02/08/2024
Fishers of Men, Not Fish
Peter, an astute fisherman and accomplished businessman, had honed his fishing skills since childhood, and was doing so well in this chosen career.
But on this particular day, despite his professional wit, he and his colleagues had labored day and night and had caught nothing.
At the peak of their struggle, a man showed up—he was called Jesus, the son of the carpenter.
“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught,” He had ordered them.
Having labored all night and caught nothing, Peter was bewildered by the command. Nevertheless, he obeyed and launched out.
Their catch was so heavy that their nets began to break.
Astonished and afraid, Peter asked Jesus to depart from him, reckoning himself a sinner.
But Jesus replied, “Fear not; henceforth, you shall catch men, not fish.”
And so it happened that when they had struggled to bring the multitude of fish out of the river, they forsook all and followed him.
Now here comes the bothering question: why didn't Jesus empower Peter to be the greatest fisherman of his time?
Peter could have been a fisherman disciple, if you asked me. He could have been a great financial pillar in Jesus’ ministry: enclosing a great multitude of fish by the power of the miraculous, making a great fortune by selling them in the market, and remitting a portion of his sales (probably 10% or more) into Judas’ purse as part of his commitment to the ministry.
But the scripture recorded that they forsook all and followed him! In this context, they forsook their boat, their nets, and ultimately, the humongous amount of fish they had labored day and night for, to follow a man they barely knew—a young man who had neither a donkey nor a boat for ministry. This was the same preacher who had just begged them to lend him their boat for his ministerial work a couple of minutes back. Yet, these established fishermen abandoned their highly respected business of fishing to follow such a person.
What really was their motivation, if I may ask?
Their motivation was simple: If this man can make us catch this stunning amount of fish in a split second when we, being professionals, couldn't catch even a single mackerel in a whole night, then it is in our best interest to follow him because he is obviously not an ordinary man!
They followed Christ because of the miracle they witnessed.
But why did Christ invite them to follow him?
Jesus had a profound purpose in inviting them. He discerned in these fishermen the potential to transition from catching fish to capturing souls for the Kingdom. He saw future disciples who would master the art of soul-winning over the pursuit of mere sustenance.
This underscores the Kingdom's primary agenda: Discipleship and Soul Winning.
Not financial empowerment for ministry sponsorship. Not business seminars for miraculous breakthroughs. Not prosperity vigils for supernatural increase.
All these are distractions and not part of God's Kingdom Agenda. Jesus never bothered himself with them, nor did he teach his disciples about any of them. He focused exclusively on his mission of introducing himself as the son of God, the only way to the true God, and the eternal life that comes with knowing Him.
He never once shifted his focus because he knew the Father who had called him was willing and able to sponsor his calling and cater to his earthly needs. He knew the riches of this world were ephemeral and nothing compared to the riches that awaited him in glory as long as he did not deviate from his primary calling.
Yet, while he was about to leave the earth, he charged his disciples to teach the Gospel in the same manner—to fish for men instead of fish, and to teach men how to do the same!
This is Discipleship, and this is the true gospel.
