Fishing for Men. 2023 Lenten Blog Post #3

18 As Jesus was walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake because they were fishermen. 19 Jesus said, “Come follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 So Simon and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed him.

21 As Jesus continued walking by Lake Galilee, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus told them to come with him. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and they followed Jesus. (Matthew 4:18-22, New Century Version)

This year, during Lent, I’m writing about some of Jesus twelve disciples. If you read last Sunday’s blog post, you may remember that when Jesus called Matthew, the tax collector, Matthew got up and followed him. Same thing happened when Jesus chose several fishermen.

“Follow Me,” Jesus said.

They dropped what they were doing and followed Him.

From the above text, we know that at least four of the disciples were fishermen. It was probably a very common profession anywhere along the Sea of Galilee.

But I love how Jesus changed their occupation from fishing for fish to fishing for people. How exactly does someone do that? You surely can’t cast a net into a group of men and women and think you are going to capture anyone that way.

When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking. (Luke 5:6-7, New Century Version) 

However Jesus intended the disciples to “catch people”, don’t the lines above paint a beautiful image? Picture so many men, women, and children hearing the word of God that they fill our churches to the point the buildings can’t hold them. Picture Jesus casting His Father’s net over the crowd and saving them all from their sins.

Maybe you don’t have a big, old fishing net. But I bet you can find a rod, reel, and some bait. Or at least prayer, faith, and grace. Trying casting towards one person at a time. See if you can’t at least get a nibble.

And after you've read my unworthy words, click on this link to see the scene from The Chosen where Jesus calls Andrew, Simon, James and John. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWGCkovAUWM