Bible Study Seattle

“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.  And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.  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.  Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.”  Mark 1:16-20

The first time you read this, it appears that Jesus just walks by and commands strangers to follow him like 60s groupies.  Of course, that’s not quite what happened.  We don’t have much context, but this appears to happen right after Joh the baptist is put in jail.  It’s very likely that these four were disciples of Joh the baptist.  John told all the people that he was merely preparing the way for one greater than him, whose sandals he was undfit to tie.  When Simon, Andrew, James, and John left there nets, it was probably just before the feast of Tabernacles.  Jesus may have already talked to their father about them following him.  After all, Jesus upheld the commandment to honor ones’ parents.  It is inconceivable that Jesus would have disciples abandon their parents.  Leaving for a set purpose is one thing, abandoning is another.

The other impression one can get is that the disciples didn’t work.  Not so.  There are many instances when they’re in a boat.  Could they be fishing?