In their faithfulness in their duties in their former life, in the carefulness in mending their nets, in the patience and perseverance during the nights of fruitless toil, in their thoughtfulness, skill and experience in catching fish—­in such things Christ found likeness of what He would make them to become—­fishers of men.  From their old business He would teach them lessons about the new,—­of His power, the abundance of His store, and the great things they were to do for Him and their fellow-men.  Before they leave it, He makes Himself a kind of partner with them.  Having used Simon’s boat for a pulpit for teaching, He tells him to launch out into the deep and to let down his net.  It encloses a multitude of fishes.  Andrew and James with their brothers whom they had called to Jesus, the first company to follow Him from the Jordan, are the first to do so in a new and fuller sense from the shores of Gennesaret, where they first learned of Him.

There is something touching in the special reference to the call of the sons of Salome, whose relation to Mary first interested us in them.  It is said of Jesus, “He saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother and He called them.  And they immediately left their father in the ship with the hired servants.  They forsook all and followed Him.”

[Illustration:  THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES Old Engraving Page 94]

What reminders do we here have of the past!  James and John, true brothers in childhood, united in business in early life, now hand in hand commence life anew.  Having become the help, and much more the companions of their father they must leave him to the companionship of hired servants.  But in this hour of sundering family ties, the loving father and loving sons rejoice in Jesus as their Master whom they all willingly obey.

He chose twelve whom He called Apostles.  Such was the glorious company, composed of young men, the most honored in all earthly history, to be His closest companions, His missionary family.  During the remainder of His life He would train them; and when leaving the world trust their faithfulness and devotion in extending His kingdom.  The two pair of brothers and their early friend Philip are the first named of the Apostles.  The early Bethsaidan group composed almost one-half of the apostolic company.  But within that circle there was another.  Three of the twelve were chosen by the Lord for closer intimacy.  They were to be special witnesses of His greatest power, His most radiant glory, and His deepest sorrow upon earth.  They were Peter, James and John.  Two of the three, Peter and John, were to be united in special service for their Lord while He was with them, and so continue after He was gone.  But of the twelve Jesus drew one closest to Himself, most loved and the most glorious of them all:  it was John.