“Fishers of Men “
The phrase “fishers of men” was spoken by Jesus when He was calling two
of His disciples, Simon Peter and Andrew, to follow Him. “As Jesus walked
beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net
into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I
will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:16–18; see also Matthew 4:19).
The idea behind fishing is to know the fish you are looking for and attract it
so you can make the catch. To catch a fish we must know what equipment to use,
the habitat and depth of the water we are fishing in, as well as the kind of
bait the fish will go after. After we understand everything we need for real
fishing, then how do we relate that to being fishers of men?
God asks us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–20). Just as we need equipment to
be fishermen, we need equipment to be fishers of men. Putting on the armour of
God is one way to be ready at all times with everything we need (Ephesians 6:10–18). Especially important are the
shield of faith with which we ward off the opposition from demonic forces who
don’t want to see men saved by the gospel of Christ (v. 16) and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the Word of God (v. 17). Without these two pieces of
spiritual equipment, we will find fishing for men’s souls impossible.
Not only must we have the armour of God as our equipment, but we must also know
the fish we are trying to attract. Knowing the lost condition of the people
around us will help us to understand that, no matter how good we are at fishing;
we will never “catch” the fish on our own. No reasoned argument will convert
the soul of a darkened mind, because “the god of this age has blinded the minds
of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). But God can and frequently
does penetrate the darkness with the glorious gospel, and He uses us to do it.
He knows which “fish” are His; therefore, we are to seek His wisdom and His
guidance on all our fishing expeditions. Prayer is essential.
Lastly we must offer the only effective bait—the gospel of Jesus Christ. To
those who are perishing, the message of the cross is foolishness, but to us, it
is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). The gospel message has the
power to change lives, shine light into darkness, and deliver evil men from
hell. There is power in no other message and no other “bait” can catch the fish
of God. “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the
salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). This was Jesus’ message to Peter
and Andrew—follow Me, learn of Me, know and understand My mission and My
message. Only then will you be able to be fishers of men.
Father we pray that there will always be abundance of fish in your Kingdom. Amen