Mark 1:19

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 {G2532} when he had gone {G4260} a little {G3641} further {G4260} thence {G1564}, he saw {G1492} James {G2385} the son {G3588} of Zebedee {G2199}, and {G2532} John {G2491} his {G846} brother {G80}, who {G846} also {G2532} were in {G1722} the ship {G4143} mending {G2675} their nets {G1350}.

Going on a little farther, he saw Ya`akov Ben-Zavdai and Yochanan, his brother, in their boat, repairing their nets.

Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets.

Commentary

Context of Mark 1:19

This verse continues the narrative of Jesus' early ministry in Galilee, specifically His active recruitment of disciples. Immediately following the call of Simon (Peter) and Andrew (Mark 1:16-18), Jesus moves "a little further thence" along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This region was a bustling center for fishing, and it's from this everyday setting that Jesus chooses His first followers, emphasizing His desire to call ordinary people into extraordinary service.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Initiative: Jesus actively seeks out and calls His disciples. He doesn't wait for them to come to Him; He approaches them in their daily lives.
  • Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Call: James and John, like Simon and Andrew, were working fishermen. This highlights that God often calls individuals from common occupations, demonstrating that anyone can be used for His purposes.
  • Diligence in Work: The detail that they were "mending their nets" indicates they were engaged in a practical and essential part of their trade. This shows their industriousness and readiness, even as they prepared for their next fishing venture, unknowingly preparing for a new calling.
  • The Expanding Circle of Discipleship: This verse marks the inclusion of the third and fourth disciples, forming the core group that would closely follow Jesus throughout His ministry.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "mending their nets" translates the Greek word katartizo (καταρτίζω). This term implies more than just simple repair; it suggests a process of equipping, restoring, or making something fit for its intended purpose. In this context, the fishermen were making their nets ready for effective use. This word can also carry a broader spiritual connotation, as disciples are "restored" or "equipped" for service in God's kingdom.

Related Scriptures

The parallel account of this call is found in Matthew 4:21. James and John, often referred to as the "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17), became prominent figures among the twelve apostles, witnessing many of Jesus' miracles and intimate moments.

Practical Application

Mark 1:19 reminds us that Jesus calls people from all walks of life. Our current work or daily activities, no matter how mundane, can be a place where God finds us and calls us to a greater purpose. The diligence shown by James and John in "mending their nets" can be a metaphor for our own readiness and faithfulness in our present responsibilities, which prepares us for whatever new call God may have for us. It encourages us to be attentive to God's presence and call in the midst of our ordinary lives.

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Cross-References

  • Mark 10:35 (2 votes)

    And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.

  • Acts 1:13 (2 votes)

    And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James.

  • Mark 14:33 (2 votes)

    And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

  • Acts 12:2 (2 votes)

    And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

  • Mark 9:2 (2 votes)

    And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

  • Mark 3:17 (2 votes)

    And James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

  • Matthew 4:21 (2 votes)

    And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James [the son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.