2. CALL OF THE FOUR Mark 1:16-20 (Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 1:11) 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee,--This sea was formed by a depression in the ground where the river Jordan spread out, for it ran into the northern end of the sea and out at the southern end. At Capernaum and around this lake Jesus did the most of his marvelous works and spent the most of his public life. he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers.--It was a casting net --that one could be thrown in different directions in order to enclose the fish. Fishing was their occupation. Moses and David were called from keeping sheep; Gideon from threshing wheat; Elisha from the plow. God has honored humble, yet honest labor, from the beginning. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.--Passing over the extraordinary draught of fishes recorded by Luke (Luke 5:4-7), Mark records the call of these two brothers. The last clause is a beautiful allusion to their former occupation as a figure of the one which they were now to undertake. They are now to be fishers of men, winners of souls to Christ. They were to catch men in the gospel net and lead them into the kingdom of God. Note that Jesus did not at this time call them to be fishers of men, but promised to train them to be such on their becoming his followers. He said: "I will make you to become fishers of men." 18 And straightway they left the nets, and followed him. --Leaving their nets, not only for the present but forever, as their permanent employment and the means of their subsistence. 19 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.--Counting the "hired servants" of the next verse, there were not less than five in this fishing crew. Jesus saw only two of this number with enough material in them to suit his purpose at this particular time. 20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.--The fact that they left their father with the hired servants shows that they did not leave him without help or company. Doubtless he was just as able to continue his business as when his sons were with him.