Go Fish 1/8/2016

“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’  Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”  Matthew 4:18-20

Almost immediately after Jesus formally began his ministry, he called his first followers into service.  There was already an existing acquaintance between them (John 1:35-42) but at that time the work of the Lord had not yet begun in earnest.  There was a period of time when the opportunity was given to get to know him and to begin to understand who he is.  When the time came to execute on his purpose for coming to earth, a precedent worthy of note was set.

The first four of the called were employed in the fishing trade.  As Jesus would go on to do almost exclusively, he communicated a heavenly message to them in earthly terms with which they could easily identify.  The first item was an invitation to follow him.  In the rabbinical tradition, the master teacher took on students (disciples if you will) who lived with him and learned by both direct instruction and direct observation.  You will note that in the Gospels, there was rarely a time when at least some of the apostles were not with him.  Secondly, Jesus informed them that there was work for them to do and he analogized it in a way that resonated deeply with them.  The message was that as you catch fish for a living, you will now capture souls for life.

Beloved, it is both a simple and common thing to claim acquaintance with Jesus.  We all have stories of how and where we met him, who introduced us to him and what the circumstances were at the time.  Some of us may even claim to be followers in that we attend worship on Sundays, attend bible study mid-week and Sunday morning and generally try to observe his commands.  The issue most of us have is that we come just short of being actual disciples.  This is seen in that we do not do the very first thing we were called to do as his followers and follow one of the very last instructions that he gave, which he himself demonstrated throughout his ministry.  We are not actively engaged in seeking and saving the lost.

Imagine being a doctor who studied under a research physician who discovered the cure for cancer.  Imagine that research physician instructing his charge to offer it to all mankind that the disease may once and for all be eradicated.  Imagine the teacher and mentor further wisely advising his student that there would be plenty who would be skeptical and would not accept the cure, perhaps even going so far as to become antagonistic and accusatory about what they believe to be false hope.  Now imagine the student taking the cure for himself and storing the formula away in a safe where it stays.  Finally, imagine people all over the world continuing to die from cancer.

We have been given both a great gift and a great responsibility.  Jesus has saved us from the ultimate death and he has commanded us to do all we can to save others (Matthew 18:19-20).  We know something about fishing.  Let us apply that skill in a way that benefits those in critical need as it was once applied to us.

Practically speaking,

Lee

Fishers of Men-6/20/2011

"...Jesus said to Simon, 'Fear not; from henceforth you shall catch men.' And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all and followed him." Luke 5:10-11

Jesus, continuing to do the work of the Father who sent him, found himself pressed in on all sides by a multitude desiring to hear a word from him. In that he was on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, he entered the boat of his friend Simon and asked him to put out a little from the land so that he could address the people.

When this was concluded, he instructed Simon to launch out into the deep and put down his nets (Simon was a fisherman). Simon noted the oddity of the request, because the traditional time of fishing had passed and that when he had fished, he caught nothing. Nevertheless, he complied with Jesus' instructions. In so doing, he caught so many fish that his boat and that of his partners, James and John, were in danger of sinking.

Beloved, Jesus gives us the greatest example of being about the Father's business. He showed that there would always be a need to care for the people. Through the metaphor of Simon's great catch, he also showed that "the harvest (of souls) was abundant but that the workers were few." We are to be about our Father's business at all times and in all ways. As all Christians are part of the harvest, we in turn need to harvest others.

As they made it to shore, Jesus supplied them with their mission in life; they were to become fishers of men.

As we bring to a close our Water Gospels and make plans to exit the ship tomorrow and thus bring to a conclusion the St. Louis Area Family Gospel Cruise, let us take this final lesson with us: We have learned much on the sea, but the work of the Lord is on the land. That said, we must observe a particular caution.

In John 21, Jesus has been crucified and resurrected and could now be seen interacting with the people, but what about his apostles? "Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter *said to them, “I am going fishing.” They *said to him, “We will also come with you.” They went out and got into the boat; and that night they caught nothing." John 21:2-3

Once we have left the classroom of the sea, let us not return to it and indulge old habits and practices. We have been given a great mission. Let us pursue it with all vigor. To go back, as the disciples found, produces nothing.

Loving Like Jesus,

Lee