Calling the fishers of men

SCRIPTURE:

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said,“ and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Mark 1:16-20

OBSERVATION:

As He walked the earth, the Lord Jesus told parables and stories easily drawing spiritual truths using allegories from everyday life and the things that he saw around Him. In this passage, we see the Lord walking beside the Sea of Galilee when He sees Simon and Andrew fishing. He calls out “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men!” and the two brothers quickly join the Lord happily. Later, James and John do the same, the first four disciples, fishermen tasked with the job of fishing for men! God certainly has a great sense of humor!

Now this was not the first time Peter and Andrew or James and John met Jesus. In John’s gospel, we see that John and Andrew were disciples of John the Baptist, but upon their master’s leading, they had followed Jesus and spent some time with Him. Later, Andrew had brought his brother Simon to meet Jesus, and the Lord gave Simon the name Cephas, which is translated Peter. Even from this first meeting, they had begun to follow Jesus, but He had not yet called them into full time which was only to happen at this specific call.

We can learn a lot by studying the calling, which is symbolic of all callings to ministry, whatever ministry God calls us to. Firstly, we must follow Jesus. Only then, do we go into ministry. What happened when the disciples followed Jesus? They lived with Jesus. They saw how He lived, what was important for Him, what He said, how He dealt with people. Basically, in following Him, they would learn how to be like Him, and after Jesus ascended to Heaven, His disciples would continue to show the world who Jesus was and how He was like through their own lives. The lesson for us then, is to first of all prioritize knowing Jesus in our lives. The call to follow Jesus for us is to study the Word, to study Jesus’ teachings, to desire to obey Him, to do what He said, to have the same lifestyle that He had, with the same priorities and passions. This does not mean all of us are called to be wandering nomads, but in general, every Christian is called to be as much like Jesus in character and deed as much as possible. And this we must never do in our own strength which is impossible, but to depend completely on the Holy Spirit to help us and teach us as we earnestly desire to be more and more like Jesus!

The more we become like Jesus, the more effective our ministry will become, and the more we will draw others to the Lord. We need to always spend time with Jesus and set our hearts to want to be like Him.

 We also note how James and John just left everything and followed Jesus. What would Zebedee have been thinking? Did he have the same belief that Jesus was indeed the Messiah? Or was he angry that Jesus had called his sons away from helping him? The Bible is silent on this issues. Interestingly however, it records how the mother of James and John was among the first female disciples at the tomb following the Lord’s resurrection. In any case, we note that the spontaneity of His disciples to follow Him was very important to Jesus. Later, He challenged disciples with some excuses to just let their past go and follow Him.

APPLICATION:

Spending time with Jesus and knowing Him is first. Ministry follows that. Relationship with God before service. We must always follow this principle.

Like the early disciples, we need to be spontaneous and passionate in responding to the Lord’s call, whatever the cost!

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, we bless You and worship You. Help us always remember this principle, to put our relationship with You as the first priority in our lives. Our ministries are to flow from that, and not from ourselves. Give us also that strong passion and desire to want to follow You. You have the words of eternal life. Guide us we pray. In Jesus name, Amen.