19⌄ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

Mark 1:19
  • Location: Galilee
  • Subject: Jesus Rebel
  • Narrator: Mars
  • Author: Flavius Josephus
  • Created: Flavian Imperial Cult

Again with the fishermen, again with the names of rebellion leaders. Again, his authority is unquestioned, and no time was wasted in resolving his desires. In contrast with Simon and Andrew, James and John had a dad, and a boat, and servants. Clearly a family of means – one meaning of “Zebedee” is “Yahweh has bestowed”, in modern lingo: “Sir Moneybags”. But this boat hasn’t caught any fish yet, it’s on the shore; it’s the beginning of the season and they’re still mending the nets. It is unlikely Sir Moneybags would have willingly chosen to have his sons leave his employ at the start of fishing season, as this will leave them hungry, again expressing the power of the authority of Jesus and telegraphing a time of great hunger in the future.