“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
4:18
While walking by the Sea of Galilee,
The Sea of Galilee was 13 miles long from north to south and 9 miles wide east to west. It sustained a flourishing fishing industry in Jesus’ day.
he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
This was not the first time Jesus met Peter and Andrew (near Bethabara in Jordan (Jn 1:34-42). They left following John the Baptist to follow Jesus. Their first call was to salvation, but this call was to service.
4:19
And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
The command “follow me” was a call to leave the fishing industry to go into ministry with Jesus. Jesus here recruits a staff for ministry. He does not go it alone; He wants these men to join Him in His Messianic ministry. The call was to fish for men rather than fish for fish.
4:20
Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
Peter and Andrew immediately followed Jesus. Jesus had previously called them to salvation (Jn 1:35-51). They immediately recognized Jesus’ authority and followed Him without question.
4:21
And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.
Jesus called James and John while they were repairing their nets. Herod Agrippa killed James with the sword later (Ac 12:2).
4:22
Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
James and John immediately dropped everything. They left both their business and their father and followed Jesus. They instantaneously broke with their past. This call involved a cost. They left their family and business responsibilities. They paid an economic price for following Jesus.
By responding to Jesus’ call, Peter, Andrew, James, and John became key players in world evangelism.
PRINCIPLE:
God’s call on us comes from His electing grace.
APPLICATION:
Peter and Andrew were not super-saints but common fishermen. God can use us in whatever state we find ourselves. If God can use Peter, maybe He can use me. However, this calls for radical commitment.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 1 Co 1:26
