Fishers of Men

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).

I have three favorite parts about this passage.

1. Two things were happening simultaneously. They were having a very typical day, at work putting food on the table for their families, and Jesus used that exact moment to invite them into something much bigger. He is saying something like, “you thought it was enough to catch fish, you thought it was enough to have a successful life or career? I have something bigger for you, and you’ll never be satisfied with anything less.” 

   
   

And did you catch the last part of the first sentence? ”...for they were fishermen.” This wasn’t a special moment. They were out there because they were fishermen. No one was fasting or even praying to learn God’s will for their lives. This wasn't a special men's group trying to build friendships and faith on the water. They were just doing what they do. It’s often (usually?) at these common moments that Jesus teaches us how to bump the world closer to his trajectory.

2. They quickly leave their boats to follow him, but everything they do from that point forward is in the context of their lives as fishermen. He uses everything that had already happened to make them effective as they moved with him. Every learned skill, every natural ability and every difficult circumstance become his materials in building us for the roles we will play in advancing his kingdom. Put another way, where you are right now is not an accident. He has you there for a reason, even if it is just to prepare you for where he wants you next.

3. Don’t miss the last sentence: “And immediately they left their nets.” “Immediately” is an urgent word, and Mark uses it eleven times in this first chapter because what they are doing is so important that it could not wait another moment. In their near-eastern world, the sea represented everything that was mysterious and uncontrolled. These budding disciples had been pulling fish from the dark chaos to a useful purpose for their entire lives, and now they would start to do the same for the people they loved, and the world they were being taught to love.

So at this moment, in the middle of a common, typical day, it is the right time to ask God how he wants to use your odd little mix of skills and experiences to do something that needs to be done immediately.

So what else should I do right now? Either:

• Take a pen off your desk and draw a tiny fish on the thigh of your pants, or the back of your hand so that every time you see it you’ll be reminded of this larger calling, or 

• Order some small piece of jewelry that you can wear every day that can be a similar reminder.

Finally, it might be helpful to remind yourself that you’re not alone. Jesus is calling many, many, many fishermen.