Fishers of men

Matthew 4:19

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Jesus, at the beginning of His earthly ministry, called twelve apostles to be with Him. These were to be His companions during His ministry, as He went about healing, curing, and saving. They would see His deeds, and hear His words. They would experience the miracles at His hands, and be recipients of the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. They would be the immediate beneficiaries of His benevolent blessings that He so freely bestowed on others. They would see Him in agony and in angst as He set out for the hill of Calvary. They would be with Him in the greatest moment of trial that He would endure in Gethsemane. And, although they would experience all of these things and many more besides, they were all ordinary men. They were peasants of the most mean estate, no eminent or knightly men, no extraordinary or pompous citizens. They were only men whom Christ called.

The men in the passage before us today were fishermen, and this was not by accident. For you see! There was a purpose in all of this. These men, who were accustomed to throwing in the net and drag, and were familiar with the many long nights of casting and taking in, would be the greatest fishers of men the world would ever know! These men, who knew the joy of a catch and the disappointment of an empty net, would know these same emotions in the great quest for souls. “Follow me,” said Jesus, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Fishers of men! Anglers for mankind! The rest of their lives would no longer be given to maritime fishing but to soul-winning! The rest of their lives would not be in a boat, but in the world—across the continents and over the seas. They would span the countries and traverse the globe for the great cause of Christ. And this is evidenced through their immediate obedience to the Lord in leaving the ship and their father. They straightway left their nets, and followed him. They headed the lifetime call to be fishers of men. What a calling this is!

But dear friend, lest we think that such a call is relegated only to the full-time pastor or evangelist, and lest we believe that this is somehow confined to the David Livingstone’s of the world and the Hudson Taylor’s, let us know that the call is extended across the ages to all who will follow Him. For you see, the call is simple and straightforward. Follow Christ, and as you follow Him, He will make you a fisher of men. It does not tell us that we shall make ourselves such, or that someone will assist to make us fishers of men, although others may be used of God to help. Rather, did not Jesus simply command that we follow Him? And by virtue of obedience to His call, we shall become a fisher of men. Oh, my brother or sister, God is looking for men and women like you who are willing to become fishers of mankind. But I must ask now, are you following Him? Are you heeding His beckoning hand? Do you see Him imploring you to follow Him? For if you do, you will, no doubt, become a fisher of men as you lay down your nets, leave the ship, and follow Him.

“Father, we praise and thank You for the reminder that You have so tenderly and graciously given us that the call is to one and to all. We are called of You to be a fisher of men. And we cannot become a fisher ourselves. We need your aid and help, and we are sure that if we will simply follow You, You will make us such. May this be the heavenly vocation of our lives, seeking to bring others in to the Savior. And for all that You shall do through us, we shall praise You. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”