BEN F. VICK, JR.
“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.” (Matt. 4:18-22.)
We can learn from Jesus how to fish for men. He called laboring men what we might refer to as “blue-collar” laborers. He called ordinary men. They were not men who sat in the ivory towers of the educational realm. These fishermen, the first to be called to follow Jesus, immediately left all to learn from Jesus. This occasion was not the first time they had seen Jesus. Do you recall that Andrew had brought Peter to Jesus (John 1:40-42)?
Jesus was a leader. He challenged these men to follow him. The writer of Hebrews referred to Jesus as “the author and finisher of our faith.” The Greek word for “author” (ἀρχηγός) is defined as “one who has a preeminent position, leader, ruler, prince…one who begins or originates….” (BDAG). One cannot find a better leader than Christ. One can benefit from attending a class or workshop on evangelism, but Jesus is the very best teacher to have in fishing for men. It takes skill to fish for men. Consider some of our Lord’s methods.
A fisherman must use the right bait. Sometimes I have asked men fishing what bait did you use. The right bait can determine whether one catches fish and the right kind of fish. Jesus used the right bait. He used the truth. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6.) He used the truth. He prayed, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17.) It is the truth that will catch the right kind of men. Some are hungry for the truth (John 6:68); others are not so hungry (John 6:66; Mark 10:17-22; Acts 24:25; 26:28).
Timing is essential in fishing. If one goes at the wrong time of the day, his chances of catching fish will decline considerably. Jesus came into the world at the right time. There was an expectation in the air when Emmanuel came upon the stage of humanity (Luke 1:25, 38). Paul wrote, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” (Gal. 4:4.)
Jesus came to make fishers of men. Preparation must be made. Jesus, while on earth, spent 30 years preparing for three and a half years of preaching and teaching. He taught his disciples how to fish for men for approximately three and half years. Fishing for fish is great work, but fishing for men is the greatest work. As a Christian, it is a lifetime work. Several years ago, I heard Jimmy Allen (who loved to fish for fish but even more to fish for men) preaching to a small congregation in Indiana. After one service, he said to me, “I caught another one.” He never ceased to try to catch another one for Jesus.
Do you know why some are not good fishermen? Do you know why they do not go fishing? They do not have the patience. Why sit in a boat on a lake or on the bank of a river to wait for a bite? Good fisherman may sit for an hour or so, waiting for the fish to bite. Some have the patience to do that, while others do not. Fishing for men requires patience (2 Tim. 2:24; 4:2). People are not always receptive to the truth. Maybe preconceived notions, prejudice, or other persons prevent their reception of the truth.
Jesus was patient with his disciples. John records, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” (John 14:6-9.) When Jesus’ disciples could not cast the demon out of a man’s son, Jesus said to them, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.” (Matt. 17:17.)
After the resurrection of Jesus, two of his disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus, about four miles west of Jerusalem. Jesus drew near them and inquired about their conversation and why they were sad? They told Jesus, whom they did not recognize, of Jesus’s death and how certain women had told them of his body having been gone. Luke then narrates: “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25-27.)
Good fishermen know the places to catch fish. Jesus knew the right places to fish for men. He went to where sinners were (Luke 5:29-32; 15:1-2; 19:1-10). He went to the synagogues (Luke 4:15; Matt. 4:23; 9:35; 12:9; 13:54). He taught in the temple area (Matt. 21:12-23; 26:55). He taught on a mountain (Matt. 5:1-2). He taught in a boat as the people stood on the shore (Matt. 13:1-2; Luke 5:1-3). He taught at night (John 3:1-2). He taught at noon (John 4:6-26). Jesus taught where people were.
A fisherman may use different methods to catch fish. They may use nets as Peter, Andrew, James, and John did. They may use trotlines, a rod and reel, or a cane pole. Jesus used different methods to teach the truth. He delivered many lessons through parables, comparisons (Mark 4:30-34). He used everyday things to illustrate the truth (Matt. 6:26,28-30). He taught by asking and answering questions (Matt. 6:27; 22:15-46).
Let’s go fishing for men.