Immediately after Jesus begins His preaching ministry, He calls disciples to himself. This scene found in Mark chapter 1 helps us answer this essential question: Who or what is a real Christian? In this passage, Jesus reveals 5 key things about who a Christian is and what a Christian does.

First, a Christian has been called by Jesus. According to the Bible, becoming a Christian is not like a divine game of Where’s Waldo, with Jesus hiding or alluding us. Like these first disciples, we don’t “find” Jesus. Jesus finds us and calls us into a saving relationship with Him (Mark 1:17, 20" class="scriptRef">20" class="scriptRef">19-20). Second, a Christian repents from their sin and believes in the gospel of Jesus. A mark of a real Christian is that they repent and keep on repenting as they believe and keep on believing in the gospel (Mark 1:14-15). Third, a Christian follows Jesus, seeking to obey Him as their Savior-King (Mark 1:16-18, 20). Fourth, a Christian stops making Jesus a means to their end. By calling these men to leave their families, friends, and careers, Jesus is saying, “Follow me because I’m the Savior and King. I’m not calling you to add me to your life; I’m calling you to make me your life.” Jesus is not the one who gives treasures; He is the treasure! He’s not a divine genie who is obligated to give us everything we want. He is our sovereign King who graciously gives us what we need (Mark 1:17-18, 20). Fifth, and last of all, a Christian is a work-in-progress. Jesus doesn’t run away and tell us to “keep up or be left behind!” He walks with us, hand-in-hand, changing us from the inside out for our joy and His glory (Mark 1:17).