Jesus begins His ministry

St Mark Chapter I : Verses 14-20

[14] And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

[15] And saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.

[14] Postquam autem traditus est Joannes, venit Jesus in Galilæam, praedicans Evangelium regni Dei, 

[15] et dicens : Quoniam impletum est tempus, et appropinquavit regnum Dei : pœnitemini, et credite Evangelio.

Notes

14. Galilee. This was the most northern and most populous of the divisions of Palestine. The others were Samaria (central) and Judea (in the south). Jesus now begins His ministry in Galilee.

the gospel of the kingdom of God. The redemption wrought by Jesus Christ, the establishment of the Church on earth. Jesus takes up and continues the ministry of St John the Baptist.

15. The time is accomplished. The time of grace and salvation fore¬ told by the prophets has now arrived. The Messiah has come.

The first four disciples

The calling of Simon and Andrew. J-J Tissot

[16] And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets into the sea (for they were fishermen).

[17] And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 

[18] And immediately leaving their nets, they followed him.

[16] Et præteriens secus mare Galilaeae, vidit Simonem, et Andream fratrem ejus, mittentes retia in mare (erant enim piscatores),

[17] et dixit eis Jesus : Venite post me, et faciam vos fieri piscatores hominum. 

[18] Et protinus relictis retibus, secuti sunt eum.

The calling of James and John. J-J Tissot

[19] And going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship: 

[20] And forthwith he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired men, they followed him.

[19] Et progressus inde pusillum, vidit Jacobum Zebedæi, et Joannem fratrem ejus, et ipsos componentes retia in navi : 

[20] et statim vocavit illos. Et relicto patre suo Zebedæo in navi cum mercenariis, secuti sunt eum.

Notes

16. the Sea of Galilee. It had various names, drawn chiefly from the towns or localities on its shores (see Geog. Notes, p. 84).

He saw Simon. Not for the first time. He was already our Lord’s disciple (St John i. 40-42).

casting nets. There were two kinds of nets used by fishermen. The casting net and the bag or hand net. The casting net is here spoken of. It was circular in shape and had weights attached to make it sink. It was probably at this time, before the call of the first four Apostles, that the first miraculous draught of fishes took place (St Luke v. 1 ).

Order of events : —

(a) Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee.

(b) The crowds press around Him.

(c) He enters Peter’s boat and preaches to the people.

(d) The miraculous draught of fishes, was caught.

(e) Jesus calls the four Apostles.

saw Simon , etc., casting nets. Doubtless the net was cast in obedience to our Lord’s command.

17. Come after me , i.e. “ Follow Me,” as a disciple accompanies his master.

Fishers of men, i.e. men chosen to bring souls into the Church of Christ by their preaching and holy lives. Hence the Pope, the successor of St Peter, signs, “ under the seal of the Fisherman.” Of old, God promised, Behold, I will send many fishers .... and they shall fish them (Jer. xvi. 16).

19. in the ship, i.e. in their fishing boat

20. hired men. From the fact that Zebedee owned two boats and employed paid hands, we may safely conclude that he was not poor. Also we find later that his son St John was known to the high-priest (St John xviii. 15).

Additional Notes

It is interesting to note the steps by which our Lord’s first four disciples were gradually led to give up all and follow

Him.

(1) They were disciples of St John the Baptist.

(2) They heard St John point out Jesus as the Lamb of God (St John

i. 36).

(3) They followed Jesus, saw where He dwelt, and stayed with him that day (St John i. 39).

(4) They were present at the marriage at Cana (St John ii. 2).

(5) After the first miraculous draught of fishes, Jesus called them to follow Him.

(6) They were enrolled with eight others as the chosen Apostles of Jesus.

Galilee (Sea of)

This is a beautiful lake, the second formed  by the Jordan in its course. It  lies embosomed among steep mountains, of which the deep gorges act as gigantic funnels,  and thus cause violent and sudden tempests, due to the differences of temperature in the airof the sea- level and that  above. It is about 13 miles long and 6 miles broad, and lies  700 feet below the level of the sea.

This lake is known under four names The  Sea  of Galilee  (vii. 31.)  The Lake of  Gennesareth (St Luke v. 1). Sea of  Oenereth  (Num. xxxiv.11). Sea of  Tiberias (St John vi. 1).

St  Mark  always refers to it as the Sea of Galilee, or “the sea.”  It is mentioned in his gospel four times : —

(1)  The call of Simon, Andrew, James and John (i. 16-20).

(2)  The call of Levi or Matthew (ii. 13,14).

(3)  The stilling of the tempest (iv. 37-40).

(4)  Jesus walking on the sea  (vi. 47-53).

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.