James and John Matthew 4:21

Matthew shared how Jesus was “baptized” and “tempted” by the “devil”, and he wrote, “Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-one of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told Peter and Andrew, “follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” where we read:

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.

The verse reads, “And going on from there, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, ...” Matthew began with the words, “and going on” which means “and advancing further or forward” “from there” which refers to “from the place where Peter and Andrew left their nets”, “he saw” or “Jesus noticed” “other two brethren” which means “two other brothers”, “James” whose name means “supplanter” and was “a son of Zebedee who was an apostle and brother of the apostle John and commonly called James the greater or elder who was slain by Herod” “the son of Zebedee” or “the offspring and progeny of a fisherman of Galilee who was the father of the apostles James the Great and John and the husband of Salome whose name means my gift”, “and John” which means “John the apostle whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver” who was “the writer of the fourth Gospel and the son of Zebedee and Salome and the brother of James the elder” “his brother” or “James' brother”. Matthew shared how Jesus left the place where He “called” Peter and Andrew who were brothers and saw James and John who were brothers as well.

The verse continues, “... in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.” Matthew added the words, “in a ship” which means “within a sailing vessel”“with Zebedee” or “alongside the fisherman of Galilee who was the father of the apostles James the Great and John and the husband of Salome whose name means my gift” “their father” which means “James and John's generator and male ancestor”, “mending” or “rendering fit, completing, repairing, equipping and preparing” “their nets” which means “James and John's fishing net”; “and he called them” or “and Jesus saluted, bid forth and invited James and John”. Matthew shared how Jesus saw “James and John” “repairing their fishing nets” with their father “Zebedee” when He “called them” to come with Him.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus “called” two more brothers, James and John, who were also fishermen. These men were “repairing” their “nets” as Jesus “invited” them to be His disciples. Once again, they were busy about their “occupation” when Jesus “called”. God wants every person to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and many times He calls them in the midst of their “occupations”. May all who read these words be open to “follow” Jesus regardless of when He calls.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus saw, “James and John” “immediately left the ship and their father” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.