Job One

As I look at the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1, I see that the writer, in his brevity, chooses to include just those things that he thinks are crucial to understanding Jesus Christ and His mission. And so, he includes Jesus' baptism and temptation in the wilderness (marking Him out as the unique Son/Messiah) and then he focuses on how Jesus' public ministry began. In 1:14-15 Mark highlights Jesus' message: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the gospel." Then in 1:16-20 Mark records Jesus calling His first disciples, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men" (v.17).

What strikes me here is the focus of Jesus' ministry from get go. Preach the gospel, make disciples. The MESSAGE of Jesus' ministry was the gospel. "Turn from your sin and trust in Me, the Son/Messiah who will give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). The METHOD of Jesus' ministry, if we can put it that way, was to make disciples. Jesus' time on earth was only a beginning of His work. He would ascend back to the Father after a short while and leave His work in the hands of a selected few (Mark 3:14). He would empower these disciples with the soon to be sent Spirit, but for 3 years He would pour Himelf into them teaching them to proclaim the gospel and obey all His commands. He discipled them, they discipled others, a third generation, a fourth, and on and on to today and you and me. The Great Commission was for them and it is for us to the "end of the age" Matthew 28:20. Are you proclaiming the gospel, the only saving message from God to men, which centers only and always on Jesus Christ? Are you making disciples? Are you pouring your life into someone, helping them to know Christ and OBEY His Word? Have YOU been discipled?

If not, ask God for someone who will pour themselves into helping you follow Christ. Then, ask God for someone to pour yourself into. This should be done in the greater context of a Christ-honoring local church, where group discipling can take place.

This is Job One the way Jesus did it: proclaim the gospel; make disciples.