“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)
Here are seven observations suggested by Jesus’ analogy of fishing:
- Some people are really good at fishing, but anyone can do it
I know almost nothing about fishing, but even I have caught a fish. God gives special gifts of evangelism to some people. But every Christian can play a part in drawing other people to Christ.
- Fishing requires great patience
You throw out a line or a net, and then you wait. You throw it out again, and you wait. In the film, On Golden Pond, Henry Fonda and his new grandson are trying to catch a big fish called Walter. Fonda says, “I’ve been trying to catch him for years!” Many Christians have loved ones we’ve been praying for. We longed to see them won to Christ, and we are still waiting. Fishing requires great patience.
- Fishermen learn how to deal with discouragement
Luke tells us that about a time when Jesus met His disciples after they had toiled all night and caught nothing. Every fisherman has a story like that. If you can’t handle discouragement, you’d better not take up fishing! After Jesus fed the 5000, He said to them “You have seen me and still you do not believe” (John 6:36). Some people were unresponsive to the truth even when it was shared with them by our Lord Himself! Fishermen learn how to deal with discouragement. You’ve caught nothing today? Well, get up early and go out again tomorrow.
- Christ invites us to go fishing, not hunting
Some Christians sound more like hunters than fishermen. But Christ calls us to fish, and the analogy is significant. There is an art to fishing. Fish are drawn, and Peter gives wise counsel to Christians who want to win others to Christ: We are always to speak with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 1:15).
- The church is a fishing boat, not a pleasure boat
My wife grew up on the south coast on England. She loves the sea. There are two kinds of boats in the harbor where she comes from: some boats are there to take people on pleasure trips round the bay. Others are there to go fishing. The pleasure boats are about convenience and comfort. They go out when people want to go. They hug the shoreline so that the people can enjoy the view. They are very safe. The fishing boats are very different. They launch out into the deep. Their crew take risks. They make sacrifices, and there is very little comfort.
Jesus does not say, “Follow me and I will take you on a delightful cruise.” He says, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” This church is not a pleasure boat. It’s a fishing boat.
- Fishing is hard and sometimes dangerous work
Have you seen the television program “Deadliest Catch?” It’s about men catching crab on the Bering Sea. It’s one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Read the book of Acts and you will find that pioneer evangelism is up there too. The best fishing is often in the most difficult waters.
- There’s great joy in catching fish
Anyone who has ever caught a fish knows this. Have you ever noticed how much fishermen love to have their picture taken with their trophy catch? Did you ever see a fisherman looking miserable in one of these pictures? There’s great joy in catching fish, and there is far greater joy in seeing a person come to faith in Jesus Christ.
Your Opportunity to Fish
One way to join us in fishing this Holy Week is to share the film Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross with a friend, neighbor, or in your church as an outreach event. God can use your invitation to help someone experience the saving grace of Jesus Christ, just like the thief on the cross.