So, why would anyone want to follow Jesus? Regardless of what the peddlers of the false “prosperity gospel” say, He doesn’t promise anyone worldly wealth. In fact, the first disciples of Jesus abandoned their careers and all their property in order to follow Him. And James and John had to leave their father too, so following Jesus is no guarantee that we’ll have happy families either.

So, why were those first disciples willing to leave their families and their possessions? Why did they give up trying to catch fish and start trying to catch people, drawing others into the Christian life? Well, what is it that makes anyone want to follow Jesus? What is the “bait” that so many people find irresistible? Simply this: Jesus says, “Follow Me.”

And those early disciples obeyed Him because of the truth that Jesus proclaims in verse 15: the kingdom of God is at hand because Jesus, the King of Kings has arrived. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18). And so when the King calls, we have no option but to do His bidding.

But we should follow Jesus more out of gratitude than out of fear. For Jesus tells us that His kingdom has come because “the time is fulfilled.” That means that Jesus is the One to whom all those Old Testament prophets pointed, the Messiah whom the Lord promised would reign over His people. Moreover, Jesus also fulfills the meaning of all those Old Testament ceremonies: His is the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice offered up once on behalf of all His people.

Yes, that is the good news Jesus proclaims: because the King has come, we no longer need to fear the death penalty all our sins deserve. Instead, we can enjoy the safety and security, the justice and peace that only a restored relationship with our Lord and King can provide. And His gracious pardon and welcome comes to all who will repent, abandoning our rebellion against Him and submitting ourselves completely to His sovereign will.

The King has come, just as the prophets said He would. And by His cross and empty tomb, the King has accomplished everything necessary for our forgiveness and freedom. Who wouldn’t want to believe such good news? Who wouldn’t want to follow such a gracious and mighty King?

Mark 1:14-20 (NASB)

14 And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
16 And as He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.
17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
18 And they immediately left the nets and followed Him.
19 And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
20 And immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.