Fishing and Following Jesus.
Following Jesus has a purpose. We are to be fishers of men and reach others with the good news of the gospel. Brian talks about discipleship.
The Purpose of Discipleship
“Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon & Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.”
Mark 1:16-20 – ESV
Here, Jesus announces one purpose of discipleship:
“Come after me, and I shall make you become fishers of men”
(Mark 1:17).
A Mission to Win People
Discipleship puts us on a mission to win people to Jesus. You might think it is too big an assignment for somebody as ordinary as you. Well, look at those first 12 disciples. These men were not superheroes. They were not even “kind of heroes”. They were not very wealthy. They were not highly educated. Many times, they didn’t seem very smart. Just ordinary fishermen on the Sea of Galilee.
Yet, the Lord chose them and called them to be the first of his followers. So, what’s the good news for you and me? If you are not a special person, not very wealthy, not super smart, just ordinary …. Congratulations! You can be a disciple of Jesus!
God Chooses People for His Purposes
God has always done things this way. He chose David over all his older, larger brothers. He chose Moses, a murderer and a runaway at age of 80. He chose Abram, a Chaldean idol-worshipper. He chose Saul, who hated the church and Jesus Christ. He chose a small boy and his lunch to feed thousands.
In Sunday School, we sing “I will make you fishers of men.” The children follow the words with actions, as if they are holding fishing poles and casting a line. But in making it simple and easier for children to understand fishing for men, we can actually miss what is going on here. This is not an invitation to a weekend fishing trip. It is a challenge to the way we live for the rest of our lives.
“Packaged” Faith
In our modern times, Jesus often comes in a package to people to make their lives better in 2 ways: First, improving their family’s happiness. Second, making their jobs more prosperous.
But Jesus presents himself as one who says, “Leave your family and walk away from your livelihood as fishermen.”
If you go on YouTube, you can find thousands of fishing shows. A single episode can be 2 hours long. That’s a lot of promo to interest you in catching fish. To get Peter, Andrew, James and John to give up fishing for fish, Jesus just says, “Follow me.” No camera tricks. No exciting music. Just His voice, his words.
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
I can think of a song that puts Jesus’ challenge clearly:
“I have decided to follow Jesus.
Simon Marak
Though none go with me, I still will follow. The world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back.”
Can I ask a question for me and you? Are we following that Jesus, that way? Are we following Jesus, fishing for men? If the writer of Mark’s Gospel were here today, I think he would say to us, “Immediately you should leave your nets and follow him.”
Are you a follower of Jesus? What made you decide to follow Him? Contact us at HopeStreamRadio, or comment below.
Brian Stapley
Brian Stapley is the husband of Margaret and “Christian-proud” father of Tabitha, Ben, Jeremy and Joel. He has been director of the Boys JIM Club of America since 1981 and a “JIM Clubber” since 1958, the year he became a Christian. The mission statement of the JIM Club is, “Discipling boys to love Jesus deeply and express him vividly.”
He has been an educator since 1970, primarily as a high school English Teacher. (Don’t dangle your participles.) He has been in fellowship at Scottlea Gospel Chapel, St. Catharines, since 1976 and travels to preach about three dozen times a year, in Ontario and New York State. He is a ventriloquist, in company with Casey, Theodore, Dodo, Grumpa, and a menagerie of others. Also, a bit of a magician.
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Images Courtesy of:
Fishermen – Quangpraha
Walkers – igorovsyannykov
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