New Testament Studies

The Gospel of St. Mark

By Robert C. Crowder

Lesson Five

Mark 1:16-20 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

We left the lesson with Jesus telling those that would hear to “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.  There is something special about the next five verses.  They tell us a lot about how Jesus would teach us about the calling to the work at the beginning of his ministry.  It compares to the last message he gave his disciples.

Today we see that Jesus is walking by the Sea of Galilee and he starts the preparation for the cross.  He looks out over the water and sees two men busy at work fishing.  These two men were fishing with nets.  Jesus didn’t hesitate as he looked at these two and simply said, “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”  Now I don’t know about you but I find the reaction of Simon and Andrew truly amazing.  They are at work, a stranger yells at them over the waves and simply says follow me and I will make you fishers of men.  Do you think that Simon and Andrew didn’t have a quizzical look about them?  Do you think they cast once more the net into the water?  Do you think that they hauled in the load of fishes first, then got cleaned up, combed their hair, and changed their cloths?  Nope.  The Bible tells us that they “straightway” forsook their nets.  Now we don’t use the term “straightway” today, but I think we understand what it means.  They dropped everything and immediately followed Christ.  

Just a note here, but notice that the first disciple that Mark mentions is Simon (Peter).  Why is this important?  Well because the last disciple Mark mentions is Simon.  I don’t look for “coincidences” when I study the Bible.  There is a reason for it.

Next the three are continuing walking along the beach a ways when Christ spots James and John.  He calls them and they immediately follow.  I smile here because these two brothers are working away, a stranger approaches, calls them and they leave their father in ship with all the other servants.  As a father I can just imagine what would have happened if Zebedee would have gotten in the way.  Can’t you hear him,  “Where do you think your going?  We have more fishing to do, and then we have to clean the fish and get them to market.  No, Don’t you kind of think that Zebedee heard the calling right along with his sons?  We do not see that he interfered in the boy’s leaving him.  Isn’t that something?

I would like to review this calling by drawing your attention to just a few areas.

If you were going to call men to help you for the next few years, wouldn’t you have wanted to have educated men in business management, finance, marketing, knowledgeable in the legal system and were able to be put in front of the public and the spotlight?  Instead Jesus calls four fishermen at work doing what they were called to do.  Jesus called the ones that were working already.  These men were no slothful.  They probably rose early before the sun rose and the days heat hampered their work.  By selecting these uneducated men, no one would be able to say that Jesus had a following due to the production and silvery tongues of his followers.  No it would be by the power of God, not the wisdom of man.

Notice that Jesus called them by the two’s.  Simon and Andrew then James and John.  Each of the pair was very aware of the other.  They knew their strengths and weaknesses.  

Also see that these were called, and they immediately responded.  They didn’t talk about it.  God called and they responded.  The scriptures do not tell us whether these four had heard Jesus preach previous to his calling.  Jesus called, they answered.  Notice also that they were called from and called to: from being fishermen to be fishers of men, not working with their backs but instead with their voice.

It is also very clear that Jesus called them to follow him and he would teach them to be fishers of men.  They weren’t called and immediately thrown into the work.  I have seen well meaning pastors and churches take someone who answered the call and in little time at all they are put before a Sunday School class before they are fully equipped.  Oh I know that there are reasons, mostly because there are not enough laborers to do the work.  But Jesus clearly shows us that he didn’t send them out until after their training (three years worth).  If we follow Jesus other examples, maybe we should follow his example here.

Whom Christ calls, he calls effectually: and draws whom he calls and works their hearts to a ready compliance with their duty.

Do you remember when Jesus sweet voice called you?  Do you remember that there was nothing could keep you back from making a decision?  Oh some of you may have fought it for a while, but who can keep from not doing Christ’s call.  Then do you remember how you felt?  Do you remember how you wanted to learn more and more?

Well in the next study, Jesus will immediately give Simon, Andrew, James and John their first lesson.

ã 2002 bobsbiblestudies