Fishers of Men
For our last entry this week we are going to look at the call of Jesus on Peter’s life. Jesus simply says “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” And Peter parks his boat and strides after him.
I have read a number of thoughts on this passage and all of them seem to suggest rightly that one shouldn’t overanalyze this analogy, for after fish are caught they are killed and then gutted, fried and then eaten. Though there may be a parallel process that we go through as we come to Jesus and learn to deny ourselves and pick up our cross and follow him. The analogy loses a little bit of its luster in that there is definitely no joy for the one who is caught. So, I believe it is safe to assume that Jesus didn’t want us to take this analogy too far.
This comes in the context of Peter hearing Jesus’ teaching on the word of God and of him seeing Jesus’ style of fishing. Just throw the net overboard and I will fill up the boat. Peter would have rightly understood that Jesus was calling Him to lead others into His boat. Men and women are a lot like fish that are floating around and in this moment Peter has seen the fish all pulled together and I am sure he wondered how God would use Him and where Jesus would take the people He helped Peter catch. I imagine Peter would have rightly thought, well if Jesus can fill the boat with Fish I am sure He can fill His kingdom with men (and women).
Peter is drawn to this “higher calling”. Peter’s life will be one that God uses to completely change and impact others. Peter is going to get a chance to make a huge mark in the world by leading others into Jesus’ presence. In my experience there is nothing more satisfactory in life than seeing God use me or others to change a persons destiny forever. Most of us go through some sort of a mid-life “adjustment” where we begin to ponder the impact our life will have on others.
In closing, if you are a Christian you are a leader. God is going to put people into your life whom you can influence for His name. He may put thousands of people under your leadership or maybe just one. But, all of us have people in our lives whom God desires to be “caught” by His good news. And the best part is the one who filled Peter’s boat has given us power to do our job as well!
Matthew 28:18-20 (read this passage full of our call and Jesus’ promises)
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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