The Marks of the Master's Men (3)

Introduction

I liked to hire guys who were young, dumb, and preferably in debt - they had to work hard!

As Jesus began calling His disciples, what was He looking for?

I. The character desired

Mark 1:16–17 KJV 1900

Now 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. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Jesus called simple men. Note that they were not …

religious leaders.

powerful men, not the political leaders of the nation’s ruling body, the Sanhedrin

not of the priestly or ministerial profession

not students in the schools of higher learning.

Very simply, they were ordinary men, simple laymen engaged in the affairs of life just like all the laymen of their day. Having said this, however, a question needs to be asked. If these men were just ordinary people, why did Jesus call them instead of calling the more gifted? The answer lies in some very special qualities that the disciples possessed. They did have some very special qualities that made them stand out from the average layman. This passage gives a picture of these qualities, a picture of the kind of person Jesus calls.

They were industrious, hard-working men.

Mark 1:16 KJV 1900

Now 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.

They were visionary men: looking for the Messiah and ready to follow Him.

Mark 1:17–18 KJV 1900

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.

The disciples of Jesus were visionary men, men who were looking for the Messiah and ready to follow Him no matter the cost. This was the quality that distinguished the disciples from many others. Some lay persons possessed the other qualities of the disciples (as they do in every generation), but this particular quality was found in few, if in any other men.

3. They were cooperative men.

Mark 1:19 KJV 1900

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.

The disciples of Jesus were cooperative men. They were brothers, and yet they were working together.

4. They were successful men, but also sacrificial and considerate.

Mark 1:20 KJV 1900

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

The fourth quality was a willingness to sacrifice all in order to follow Christ. Many were looking for the Messiah, but few were actually ready to follow Him. Few if any others would pay the cost of giving up their businesses and of immediately following Jesus. But these men were willing to follow Jesus, and they did follow Him.

How many adults care enough for their parents to see to it that they have plenty of help in tending their affairs? The kind of person Jesus calls is a considerate person.

Few people have a strong vision—a vision so strong that they are willing to pay any price to follow Jesus. Giving up their profession or business, home or environment, family or friends is just too costly. They lack the vision.

II. The call described

Mark 1:16–17 KJV 1900

Now 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. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Verse 17 is crisp and clear: “Follow Me … and I will make you fish for people!” This is a call to discipleship and a unique one at that. In the rabbinic schools of the day, the aspiring student sought out the respected rabbi. Further, the student’s allegiance was to the Law, not to the teacher. Jesus’ form of discipleship is fundamentally different! Jesus seeks them out, and their allegiance will be to Him.

His call changed their life

They probably seldom left the docks and their ship. If they did they wouldn’t have been likely to leave Galilee. On rare occasions they may have travelled to Jerusalem for religious events.

They talked of family, fishing, weather, currents, and ships. Then Jesus called them to follow Him and they travel the known world preaching the Gospel! Peter to Rome, John to Ephesus, Andrew almost to what we know as Russia. they saw thousands come to know the Lord. Peter and John write material that will be preserved forever in God’s Word.

Answering the call to follow Jesus will transform you entire being!!

III. The commission delivered

Mark 1:18–20 KJV 1900

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. 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 straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

Jesus declared that he would make them fishers of men. This phrase was a metaphor used by the Old Testament prophets for the gathering of people for judgment (Jer. 16:14–16; Amos 4:2). Note that the primary call is to become “fishers of men,” not to become teachers, preachers, counselors, administrators, builders, fund raisers or anything else. Yet, how easily we obscure and camouflage the evangelistic ministry of the church. Jesus was calling Simon and Andrew to the urgent task of rescuing people from the impending judgment implied by the coming of the kingdom in the person and work of Jesus. This urgency demanded a response. The phrase at once indicates that urgency. Leaving their nets showed their willingness to make a total commitment as disciples of Christ.

Conclusion

Ivor Powell writes...”We all possess “boats,” and most of what is valued on earth may be found in them. To turn our backs upon family and friends, to renounce all personal ambitions, our longing for fame and fortune, is seldom, if ever, easy. Yet this is the test of true discipleship. Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 10:37–39). It is much safer to rest in the arms of the living God than to be rocked to and fro in an expensive fishing boat!”