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The first disciples that we read of Jesus calling were fishermen. Fishing was an important trade during Biblical times. It was obviously a food that was affordable for the common man and an industry that many were able to make a living at. From the Bible we find that many methods still used today were incorporated back then, including the use of fishing boats, nets and in some cases even hooks and fishing line. The fishing industry was continually referenced in the ministry of Jesus. For instance, often Jesus taught from boats, which could have been fishing vessels (considering whom His apostles were)(Matthew 13:2; Mark 4:1, etc.). Some of his parables and teaching made reference to the fishing trade. When it came time to pay the temple tax, Jesus had Peter cast a hook into the sea and the first fish he caught had a shekel in its mouth (Matthew 17:27). This industry was certainly one that Peter and other disciples were well familiar with. And as He often did, Jesus used that familiarity to make a spiritual impact. Mark 1:16-18 records, “And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” What Jesus was calling upon Peter and Andrew, as well as James and John to do was put their fishing knowledge and skills to work for a much higher purpose – “catching men” (Luke 5:10).
What made fishermen good candidates to do the work Jesus had for them to do? What does fishing have to do with reaching the lost? A study of the above text and the art of fishing shows many comparisons. Let us notice a few of them in this article.
First, it is a task for the common man. Fishing was not a task exclusive to the intellectuals and elite of society. I suspect that they were considered common folk back then just as they are today. Their occupation was considered menial and unimpressive. And just as today, many of them were probably unrefined and rough. One observation made later about these men was that they were “uneducated” (Acts 4:13, 2:17). When Jesus called men to follow Him, He was not interested in their social standing and refinement. He was interested in their character. The message He had prepared, like these fishermen was for all mankind, not just the elite few (cf. Matthew 11:25).
In this, there is a great lesson for us. Jesus expects us, ALL OF US, to catch men. By example and teaching we find that we all have a responsibility to teach others. The great commission was to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15-16). While the instructions were directed to the apostles as Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, it is obvious that to accomplish this, they would need the help of all believers. They were to preach and teach and those who were taught would in turn commit the message to others. Consider 2 Timothy 2:2 where Paul mentions four generations of teaching, “The things that you have heard from me (Paul to Timothy) among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men (Timothy’s students) who will be able to teach others also (their students).” We must all be impressed with the responsibility we have to “catch men”. As Christians, that IS our business! Acts 8:4 records the persecuted disciples as they were scattered from Jerusalem, they “went everywhere preaching the word”. In 1 Peter 3:15 we are told to “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Far too many want to sit back and leave all the teaching to “the experts”. While there are times when we need to defer to those with experience, we must realize that if we always do that, we will NEVER gain the experience we ought to have. What will happen to those who have abilities that they refuse to develop? Read and consider Matthew 25:14-30. As a child of God, you are now a fisherman.
Second, you don’t always know what you will catch. In the process of fishing, you will catch all kinds of fish. To the fisherman this added to his workload. He had to sort through all the fish drawn in his net and those that were unfit to eat he would either throw it back or throw it away. Jesus even taught a parable about this in Matthew 13:47-52 where He described the kingdom of heaven as a dragnet cast into the sea that gathered some of every kind. When the net was drawn to shore, they kept the good and threw away the bad. He used this analogy to give understanding to the judgment when God would separate the righteous from the wicked.
As fishers of men, we will not always catch the “good fish”. Sometimes, we cast our nets and the bad fish are there. Bad fish would be the unrighteous who reject God’s word. Sometimes their condition becomes evident immediately. At other times, their fruit does not become known until later. But as fishers of men, our responsibility is not to determine who is worthy of trying to catch and who is not. Our duty is simply to fish. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth saying, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6).
It is my hope that in this article the importance of fishing for men has been shown. It is a responsibility each of us has and it is not a task to be taken lightly. Peter, Andrew, James and John saw the importance of their new trade and acted immediately. In our next article we will take note of some more lessons we can learn from references to fishing in the Bible. Until then, let me urge you to continue to fish with a real purpose. Think about it.
FISHING WITH A PURPOSE - 2
During the time of Jesus, fishing was an important industry. It was a major source of food in many regions back then, just as today. Jesus was familiar with this trade being in a region that depended on it as a source of revenue. His first disciples were fishermen and He often taught from their boats. On at least two occasions, He miraculously feed large multitudes with just a few fish and some bread. He often made analogy to fishing in His teachings and He utilized some of its resources to accomplish His mission. Perhaps one of His greatest analogies was the call of His apostles: Peter, Andrew, James and John. As they were mending their nets, Jesus called them to follow Him and He said to them, “From now on you will catch men”. This was a reference to their taking the gospel to a world that desperately needed it.
In our first article, we made notice of two important analogies between fishing and catching men: First, it was a task for the common man. Second, when fishing, you don’t always know what you will catch, whether it be good or bad. In this article, we want to notice some more lessons we can learn by comparing fishing with catching men.
Catching men takes work – it is not always an easy task. Fishing as a profession has always been a task that we would define as manual labor. It requires one with strength and stamina. In the Bible we read of the disciples struggling to pull in their nets and toiling all night long (Luke 5:5-8). Reaching the lost, like fishing, is not always easy and at times requires great effort. Sometimes, to win a soul requires extensive time and discussions. It may that the souls dearest to us take years of hard work seeking opportunities, praying, studying for and with them as well as other things. Sometimes, there is the frustration we face as the gospel is constantly rejected. But we keep working at it knowing that what God expects us to do is fish (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:6). Consider the efforts of the church of the first century. At times they traveled many miles to teach someone and usually they were uncertain of the outcome. They persevered, often not knowing if there would be grave consequences in attempting to teach someone. More often than not, they were met with rejection which can become very discouraging. There were times when fisher men worked all night and caught nothing (Lk. 5:5). The same is true with us. Let’s face it, most of the world is not interested in the truth. We may go a long time without teaching anyone because we can’t find them. In the Bible we read of such discouragement, even in Elijah (1 Kings 19:14). But just because we have an unsuccessful night does not mean we need to give up and quit. Just keep working and in time your efforts will pay off.
Our net is the word of God. The most frequently mentioned method of fishing in the Bible was with a net. When Jesus found and called his first disciples, they were on shore mending their nets (Mark 1:19). As fishermen they knew the importance of keeping their net in good shape – it was the success of their business. As we fish for men we do so with the net God has given us – His word. We will cast that net into the waters of this world and hopefully catch someone. Just like fishermen, we need to take care of that net. In fact the better we maintain our nets and the more we use them will determine how successful we will be. What this means is that we have to USE God’s word to teach others. Paul described the gospel of Christ as “the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1:16). The Hebrew writer describes the word as living and active and sharper than a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).
Fishing nets needed mending. While God’s word does not need to be repaired as such, we need to maintain it in our lives and prepare it for our next fishing expedition. 1Peter 3:15 says we should always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks us a reason for the hope that is in us. Constant study and use is how we keep God’s word alive and ready to catch men.
Also, like anything else, success comes with knowledge. There are many things fishermen need to know if they are to be successful in their business. They need to know what type of fish they are trying to catch and when the best time to catch them is. An understanding of what affect the weather has, where to catch them and many other things will greatly affect their success. Likewise, as Christians, the more we know about catching men, the more successful we will be. There are many ways to learn what to do. First you have to commit to studying God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15). Make arrangements and go with those who are experienced and listen to their advice. And go out and get to work. Truly, when it comes to catching men, experience is the best tool. Understand that as a novice, you will make mistakes and you will supposedly waste time (or so it will seem). BUT, if you persist and continue to learn, in time you will become more successful. And then you can become the teacher and share it with others (2 Timothy 2:2).
Finally, Mark 1:18, 20 tells us that “immediately, they left their nets and followed Him.” It is evident that these men knew Jesus before and probably they were making plans for this very occasion. But when it finally came around, they wasted no time and immediately answered their call, never looking back. Our call to catch men is one that needs immediate attention. The longer we put off trying to reach others, the more danger there is of one getting away. As you study the New Testament you see a sense of urgency as they went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:4). Paul said, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5:11). In chapter 6:2 he said, “Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold now is the day of salvation”. Jesus said to His disciples, “Lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest” (John 4:35). Truly when it comes to catching men, we need to get to work right now and keep at it until we are called home.
Thus we can see some lessons we can learn from fishing in the Bible. Are you fishing for men?
http://www.roseavenue.org/fishing_with_a_purpose.htm
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