TEXT:
And they left their father Zebedee in the ship.
Mark 1:20.
Not much is said about Mr. Zebedee. He is like a character in a play, like so many we meet in the community. His sons went with Christ. They left their firm, their employees, they left all to follow Jesus. The Bible has a lot to say about Zebedee's sons who were fishermen before they went with Christ. They are a famous family, all but daddy.
James Zebedee was the first apostle martyr. John Zebedee was a writer, probably the most tender book in the world's literature, the Gospel of John, bears his name. James and John were at the Mount of Transfiguration and also at Calvary. It was to John that Jesus appointed the guardianship of His mother Mary. John was a good runner, he outran everybody else to be the first apostle to view the empty tomb.
James and John stood on the shore that morning when Christ called out, "Children, have ye any meat?" John looked and said, "It is the Lord." Where was daddy??? His sons were with Christ, but all we know about dad is what the text tells us, he was the father of John and James. He had a business to handle. He was a hard working man and so he says "good bye" to the boys. He was too busy for the greatest opportunity on earth, that to follow the Lord. He certainly did not try to hinder the boys, if they wanted to serve the Lord, it was fine with dad, he probably was happy to know that his sons had chosen such a high and noble calling. However, as for him, maybe he could come later, right then he had too many obligations to see after, too much work to do, too many other things to occupy his attention.
As for Mrs. Zebedee, we know what happened to her. The New Testament calls her "the mother of Zebedee's children." She chose Christ. She was a very forceful woman, sometimes a little impertinent perhaps, sometimes a little foolish. She loved her boys. She wanted them to amount to something. She wanted them to have the highest place in the kingdom of God and she made no bones about it. She made it known publicly. When Jesus asked her what she would have Him do for her she said, "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on the right hand, and the other on the left in thy kingdom." Matt. 20:21.
Yes, Zebedee's wife was a worshipper of Jesus, and she did all in her power to keep her boys involved in the kingdom. There is no question about her loyalty. She was at the cross when Jesus died. Her faith was real. All the family was touched but what about dad?
What was Zebedee doing that was more important than the doings of the rest of the family? He is mending nets. He had employees to manage, the Stock market to watch, his fishing firm was his life.
He was probably a pleasant man. He did not fuss at his wife about her devotion to Christ, at least there is no indication in the scriptures that he did. He was perfectly willing for her to get up Sunday morning and take the boys to Church. He didn't even get mad when they joined the ministry and left him shorthanded down at the fish market.
This is more than can be said for some husbands. Some of them are mean and do all in their power to make it hard for the kids and the little wife who wants to serve God. Some may not be in the "mean" category, but they will not cooperate, they discourage prayer and Bible teaching in the home, they are not religious minded.
I do not want to pick on Zebedee. There is nothing wrong with mending nets. It is a good, honorable, healthy job. He was a provider for his family, they needed food and care, and he provided it all. He did not wait for the government to feed them. However, tragedy of tragedy, he missed Christ. His wife knew Him, his sons knew Him, he, Zebedee alone, was too busy. He was a businessman and probably took the attitude that many do today, that religion is for women and children. He spent his life mending nets, everyone in the family knew God, everyone but daddy that is.
If there was some way you could have been privileged to meet any of the great men of history, who would you have chosen? Abraham, Moses, Julius Caesar, Paul, Plato, Napoleon, Lincoln or how? These were all great men in their field and men that any of us would feel it an honor to meet. However, if we really had our choice of all men who ever lived, we would brush aside those just named for the chance to meet Christ. Zebedee had that chance but apparently ignored it.
Not only did he miss seeing Jesus, he missed hearing the Sermon on the Mount. He missed hearing the greatest sermon ever preached on this globe. His sons heard it but not daddy, he never did get around to it.
Dad, you may be reading these lines, are you missing out too? Remember that one day ALL will hear His voice either in rejection or acceptance. However it will be too late for those who have refused to hear and heed it in the day of mercy and opportunity.
Zebedee missed the miracles Jesus performed, and he missed seeing the power of God in action. He didn't take time to look up from his, nets. The cigarette companies advertise, "I'd walk a mile for a Camel," but most of us today are not interested enough to walk a block to the revival meeting to see a sinner cleansed and their lives rebuilt.
Zebedee missed seeing Lazarus restored to life. He was probably the kind of man who said, "Well, I work hard all day and I am so tired when I get home, I just don't feel like going anywhere much."
He missed seeing the empty tomb. His sons were there and saw it, they witnessed the triumph of the resurrection but daddy was mending nets, he missed seeing it.
My hat is off to the man who will work. The harder he works, and the more pride he takes in his work, the more my hat is off to him. I have no time whatever for a lazy-bone. I am allergic to such people. Just having one around makes me tired. However, there is more to life than working hard and making a living. It means getting ready for eternity. It means more than fishing, ball games, hunting, gardening, housekeeping, etc. Some of these may be good and legitimate so long as they do not keep us from Jesus. The three men who made the excuses for not going to the supper in Luke 14 all had legitimate arguments, there was nothing wrong with their having land, oxen and a wife. The trouble was that they put those things ahead of the invitation.
There is nothing in the world so important as that of being a Christian. The dad needs to be saved because he is the head of the home and has a great responsibility in that position. His wife changed her name to wear his. The children bear his name. The property is in his name. The man should be FIRST to head toward Christ. He should not leave it to his wife and children to set the example.
Today's Zebedees are the men among us who never lead their families to Christ. They provide a way for them to go to church, but dad is too busy. They might even attend the services, but their mind and heart is only invested in their nets. Yes, Zebedee was proud of his family, he would not have changed a thing about them. His wife was a Godly woman, his sons were in the ministry, that was fine, he had no objections, he would vote any day to keep it just that way. However, it just didn't seem to be for him, he had other things to do. Dad, don't cancel Jesus. Don't be a Zebedee.
The poet said it all so very well when he penned the following lines—
There are little eyes upon you, and they're watching night and day;
There are little ears that quickly take in every word you say;
There are little hands all eager to do everything you do,
And a little boy who's dreaming of the day he'll be like you.
You're the little fellow's idol; you're the wisest of the wise;
In his little mind about you no suspicions ever rise;
He believes in you devoutly, holds all that you say and do,
He will say and do in your way when he's grown up just like you.
There's a wide-eyed little fellow who believes you're always right,
And his ears are always open, and he watches day and night.
You are setting an example every day in all you do,
For the little boy who's waiting to grow up to be like you.
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