“Jesus,
walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew
his brother, casting a new into the sea: for they were fishers. And He saith
unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway
left their nets, and followed Him. And going on from thence, He saw other two
brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with
Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. And they
immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.” (Matthew
4:18-22.) This is our introduction in the New Testament to Zebedee and his
children. From Luke 5 we learn that Simon and Andrew were their partners in the
fishing business, and from Mark 1 we learn that Zebedee not only had his two
sons helping him, but “hired servants” also.
“They
immediately left the ship and their father, and followed Him.” “I heard His
call, Come, Follow! That was all. My gold grew dim, my soul went after Him, I
rose and followed, That was all. Who would not follow, if they heard His call?”
We
hear not a word of reproach from Zebedee: and when later his wife followed Him
also, and ministered to Him of their substance (Matthew 27:55-56), we still
hear of no protests. We know very little about him, though his name is
mentioned some twelve times in the Gospels. We seem to know a little more about
“the mother of Zebedee’s children”, than of Zebedee himself. Her heart was
evidently won by the Master her sons had followed. She knew He was a King, and
was one day coming into His kingdom. Perhaps she knew still more, for she
worshipped Him. (Matthew 20:20-21.) But she did not know or realize that He was
a rejected King, and that she was living in the time of His rejection. She came
with her sons seeking the highest place in the kingdom for them. She did not
know that Christ Jesus made Himself of no reputation. But the Lord answers her:
“Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink
of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They thought
they were able, and He replies that they should indeed drink of His cup, and be
baptized with His baptism, but He did not promise the high place they were
seeking.
It
would take a book, perhaps many books, to meditate on all the path of the
children of Zebedee: but I want to think a little of the scene we have just
been looking at. They were not the first ones to whom the Lord had need to say:
“Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not.” (Jeremiah 45:5). And we are sometimes tempted to seek
great things for ourselves, or for our children. “Seek them not.” This is the
day of our Lord’s rejection. This is the day when we may share His cup of
suffering and sorrow. Seek not wealth or power for your children. “They that
will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and
hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of
money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred
from the faith, and pierced themselves though with many sorrows.”
(1 Timothy 6:9-10.) Far better
like James and John, to forsake all and follow Him.
Earthly
blessing and an earthly portion were promised to the Jew: but our citizenship
is in Heaven, we are not of this world, even as our Lord and Master was not of
this world. The day of glory is coming. We are joint-heirs with Christ; if so
be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together. But one who
knew more of suffering with Him that almost any other, adds: “For I reckon that
the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:17-18.)
“I will give her My cross of suffering, My cup of sorrow to share: But with endless love, in My Home above, All shall be righted there.”