Our reading for this week is from Mark 1.29-34
In this passage the writer of Mark records the abrupt call of 4 of Jesus’ First Followers. We also witness how a few of those First Followers brought to Jesus their loved ones and then people from all over who needed healing and restoration. In the biblical worldview, to be “sick” or “possessed by demons” meant to be exiled from community. When Jesus heals people, he restores them to life in community. Our understanding of sickness and demons may be quite different today, but we still long for restoration of community and relationships. Jesus still lifts us up today and calls us to serve others as followers.
Leonard Sweet writes, “Everyone follows someone or something. The only question is, who or what will we follow? Everyone’s life vibrates to some tune. The only question is, who is the singer? The question is not wether we will be religious but only how we will be religious (I Am a Follower).
Think of a time when you, like Simon and Andrew, James and John, were among the first to follow someone or something. What was the experience of being a first follower like? Who were the first persons you wanted to bring along with you?
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