John Kitto Evening Bible Devotions: August 26

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John Kitto Evening Bible Devotions: August 26

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The Draught of Fishes

Mat_4:18-22; Mar_1:16-20; Luk_5:1-11

On quitting Nazareth Jesus proceeded to Capernaum, which henceforth became his head-quarters. This was then one of the most important towns upon the western border of the Lake of Tiberias. If its sight has been correctly identified at the now forsaken spot called Tell Hum, towards the northern border of the lake, Note: This was the conclusion in which travellers had rested, until Dr. Robinson set up a claim in favor of another site, now called Khora Minyeh, much more to the south. This claim seems to us to have been shaken, and that in favor of Tell Hum re-established, by more recent writers. there are remains of splendid public buildings to attest its ancient consequence. The site is also delightful, commanding a fine view of the lake, and of the steep and high mountains around. Behind it the land is fertile and well suited to husbandry, and the lake before it abounds with fine and delicious fish, and has its surface covered with wild ducks, which are easily snared; and on these, as well as on other accounts, it may be said to be “exalted unto heaven,” as our Lord once said of it. In all respects it furnished a place of abode admirably suited to his purposes, both from the facility of communication, as well by land as by the lake, with many considerable and flourishing towns, and of escape into a more secure region in case of any threatened persecution. These were among the considerations which probably determined Jesus to remain at this place; but He also knew that an impression favorable to his ministry had already been made by the recent cure of the nobleman’s son; and that He should here find the disciples who had at first attached themselves to Him, and whom He now purposed to take into more intimate communion with Him, and attendance upon him. They were fishermen upon this lake, to which they had returned to resume their customary occupations, on which their livelihood depended—though at what time this separation took place, we do not well know; perhaps after they had been to Jerusalem at the Passover with Him; perhaps so recently as their arrival in Galilee, when he went to his home, and they to theirs: in either case, probably with the understanding that they would see Him ere long at Capernaum.

When there, an opportunity for taking them into a more fixed connection with Him was soon found. He was one morning walking upon the beach near Capernaum, when a crowd rapidly gathered around One of whom so many strange things had been reported, and about whom local curiosity had been so intensely excited. Their wish was such as He never repelled—it was “to hear the word of God.” But they pressed inconveniently upon Him; and his first post being on a lower level than theirs, was but ill suited for addressing with advantage a large number of people. There were close by, upon the shore, two fishing-boats, belonging to fishermen who had been out all night upon the lake without catching any fish, and who were now, weary and dispirited, washing their nets, before laying them out to dry, ere they went home to get such rest and refreshment as might fit them for the toils of another night. Into one of these boats Jesus entered, and desired the owner to push out a little from the shore; and this being done, He addressed the crowd from the boat, secure by a slight watery barrier, and elevated sufficiently for them to see and hear Him with advantage.

The boat which had afforded to Jesus this convenience belonged to Peter, who was there with his brother Andrew; and the other boat was the property of Zebedee, the father of James and John, the two boats working in partnership. When our Lord had left speaking, He turned to Simon (Peter), and directed him to launch out into deeper water, and cast out his nets again. Simon then mentioned the fact, that they had been toiling all the night—the time most suitable for fishing—and had taken nothing; “nevertheless,” he added, “at thy command I will let down the net.” This has been generally understood to mean, that Peter had no faith in the result, and merely complied with the request of One whom, out of regard to their former transient relation, he recognized as his “Master,” and felt bound to obey. Since the words will equally bear the interpretation, it is more just to Peter, and more in conformity with his character, to understand him as saying, that indeed they had labored until they had no more hope from the ordinary resources of their craft—yet, since He whose authority he recognized, and whose power he revered, saw proper to give such a command, the case was altered, and he would hopefully cast down his net once more into the deep. He did so; and presently it was found that such an immense weight of fish was enclosed in the net, as it was impossible for the united strength of the two brothers to draw, or for the boat to manage. The net indeed began to break with their attempt to draw it. Perceiving this, the brothers hailed their partners in the other boat, who hastened to their relief; and when, by their aid, the net was at length drawn, its contents filled both the boats even to the danger of sinking. At this great miracle the partners, who, as fishermen, could estimate it even more accurately than we can, and who, from its having occurred in their own business, were probably more impressed by it than by miracles which we might regard as more signal, were all greatly astonished; and Peter, always quick in feeling, and ever ready to act on the impulse of the moment, “fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Andrew shared in this feeling, though not in the expression; and this state of mind formed the best preparation possible for true and full adhesion to Christ. He said to both of them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men,”—a phrase by which they better understood the nature of their relation to Him, and of the office that lay before them, than probably they would have done from any other expression He could have used.

This was the real call of Peter and Andrew to the apostleship. Before, they had been disciples, which consisted with their retention of their ordinary pursuits and occupations; but now they were to give themselves wholly to Him, to follow Him wherever He went, to go wherever He sent them, and to be constant companions of his labors, his trials, and his joys; in order that they might themselves be built up in the faith, and become witnesses of Him, and teachers whose influence should be felt to the end of time, and to the utmost limits of the habitable world.

They responded joyfully to this call—they conferred not with flesh and blood, but as soon as they had brought their ship to land, “they left all and followed Him.” It will be observed that, when this took place, Peter and Andrew were alone with Jesus in one of the two boats; and although John and James, in the other boat, had been suitably impressed by the miracle, it does not seem they had witnessed this latter proceeding, the two boats having parted from their close vicinity as soon as each had received its lading. It seems, also, that they steered for a point somewhat distant from that at which the others landed. This may be accounted for by the fact, that Peter and Andrew had now no other object than to land at the nearest point; whereas the others would desire to take their cargo to the point near Capernaum where fish was usually landed. At all events, that some interval of time had elapsed, is shown by the circumstance, that by the time our Lord, with his two followers, arrived at the place where the sons of Zebedee landed, they had discharged and sold their cargo, and were occupied with their father and “hired servants” in repairing the damages the nets had received. The former acts precede the latter; for the first anxiety of fishermen on reaching land is to dispose of their fish, before they had leisure to mend their nets.

When our Lord came to the place where they were thus employed, He at once called James and John to follow Him; and they obeyed as promptly as Peter and Andrew had done. They also left all to follow Him. And that was not much, some have remarked, in either this case or the other—a boat and a few nets. It was more. It was a forsaking of the place, the homes around which, for them, all the charities of life were gathered—of the friends and neighbors with whom they had been accustomed to associate, and of the relations in whom their hearts were delighted. It was an abandonment of the habits of life to which they had been used, and of the occupation in which alone they were skilled, and which furnished their subsistence. And this, not to attach themselves to one who was rich or great, or who could or did hold out to them any worldly advantages—but to One who was as poor as themselves, and One with whom they were often to suffer peril, hunger, and thirst, and who could not assure them of a place where to lay their heads. Whatever they left—it was their all; and was as valuable to them as may be the house or land, the library, the office, the shop, of any one who reads this. No one can leave more than all he has. And the “all” of these disciples seems to have been underrated. We do not even now consider the owner of a fishing smack and nets a poor man; and in the case of John and James, their vessel seems to have been one of size and value, for it is recorded that they had “hired servants” (at least their father had), who were engaged with him in mending the nets, when Jesus called John and James away. These were doubtless fishermen, paid by wages of money or fish, who went out with Zebedee’s sons in the boat. The old man himself seems not to have been in the habit of going out on this night work; nor needed he to do so when he had such sons, and could afford to hire laborers. Hence his presence is not recognized until we find him helping the others in mending the nets. Zebedee himself, as well as his wife, were probably believers in Christ; hence the former, although present when the call was given, made no opposition to the withdrawal of his sons. This is the only time, indeed, that he appears personally; but his wife we shall hereafter meet with, under circumstances which place beyond question her belief in Jesus as the Messiah.