As we read these lovely verses in the first chapter of Mark, we find the Lord Jesus, early in His earthly ministry, walking along the Sea of Galilee.  It must have been a fair day, because He saw men in ships out in the sea and along the shore, busily engaged in their life’s occupation of fishing. If you have ever walked along a shoreline on a nice day, I’m sure you are familiar with the sights and sounds of the sea.  I expect the Lord Jesus heard the sounds of sea gulls, watched the rhythmic rush of the waves rolling onto the beach, and I expect there was the faint smell of fish on the breeze.  In verse 16 we read that as Jesus walked along the shore, He looked out and saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net for they were fishers. He called to them in verse 17 as we read, “And Jesus said unto them, “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” 

How could these fishermen become fishers of men?  Simon and Andrew knew well how to catch and process fish, for that had been their life’s occupation up to that point, and I’m sure they knew this work inside and out.  When I was a boy, my father often took me fishing.  He loved fishing and knew a lot about it.  I didn’t necessarily share his love for fishing, but I did love to be with him.  And, he certainly knew how to catch fish!  He knew where to find fish running, what to use for bait, and when to set the hook.  Most importantly, he was patient and persistent, and these are critical traits for a good fisherman.  When I followed his instructions, I caught fish!  I expect the same is true of being a “fisher of men.”  The Lord Jesus was calling Simon, Andrew, James and John to an entirely new occupation, and the way to be successful was to follow Jesus—“Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”  At the calling of Jesus, these men dropped what had occupied them most in life and followed Jesus.  What are we occupied with?

Now, what was it like for the disciples to “come after” Jesus?  As we read further in our portion, we see what the disciples saw as they went along after Jesus.  We read of Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath (verse 21), and we read in verse 22, “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.”  The Lord Jesus spoke with the authority that was lacking in the scribes because He spoke what He knew to be true, and He  lived it.  How very sad when we hear so called ministers of the Word who are merely reciting words without any real conviction.  Each of us who are Christians are privileged to be channels of light to the hearts of those around us who are lost, and we should therefore speak His Word with authority and conviction.  “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ,”( II Cor. 4:6).

Following on in this portion, we see the Lord Jesus ministering to others, reversing the misery brought on by sin through the healing power of God.  He cast out a demon in verses 23-27, and in verses 29-31, He healed the mother-in-law of Simon.  At evening, people from all over Capernaum began to collect at the house of Simon to see Jesus and be healed by Him.  It must have seemed that everyone wanted to be near Jesus, for we read in verse 33, “And all the city was gathered together at the door.”  The people of this region knew who had the words of healing and life, and they wanted to be near Jesus.

 You and I today live in a world where the misery brought on by sin is evident all around us.  Souls are crying out for help and relief, and we can minister to those in our corner of the world through the healing words of the gospel.  Weary hearts all over the world are longing to hear words of comfort and hope like those of our Lord Jesus in His tender invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls,” (Matthew 11:28,29).

Finally, we read in verse 35, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”  Our Lord Jesus, in the work that was before Him, valued communion with His Father at the beginning of the day.  While others yet slept, He was up and out to a solitary place where He could be alone in prayer.    Prayer is a sign of dependence on God, and it should characterize all Christians.  The Lord Jesus found this time alone with the Father to be important enough that He got out of bed way before others, and sought a solitary place where He could begin the day speaking to and listening to His Father.  It should be no less important for us.  Yet, often enough, when weighed down by the burdens and cares of life, I find myself sleeping in when I could be having communion with the Father.  Brethren, we need time apart for prayer at the beginning of the day, before we set out on even the most routine activities—time to be alone with the Father.  Like the Lord Jesus, we should be known for prayer, as we read in Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…”

  When the disciples finally got up, they came after the Lord Jesus, and in verses 37 and 38 we read, “And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.  And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.”  The message from the disciples was that all men sought for Jesus.  The men around Capernaum sought Him indeed, most likely because of His marvelous works.  But the Lord Jesus had others to preach to as well, and He must be about the work that was given Him to do.  His Father’s will was that He go on to the next towns, regardless of the popular support He had right there.  And how did He know the Father’s will?  He had been with the Father early in the morning in prayer, so He knew what the work before Him was to be for that day.  Are we following the Lord Jesus?  To follow the Lord Jesus, we must spend time with Him and learn of Him; and in so doing, we become more like Him.  Our job is to follow Jesus—He knows best how to prepare us to do His work.  “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”