Message: Responding to the Call / Mark 1:14-20


Today's Gospel reading is about the story of the first time Jesus publicly revealed himself. At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus spoke these words: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news" (1:15). 

In the New Testament, the main Greek words for time are καιρός (kairos) and χρόνος (chronos). Although their meanings sometimes overlap, they also have different uses. Chronos is more about quantity and refers to the "span of time," such as three days or 24 hours. On the other hand, kairos is used more qualitatively and refers to a “decisive point of time.” For instance, kairos can be the time in the sentence "It is the time to harvest." 

When Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled," the word kairos is used, which indicates that he began his ministry at a very important and meaningful moment. This was because it was the moment when "the kingdom of God has come near." However, we should not think that God was not present at that time. God is beyond time and space, always caring for this world. There was never a moment when this world and the entire universe were not under God's rule.

So, what does "the kingdom of God has come near" mean? In the Gospels, the kingdom (βασιλεία) of God is used on purpose to show the difference from the kingdom ruled by the Roman Emperor. The kingdom under imperial power is a place of injustice, inequality, and unfair treatment, favouring only a few in charge. Under Roman rule, non-Romans were treated badly economically and politically, and forced to live like strangers and slaves. This made them feel lost and as if God were not present in their lives.

In this situation, Jesus revealed himself to the world. The main purpose of his ministry was to share the good news about the kingdom of God. The Greek word for "good news" is εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion), which originally means “the announcement of victory”. The term comes from a victory report that a fast runner would bring to a city eagerly waiting for news about the outcome of a war.

Jesus' good news was not about the Roman army winning, but about God's victory. It is important to understand that this good news is not just a prediction for the future; God is already victorious. God is the true saviour who has always been with those suffering in the shadow of oppression and violence.

The issue is the personal and social sins that prevent us from discovering the kingdom of God among us. That is why repentance is necessary. When we turn our minds and bodies to God by being truthful and admitting our weaknesses, shortcomings, and mistakes, we can experience God's presence as light in the midst of darkness. This empowers us to work for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Because of this, some theologians say that the kingdom of God is "between the already and not yet."

The first thing Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry in Galilee was to call his disciples to join him in proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. He approached Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who were casting their nets in the Sea of Galilee, and said to them. "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 

They found hope in Jesus Christ, who brought lost people together under the good news, just like a fisherman gathers scattered fish into one net. This epiphany moment led them to leave their fishing nets and follow Jesus.

In fact, when Jesus called the first disciples, they did not fully grasp the meaning of his ministry. They were not professionally trained, and their knowledge of the Scripture was not as extensive as that of the Pharisees and scribes. Even after becoming Jesus' followers, they still worried about storms, felt uncertain about caring for the sick, and competed for status among themselves.

Nevertheless, Jesus called them. He did not focus on their social status, knowledge, or physical abilities. Instead, he saw in them the courage to love God and others wholeheartedly. Because they boldly chose to embark on a journey for the kingdom of God with Jesus, these early disciples matured as they travelled and lived with him. After Jesus ascended, they became leaders in the early church, laying the foundation for the Christian faith.

If so, what is our call to share the good news as the mission for today's world? The United Church of Canada's statement of faith, "A Song of Faith," gives us a glimpse into this:


    “We sing of God’s good news lived out,
    a church with purpose:
 faith nurtured and hearts comforted,
 gifts shared for the good of all,
 resistance to the forces that exploit and marginalize,
 fierce love in the face of violence,
 human dignity defended,
 members of a community held and inspired by God, 
 corrected and comforted,
 instrument of the loving Spirit of Christ, 
 creation’s mending.
    We sing of God’s mission.
 
    We are each given particular gifts of the Spirit.
    For the sake of the world,
 God calls all followers of Jesus to Christian ministry.
    In the church,
 some are called to specific ministries of leadership, 
 both lay and ordered;
 some witness to the good news;
 some uphold the art of worship;
 some comfort the grieving and guide the wandering;
 some build up the community of wisdom;
 some stand with the oppressed and work for justice.
    To embody God’s love in the world,
 the work of the church requires the ministry and discipleship
 of all believers.”


The first verse in today's passage is: "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God." Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), an American naturalist and philosopher, was against slavery. He got arrested for not paying taxes to the government that supported slavery. In his essay called "Resistance to Civil Government" (or Civil Disobedience), he said this: "Under a government that imprisons anyone unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison."

After John the Baptist, a righteous prophet who talked about the kingdom of God, got arrested, Jesus started spreading the message of God's kingdom. Jesus knew his good news would lead to his crucifixion one day because his message was about the victory of God's kingdom over the Roman Empire. But he did not stop. His disciples also kept proclaiming the good news, believing that God's love would win in the end. No unjust kingdom, no structural evil, and no systemic discrimination could stop them.

Today, here is the Sea of Galilee. Jesus is calling us to be his disciples at this moment. He is inviting us to join him in sharing the good news of God's kingdom with those who are in despair. What better call, what better invitation, is there? It is the time, the "kairos" to answer Jesus Christ's call.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Third Sunday of Epiphany
South Stormont Pastoral Charge
Rev. Min Hwang

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