In Matthew 4:21–22, the calling of John and James is recorded.
John and James were brothers, sons of Zebedee.
Their calling parallels the previous story in several ways. First, both Simon and John were brothers. Second, both were called suddenly while Jesus was walking along the Sea of Galilee. Third, both immediately left their nets. Beyond these similarities, there are two notable differences. First, Simon and Andrew were called while casting their nets, whereas John and James had finished casting and were cleaning up. Second, Simon and Andrew are recorded as leaving only their nets, but John and James left both their nets and their father. Mark 1:20 adds that they also left their hired men. This second difference deserves attention.
Leaving their father and hired men was radical for John and James. In their world, fathers represented stability and authority. Departing meant surrendering security and comfort for independence and a new direction. Scripture notes that such departures occur only for marriage or following a revered teacher.
Additionally, their departure meant leaving a high social status. Hired men signaled privilege; John’s access to the high priest suggests connections (John 18:19–24). Following Jesus meant giving up comfort and privilege for a simpler life.
Their calling is another form of “changing nets.” From Simon’s story, we learned about leaving livelihood for the more fundamental—God’s will and plan. From John and James, we learn about abandoning stability, comfort, and privilege. Leaving father and social status for Jesus is hard for the world to understand. The world teaches the pursuit of stability, comfort, and privilege; God often calls us to the opposite. Stability may be lost, comforts exchanged for trials, privilege replaced by simplicity. The sons of Zebedee traded a “net of comfort” for a “net of simplicity.”
Those who insist on privilege and comfort, unwilling to face change, cannot truly follow Jesus. Following Him requires becoming “unseen” by the world to be seen by God. Simplicity indicates one does not crave the world. This is essential. If someone does not live—consuming only what is needed—then loving God is unlikely. The world trains us to hold on to our “nets of comfort” and must be willing to exchange them for “nets of simplicity” in daily life and desires. Only then can we become fishers of men.