His call was and is very simple: "'Come, follow me,'" Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men'" (v. 17). "Come" is a command: "come here." "Follow" means "be full-time followers, pupils, disciples."

The construction is plural, showing that this is Jesus' will for each and all of them.

"Me" shows that they will follow Jesus personally.  Their loyalty will not be to a religion, an institution, a program, but a person.  The Son of God himself.

Then, "when he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him" (vs. 19-20).

For what purpose?  "And I will make you fishers of men."  "Make" means to equip for a job, to give you all you need.  "I will make you" shows that only Jesus can do this.  And that he will--this is his promise.

"Fishers"--people who will catch something.  What?  "Fishers of men"--all men.  Not just Jews, but Gentiles.  Not just men, but women.  Everyone.  The entire world.  "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16).  He wants us to love the world, and win the world to Jesus.

But it was easy for them, we think.  They were simple, humble fishermen--what did they have to lose?  Everything we have to lose today.

James and John had hired servants.  Peter and Andrew had their own permanent residence in the area.  They had enough economic means to be able to leave their families and support themselves for the two years they would live full-time with Jesus in his itinerant ministry.

We visited the site which traditionally marks Peter's house in Capernaum.  Etchings in ancient Greek, Hebrew, Syriac and Latin show that pilgrims visited and venerated the spot as early as the first century.  It is the largest house discovered in Capernaum, and is located nearest the beach with the best view.

These men gave up everything we have to follow Jesus.  Their jobs, incomes, ability to support their families personally and be engaged in their lives on a daily basis.  While their servants would continue their business, these men sacrificed their closest relationships for the sake of their relationship with Jesus.