"The Master Fisherman!"
- Rita Larson
- Sep 16, 2023
- 3 min read
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, several of them were fishermen by trade. As they followed Jesus, they learned how to fish for a different type of catch – people. Jesus was a fisher of men, and He asked His disciples to follow Him in this same pursuit. Jesus demonstrated the blessing of following Him through His life, words, and actions.
In Mark 1:16-20 Jesus calls His first disciples to follow Him. The passage says, “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.”
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He was asking them to become fishers of men. He was asking them to demonstrate through their lives, words, and actions the blessing of following Him. Jesus wanted to show the world the good news of His love and grace. Jesus asked His disciples to be bold in their fishing – to go out into the world and spread the message of His love. His call to action was clear – follow Him and fish for people.
Jesus was a master fisherman. He knew just the right bait to use to catch the attention of the people. For some, He used words – He spoke of the good news of the kingdom of God. For others, He used action – He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and offered forgiveness to the sinners. For still others, He used joy and peace – He showed the world that the kingdom of God was a place of happiness and contentment.
Jesus’ example of being a fisher of men can serve as an inspiration to us today. Every day we have opportunities to fish for the Kingdom of God. We can demonstrate the love and grace of the Lord through our actions. We can share the joy and peace that comes from following Him. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This is an invitation to each of us – to be a fisher of men and to share the good news of Jesus Christ.
In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus says, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Jesus’ words are a reminder to us that we are to be the light of the world. We are to be fishers of men, demonstrating the blessing of following God through our lives, words, and actions. We are to be salt, seasoning the earth with the good news of the kingdom of God. We are to be light, showing the world the joy and peace that comes from following Him. Every day brings us opportunities to fish. Let us take up our nets and follow Jesus, spreading the good news of His love throughout the world! ©Rita Larson 9/16/2023
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