Tag: calling disciples
Fishermen, Fishing for Men!
Scripture reading for March 21st: Luke 4:31-5:11
I like to fish when the fish are biting! I hate fishing when all I do is set there and wait with no results! It seems like a waste of time! I have gone fishing numbers of times and caught nothing! I must be God’s gift to fish! However, there is another kind of fishing that never gets boring! This kind of fishing involves the biggest catch of all! Jesus recruited three of His original disciples from the ranks of fishermen to become fishers of men!
In today’s reading, Luke tells the story of Jesus using Simon Peter’s fishing boat as a platform to preach and teach from. The fishermen had toiled all night and were washing their nets as Jesus asked to use their boat. When Jesus was finished teaching, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4-9) These seasoned fishermen did not think that Jesus knew what He was talking about because they had worked all night and caught nothing! But because He asked them to, they obeyed and were overwhelmed with a net-bursting catch! They filled both boats so full that they began to sink!
When Peter saw the miraculous catch, he fell at Jesus’ feet and was apologetic for his unbelief! “Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”” (Luke 5:10b-11) The three fishermen dropped everything and left it all to follow Jesus!
Jesus had a plan to catch men for the kingdom of Heaven. He would find men and women who would be willing to follow Him by faith and learn of Him. His ways were different from the world. He took a simple fishing boat and made it a place to preach from. He took simple fishermen and taught them to fish for men! They must be willing to leave their ways and work and follow Him in His way and work! He calls, and they must decide to follow!
Have you heard the call of the Master Fisher of Men? Have you given Him your ‘boat’ to use? Have you come humbly to Him and confessed your sinfulness? Are you willing to leave all to follow Him and learn how to fish for men? The path to the biggest catch of your life will be determined by your response!
Jesus, man with authority!
Scripture reading for February 15th: Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12
We know that Jesus was a carpenter’s son but we know little of His life growing up. It was not until his baptism at thirty years of age that we find Him full of the Holy Spirit. He then moved precisely and spoke with great authority because He was led by the Holy Spirit through prayer, obedient to the Father’s will. The Gospel of Mark pictures Jesus as the Servant of God who demonstrated for us a pattern of how we, His followers, are to live out our lives on earth.
“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” He said, “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”” (Mark 1:14-15) Jesus seemed to know the time to preach was at hand. He knew where to go and spoke plainly about the kingdom of God. He commanded people to repent and believe the good news of the kingdom now near to them.
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus Said, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mark 1:17) Jesus called four fishermen to follow and the power of His call caused them to immediately leave their nets. Those who were selected responded quickly. The vision of catching men for God gave enduring purpose to all of life! There was something about this Man that was different!
“They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at His teaching, because He taught them as One who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” (Mark 1:21-22) Jesus cast out and evil spirit from a man after the evil spirit identified Him as the “Holy One of God”. This impressed the crowd and they marveled about Jesus’ teaching and power!
The pattern for us is already clear. We must listen to Jesus, the King of the Kingdom. We must repent and believe, entering that kingdom for ourselves. We become a child of God and new creation. Then we have opportunity to follow Him and He will make us “fishers of men” for the kingdom of God! The authority and power Jesus walked in becomes ours as well through the gift of the Holy Spirit and faith!