Ready or Not: Reflections on Mark 1:4-20

January 17, 2012 by Alyce McKenzie

Continued from Page 1

One Sunday (it was definitely his week), we were standing there and it was time to go in and he had a distracted air, a faraway look on his face. I nudged his arm and said, "Paul, it's 10:55. Are you ready?" He sort of snapped to attention, looked at me and said, "No, but let's go in anyway." That has become my mantra when I feel stressed, flustered, or not quite as well prepared as I would like. "Are you ready?" I ask myself. And I answer, "No, but let's go in anyway."

Some would like to believe that Simon and Andrew, James and John had heard about Jesus, maybe had heard him teach or seen his healings. But in Mark's narrative flow, this seems to be the first time they've encountered him. They drop their nets and follow.

This is how Jesus comes at us. "Follow me," he says. He doesn't ask to see our CV. He doesn't call our references, ask to see a sample of our work, make us audition, run timed sprints, or submit a personal statement. He just calls and they just followed and maybe we will, too. The only reason I can figure for their response in this lean, terse story is that they found his promise compelling: "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people" (1:17). I would never trivialize the job they were doing. People need food. But he was offering them a purpose beyond their current experience and their immediate needs. It caught their imaginations and so their adventure began.

But enough about them. What about you and me? We really don't need any more preparation.

We don't have to know all that we are getting ourselves into yet. We've had enough time to think it over. He's coming our way now. "With all due respect, your honor, I'm not prepared today," won't cut it. All the preparation we need is to be even just a little bit intrigued and excited about the possibility of inviting others to follow Jesus, too. That'll be enough to take the first few steps after him.

"Are you ready?" I asked my senior pastor all those years ago. His answer was one that would win Mark's stamp of approval: "No, but let's go in anyway!"

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About Alyce McKenzie

Alyce M. McKenzie is the George W. and Nell Ayers Le Van Professor of Preaching and Worship at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University.

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