Mark 1:20, commentary and pictures

Straightway by the Sea of Galilee Jesus called James and John, and they at once left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, leaving boats, nets, livelihood and household ties to follow Him. It was at daybreak after a night of fruitless toil, while they were mending their nets, that He promised to make them fishers of men. Their prompt obedience acknowledged His divine authority as the Son of God. He chose His co-laborers from humble, ordinary, unlearned working men, free from worldly custom and hardened prejudice, that living and learning with Him they might become like Him in mind and character. That same call still belongs to everyone, men and women alike, to leave ordinary labor and self-interest in self-denial to warn others and carry the gospel till the work is finished.

Setting and Immediate Response

Mark 1:20 belongs to the calling of the fishermen by the Sea of Galilee, where the work lay among ordinary people, the teaching was given from a fisherman's boat, and salvation was proclaimed with every message offering eternal life. It took place at daybreak after a night of fruitless fishing toil, with the disciples still in their boats and then coming to land. At the same time Jesus came to the waterside seeking quiet rest, but pressed on all sides by the rapidly gathering multitude He stepped into Peter's boat and had it put out a little from shore so He could be better seen and heard while teaching the people on the beach.

On the shore the fishermen were mending their nets broken by the great weight of fish taken, when the promise was given to make them fishers of men, as Peter had been promised that he would catch men. Straightway Jesus called James and John, and at once they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants to follow Him. In doing so they left boats and nets, livelihood and former work, regular occupation and worldly possessions, even father's household responsibilities where they were fishing. Their training began through that following, illustrating coming to Christ to serve Him and showing that those who know the truth should begin working for others without waiting years at an institution, with those lacking experience working under ministers and going among the people from house to house. Their prompt obedience recognized His divine authority and acknowledged Him as the Son of God, with the Spirit of Christ at work despite Satan's opposition.

Chosen Workers and Mission

Jesus chose His co-laborers in the work of salvation from sturdy toilers among the fishermen of Galilee, calling humble, ordinary, common working men directly from their boats to follow Him and leave work and family ties behind. Their call shows God takes ordinary people into His service and prepares them to carry the truth to others. They were not trained in the traditions and mistaken customs of their time, but were free from worldly customs and fashions, religious bigotry and hardened prejudice. They had natural ability and candor, fairness, kindness and sympathy that made them humble and teachable.

Their lowly station and lack of worldly distinction did not disqualify them, for earthly rank had no value to Him and He chose humble, unlearned men rather than Jewish dignitaries. Through living and learning with Jesus, following Him and walking with Him as He taught, and educated by the Old Testament, they gained knowledge and became like Him in mind and character. That teachableness equipped them to learn from Him and to preserve His lessons for future generations. Their training began simply through following Christ, and practical workers are likewise to be trained for service through following Him.

Their choice reproves those who divide religion from business. A power went forth from these humble men that will be felt through all eternity, and working men and women who are willing to bear responsibilities with faith and hope find what is great and good in life. The call took them from ordinary work into gospel service with the promise to make them fishers of men, leaving boats, nets, livelihood and worldly possessions for His service. That call to become fishers of men belongs to everyone, men and women alike, and true humble workers give the honor and glory of God the first place in their hearts.

The very same Jesus still calls followers to leave ordinary labor, vocations, farms, merchandise, trades and self-interest and go, illustrating what it means to come to Christ to serve Him. They are to follow in self-denial and sacrifice, leaving ordinary work to carry the message, to warn unwarned neighbors and cities that the Lord is coming and to teach them the truth. The pattern will be repeated to finish His work, for the Lord accomplishes His work by raising up men and women from among the common people through means not now seen. There will soon be a surprising awakening in which those who do not realize what needs to be done will be passed by, while heavenly messengers work with the common people to fit them to carry the truth to many places. The power of the Holy Spirit makes believers zealous and earnest and unable to rest content while those around them remain unwarned.

Their example teaches that those who know the truth should begin working for others without waiting years at an institution. Those who lack experience should work under ministers and go among the people from house to house.