WE find that after John was put in prison Jesus went into Galilee, and preached the gospel of the kingdom of God. He told the people that the time was fulfilled, and the kingdom of God was at hand, and called on them to repent, and believe the good news. John the Baptist, the King’s forerunner, had been doing this, but Herod had shut him up in prison, and now the King Himself began to tell the people in Galilee about the kingdom that was to be set up. The leaders of the people would reject Him, as well as John, but still He went on, and preached the good news. God would give Him some followers, even though many would not have Him to reign over them. And if, on account of His rejection, the kingdom was not established in Jerusalem, He would not fail to bless those who believed on Him, and became His followers. Indeed He would bestow upon them greater blessings than they could possess in an earthly kingdom. So He went on, preaching, and gathering disciples to Himself, some of whom were to be used in the great work of preaching the gospel.
Four of these are mentioned in Mark 1:16-2016Now 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. 17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 19And 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. 20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. (Mark 1:16‑20). These four were all fishers. They had boats and nets, and made their living by catching fish in the sea of Galilee. But Jesus was going to make them fishers of another kind. He would make them “fishers of men.” Instead of catching fish in the sea of Galilee, they would cast the gospel net into the sea of the nations, and catch men. That is, they would go out into the world, and by the preaching of the gospel would win souls for Jesus.
Two of these men were Simon and Andrew. They were brothers, and were working together at their fishing. “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.”
Then there were two others, a little distance away, who were also brothers. These were James and John. They were with their father Zebedee in the ship, mending their nets. These also Jesus called, and they left their father, and went after Him.
These four first became followers of Jesus, and afterwards Jesus appointed them apostles, and preachers of the gospel. They believed in Jesus, and received His teaching, and then preached the good news to others.
Now, I wonder if some of my young readers have heard the voice of Jesus calling them, and saying, “Follow me.” Ah! yes, He calls you by the gospel, and would have you follow Him. His desire is to save you, and bless you; and He has many wonderful things to reveal to you out of God’s word. Now, will you follow Him, like Simon Peter and Andrew, his brother, and the two brothers, James and John? Jesus will greatly bless you if you follow Him, and you will be gainers for time and eternity. And perhaps some of you who read these words will have it put in your hearts to become fishers of men. Oh! how blessed this would be—not only to receive the good news yourselves, but to go out to the perishing, and tell them of Jesus, and the way of salvation, through, faith in Him, and thus to win them to Jesus, and be used of God in turning them from death to life, so that they may not perish, but have a portion with Jesus in eternal glory.
A. H. R.
ML 08/26/1900