The Worker’s Challenge: Fish For People

I watched in amazement as my father sat strapped into a chair bolted to the deck of the fishing boat, where he fought for what seemed like hours before finally bringing in the massive marlin. We were on a three-day fishing adventure in Mazatlan, Mexico. I still have the picture proudly framed of my brother and me standing next to our dad and the 9-foot-long, 180-pound marlin he caught. As for me, my prized catch was a 4-foot-long mahi-mahi.

As a young boy, my father taught me how to fish. First, we walked to the pond near our home with tackle box and fishing rod in hand. It was there that I first experienced the thrill of a nibble, then a tug on the line, and then the fight to bring in my big catch. It wasn’t long before I graduated from walks to the pond or fishing off the pier to all-day excursions on chartered fishing boats off the coast of Southern California. It was there I battled with and caught barracuda, or even a small 5-foot-long nurse shark. Fishing is exciting!

I also remember the day Rich taught me how to fish. Rich had been meeting with me every week to disciple me, which usually meant going to a fast food restaurant and doing a Bible study together. This time, Rich showed up at my door and said, “Hey Doug, let’s go to the mall and witness!” That day at the mall, Rich began to teach me how to fish for men. Fishing is exciting!

Peter and Andrew were taught by their father how to fish. James and John were still learning to fish from their father, Zebedee. The young men had been following Jesus for over a year when He approached them at their place of business, near their fishing boats and nets on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Read Matthew 4:18-22.

Jesus was inviting these young men to work alongside Him in fishing for people. They had already journeyed with Jesus for over a year, following Him closely enough to see Him preach, teach, heal and perform miracles (John 1-4). Their response was immediate. They didn’t question. They didn’t delay. They didn’t negotiate. Leaving behind their nets and boats, and in the case of James and John, even their father, the four followed Jesus on a new adventure.

Jesus told these fishermen that he would “make them fishers of people.” He would prepare them, equip them, to work alongside Him. The Greek word for equip is the very same word used when speaking of fishermen ‘preparing” or “mending” their nets. The word katartizo means to both prepare and repair something or someone to make them ready.

As fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John knew that being effective at catching fish involved several things. There was a right time and a right place to catch fish. You would need to know where the fish were, and when they would come closer to the surface. There was also the knowledge and skill involved. You had to know how to cast a net and how to draw it back in without losing the fish. And of course, you needed the right equipment, a reliable boat and a good fishing net.

Where is the best place for you to “fish for people?”