Day 110: Mark 1:16–20

Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him (v. 20).

I’m so glad God chose to include the name of James and John’s father in Scripture. He wasn’t just any man. He wasn’t just any father. He was Zebedee. He had a name. He had feelings. He had plans. He was probably close enough to each of his sons’ births to hear Salome, his young, inexperienced wife, cry out in pain. He probably wept when he was told he had a son. And then another. No doubt, he praised God for such grace. Daughters were loved, but every man needed a son to carry on the family line, after all.

Two fine sons. That’s what Zebedee had. He named them himself. They played in his shadow until they were old enough to work; and if I know anything about teenage boys, they still played plenty behind his back even when they were supposed to be working. Just about the time Zebedee grew exasperated with them, he’d look in their faces and see himself.

At the time when Christ called James and John, I have a feeling they had never been more pleasure or more support. Life is curious. Just about the time you get to reap some of the fruit of your parenting labors, the young, flourishing tree gets transplanted elsewhere.

Keith and I experienced this season of life I’m describing. The summers of our daughters’ college years were great fun, and we never secretly wanted to push them back to school or down an aisle. They had never been more delightful, never been easier to care for, and never had more to offer in terms of company and stimulating conversation. I wonder if Zebedee felt the same way about his young adult sons.

Just when Zeb was reaping a harvest of parental rewards, James and John jumped ship. All he had to show for it was a slimy fishing net. What would happen to the business? What about Zebedee and Sons? No matter how Zebedee felt, I have a pretty good feeling God had great compassion on him. After all, He knew how Zebedee felt when John had to be called away from his father’s side in order to fulfill his destiny.

Chances are pretty good Zebedee thought their sudden departure was a phase and they’d get over it. Glory to God, they never did. Once we let Jesus Christ really get to us, we never get over Him.