Mark - Lesson 1...Continued from page 4

DAY FIVE:  Becoming a Fisher of Men

Please carefully read Mark 1:16-20 and answer the following questions.

1.  The Sea of Galilee is actually a large warm water lake about seven miles wide and thirteen miles long; it was at 685 feet below sea level, and supported a thriving fishing industry.[xvii] In fact, there were often as many as 330 fishing boats sailing that lake any given day![xviii]  Out of all those there that day, who caught Jesus’ attention (v. 16)?

2.  What did Jesus ask of them (v. 17)?  How did they respond to this (v. 18)?

3.  Who did He next encounter, and what did He say to them (v. 19-20a)?  How did they respond to this call (v. 20b)?

4.  This was evidently the second encounter of Jesus with Peter and Andrew, and this was their official call to discipleship.  What are some things recorded about Jesus’ first encounter with them (John 1:35-42)?

5.  At this point in their lives, these men literally left everything to follow Jesus.  We don’t know how Zebedee and his employees reacted to this, but they made the choice on the spot to follow Jesus.  One reason they may have responded is that He reached out to them, making them an offer that no rabbi ever would, and gave them an opportunity far more important than feeding others’ stomachs with the fish they caught and sold, trying to just survive day by day.  Interestingly, the word used to describe Jesus seeing Simon and Andrew means not just to glance at, but meant to perceive, become aware of, consider, and pay attention to.[xix]

We serve the God who sees us, the God who knows us, and the God who has chosen us to be His children in Christ.  What are some comforting things that the following passages remind us of about this?

Psalm 139:1-18

Isaiah 40:27-31

Romans 8:26-39

Scripture Memory:  Can you write out this week’s passage by memory here below?  Give it a try, and keep reviewing the passage several times throughout the day.

Mark 1:17: