Mark 1:20 “And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.”
In Mark 1:16 we find Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee and He sees Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Mark 1:17 reveals the life-changing invitation as Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” We see their response in verse 18 as they immediately left their nets and followed Him. Then in verse 19, we see the search for more disciples continues “When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets And immediately He called them.” Verse 20b is their response as “They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.”
They LEFT. The call to FOLLOW comes with a call to LEAVE. Just as Simon (Peter) and Andrew LEFT James and John LEFT their fishing business and, AND, they left their father. While it reads quickly this was a huge decision. To answer the call to follow meant they had to leave, yes, forsake what they had been doing and who they had been with. To be a faithful follower of Jesus meant they had to forsake all.
If you are to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus, then Jesus will be first. That means first above family and friends and occupation. It does not mean you don’t have family, friends, and occupation. It means He is first in family, first with friends, and first with wherever you work. To follow Jesus means He is first.
It appears that Zebedee released his sons as well as supported his sons in LEAVING him to follow Jesus. What an example he is to all of us.
Continue Strong as a fully devoted follower of Jesus,
And Remember to Date the Word