Mark Part VIII - The Call of the King (1:16-20)

Some weeks ago, we considered in detail the vision that Ezekiel had of the restoration temple and its fulfillment in the ministry of our Lord. One part of Ezekiel's vision anticipated the renewal of the dead waters surrounding the temple as the water from the river flowed from the temple and renewed them. Alongside the renewal of the waters comes a change in the ecosystem - fish begin to dwell in the waters and fishermen to fish them. As we meditate on this picture that Ezekiel gives us – remembering that water is symbolic of the Word of God and of the Spirit of God, remembering that Jesus said to Nicodemus that he who would be born again must be born of water and the Spirit, remembering that Paul declared to Titus that we have been given new life through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, remembering that this same Paul is the one who declared that though we were dead in our trespasses and sins God made us alive together with Christ – as we meditate on these things, we cannot help but be struck with its resonance with the call of Jesus to His disciples - "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Like the Dead Sea, the nations are dead, the peoples of the earth are insensible to the things of God, walking in ignorance and in the darkness of their minds; but then the Word of God comes, the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of God moves in the hearts and minds of men, women, and children and – lo and behold – things begin to live. And God of His grace sends out fishermen to gather these folks up and bring them into the Church of God.