Jesus begins to preach the gospel, and to call men to follow him
1:14-15 - It was after John's arrest that Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of God, saying, "The time has come at last - the kingdom of God has arrived. You must change your hearts and minds and believe the good news."
1:16-17 - As he walked along the shore of the Lake of Galilee, he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, casting their nets into the water. "Come and follow me, and I will teach you to catch men!" he cried.
1:18 - At once they dropped their nets, and followed him.
1:19-20 - Then he went a little further along the shore and saw James the son of Zebedee, aboard a boat with his brother John, overhauling their nets. At once he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went off after him.
2 comments:
What does "the gospel" mean here? God has re-established his rule over Israel.
Why does Jesus call men "to follow him"? Why this need for followers? Because he is the anointed king, and a king needs an administration.
It sounds like he knows who he is meant to call to his service--and that these are young men with a yearning that Israel be restored, a strong enough yearning to make them drop everything in their "normal" life and take up his cause. That yearning is probably widespread; the willingness to let go of all that's familiar is a rare gift.
The time has come at last - the kingdom of God has arrived. You must change your hearts and minds and believe the good news.
The term "good news" or gospel refers back to the antecedent; it is: The time has come at last - the kingdom of God has arrived.
How is thsi good news? I think you got it right before when you talked of the "gospel" being the coronation proclamation of a new emperor.
Although, with "anointed" -- prophets also were annointed -- and much more likely to gather disciples around them.
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