Just the Facts, Ma'am

 

PROPERS: THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY 

TEXT:       MARK 1:14-20                                              

PREACHED AT ST. JOHN’S, PASCAGOULA, ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2024

 

ONE SENTENCE:        Mark’s account of the call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John foreshadows the expansion of the covenant relationship.

 

            A long time ago, there was the TV series, Dragnet, which featured as its key star LA Police Detective Joe Friday.  He was known for his simple question, “Just the facts, ma’am.”

 

            That is what the evangelist, known as Mark, gives us in his gospel. Just the facts.

 

            Mark’s gospel is the briefest of the gospels – just the facts. No fluff. No long diatribes. The essential story. 

 

It is known, along with Matthew and Luke, as synoptic gospels, which means “taken together.”  Mark’s content is the basic structure of the other two synoptic gospels. Matthew and Luke apparently used Mark’s earlier writings as a framework for their versions.

 

            John’s gospel is largely different and was composed later. It is from different sources.

 

            That makes what we hear today that much more important.  The calling of Jesus’ four most important disciples – his executive committee – Simon (who will be renamed Peter), his brother Andrew, and the Sons of Thunder, brothers James and John.

 

+ + + 

 

            This is just the tip of the iceberg. The iceberg’s base is thousands of years before.  And we stand on the surface.

 

            It has to do with the covenant.  The earliest covenant is seen in the story of Abraham, and the call from God to leave his home and go to a land which he will be shown. And he does.

 

            The covenant is with Abraham’s family – which does not exist at that point.  But he is told by God that his descendent will number as the stars. But it is only him and his wife Sarah at that point. He responds in faith.

 

            Later, a covenant is made with Moses – and the covenant extends to all the Hebrews in captivity in Egypt. When the previously-enslaved people, after 40 years of wandering, enter the land they had been promised, they see themselves as the chosen people.

 

            For centuries, the boundaries of the chosen people are rigid. Birth into the covenant is the primary entrances.  But a debate rages – and the story of the greatest king of Israel, David, is told. He is the great grandson of a Gentile.

 

            The borders are hard. They preserve the community’s collective identity.  But here comes Jesus…

 

            Yes, Peter, Andrew, James, and John are people of the covenant.  They are Jews. We do not know how observant or orthodox they are. Still Jesus calls them.  They are to be the tip of the spear of his budding ministry.  They foreshadow things to come. The mission continues.

 

            Jesus will later communicate with a Samaritan woman – breaking two barriers; talking with a solitary women and a Samaritan.  He will eat with a scorned tax collector -- Matthew.  He will share a parable in which an unclean person – a Samaritan – is the hero.

 

            Later, Peter will baptize the first Gentile family in the Book of Acts.  And Paul will convert from a radical persecutor of Christians to the greatest of all missionaries.  As Paul Harvey said, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

 

            Here we are today, 2100 years later after that scene on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Beneficiaries of the call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John.  We are recipients of that ever-expanding covenant, first spoken to Abraham on that starlit night 4,000 years ago.

 

            I would say the call of Peter, Andrew, James, and John bore fruit.