zebedee's story

As [Jesus] went a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him. 
~Mark 1:19-20

All stories have supporting characters who may play a large part in the narrative, following along and interacting with the protagonist from start to finish, or a much smaller part, mentioned in passing and soon forgotten as the epic continues. However, regardless of whether a supporting character plays a small or large part in someone else’s story, every supporting character has a story of their own. In the call story of James and John, this supporting character is Zebedee; and I’d like to tell his story (at least how I imagine it may have gone). 

Zebedee was a fisherman, as was his father before him and his father’s father before that. He was raised in Galilee and spent as much time on the water as he did on land. When his sons, James and John, were old enough, he taught them the family trade. For years they fished together, went to market together, and fared many storms together - literally and figuratively. All that came to an abrupt end when a man named Jesus called James and John from their father’s side to follow Him.

A few days later, Jesus found Zebedee sitting on the bank of Galilee and sat down beside him. A few minutes passed in silence as the two men sat watching the water lap against the shore. Finally, Zebedee spoke, “Why did you call my sons, James and John, but did not call me?” Jesus looked at Zebedee and said, “Zebedee, you were called by my Father to be a fisherman. Since you were a boy, you’ve had the ability to predict the weather and the movement of the fish. I’ve seen you in the marketplace determining a fair price for your fish so as not to exploit your neighbors while still supporting your family. Someday, a little boy will bring a few fish from your catch, and I will multiply those fish to feed 5,000 people. Your call to be a fisherman matters to the Kingdom of God, and it is just as important as your sons’ calls to be disciples.”

We are each called by God to certain professions based on our own unique gifts. For some that is teacher, for others it is janitor, still others are called to be astronauts while others are called to be actuaries. All are important to the Kingdom of God. God created you exactly as you are in order to impact the world through your gifts. Just because your call is not to “formal ministry” does not mean that your call is not to do the work of God. When we use our gifts to better our workplace, the people in our lives, and the wider world, we are doing God’s work. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work” (1 Cor 12:6). No matter where you are or what you’re doing, invite God to work through you and use the gifts you were given to make the world a better place.