isa, the holy one actually comes to each one of us in one way or another.

1:18  And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

1:19  And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

1:20  And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Jesus didn’t call the big shots nor did He call those who were sitting around waiting for opportunity to come knocking.  These were average people who were faithfully and diligently going about their business but they were also noble in that they didn’t cling to the world or the traditions of the others; they obeyed the Savior.

1:21  And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

Synagogue – a very important place for the assembly of persons for worship.  Not less than ten persons of respectability composed a synagogue.  Jerusalem is said to have had 480 of them plus the Temple.  Isa (PBUH) took advantage of the custom that allowed visiting teachers to participate in the worship service by invitation of the synagogue leaders.

1:22  And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark frequently reports the amazement that Isa’s teaching and actions produced.  The Scribes tended to teach the words of other teachers and the traditions of men.      Part of what was happening with the teaching from Jesus was that He was teaching Scripture, not tradition of men; He was teaching them what God said, not what some famous Rabbi of bygone days had said.  When a man teaches that a Hadith or a fitnah supersedes something in the Quran is he not claiming the Quran is mistaken?

Part of what was happening with the teaching from Isa was that He was teaching Al kitab, not tradition of men; He was teaching them what God said, not what some famous Rabbi of bygone days had said.  When an Imam teaches something contrary to the Al kitab ul muqaddas then he is acting exactly like the Rabbis who were opposing Isa and he is not one iota less corrupt than they were. – an excerpt from my book “The Holy One called Isa”

Don’t be afraid to follow the holy one of God, Jesus for he cares about you. –Pastor Ward Clinton