“Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John 21:5-6
When I was about three years old my Dad taught my big brother and I how to fish. And, boy was he a proud papa the day we reeled one in, bigger than me. Now, I have quite a few memories from as early an age as three, but, this is not one of my memories, it was the story my Dad told (with pride). Keep in mind, it could be a little bit of a fishtail, LOL.
My Dad taught us all the nuances of fishing. He taught us how to catch night crawlers. He even taught us how to catch night crawlers in the daytime :). He taught us how to put the bait on the hook, cast the line into the water, take the fish off the hook and clean it if you were keeping it. I think he felt that if there ever came a point at which we were in a tight spot and lacking food, this was a way that we could provide for ourselves. Fishing with my Dad and my big brother is a precious memory for me.
In Luke 5:1-11 we see Jesus standing by Lake Gennesaret and he was sharing the word of God with the crowd around Him. He saw two empty boats, whose fisherman were washing their nets (they were done for the day and going home). Jesus got into one of the boats (the one belonging to Simon and He asked that Simon put the boat out into the water a short distance. He sat down in the boat and from there continued to teach the crowd. When He was finished He asked Simon to put the boat out into deeper water and let down the nets (those nice clean nets 🙂 to catch some fish. Simon replied that they have worked hard all day and haven’t caught a thing, ” but because you say so, I will let down the nets.”. When they let down the nets they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break and they had to ask friends in a nearby boat to help. Both boats end up so filled that they almost sank. When Simon realized what had happened he fell to his knees and said “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” Jesus replied “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will be fishers of men.”
Simon Peter was a fisherman by trade (as were the friends with him, James and John), yet when Jesus called them to become fishers of men, verse 11 says “So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. They left everything to follow Him.
From that point on Jesus taught them how to really fish.
Jesus instructed His Disciples well. He taught them humility – ““Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:10-11.
Jesus taught them that money can keep us from salvation – “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”” Mark 10:25.
He taught them to minister – ‘When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’ And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’ Matthew 25:39-40
He taught them to pray – And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. Luke 11:1-13
AND, He taught them to evangelize…to be fishers of men – “So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” John 4:40-42. Because rescuing eternal souls was why He came!
My Dad taught me how to fish…for fish. Jesus taught me, through His Holy Word, how to be a fisher of men. And as a result my Dad, 6 months before he passed, professed Christ as his Savior. Not because of anything that I did, but because our Savior revealed Himself to my Dad, through me and others that He had placed in my Dad’s life.
Over the years as I thought of my Dad and what it would be like when I got to heaven, I liked to think that someday, he and I might go fishing with Jesus (I don’t really believe that we will be fishing, but it isn’t a thought that robs God of glory and it kinda makes me smile. Besides, who really knows what we will be doing?)
My brother however, was a tougher sell. Sadly, my husband and I tried to present the Lord to him for about 20 years. He would just tell me, “I know what I have to do and I will do it before I die”. I remember saying to him at one point, “I hope there is no Mack truck in your future.”.
Through tears I tell you that we waited on the Lord and trusted, glorifying God to my brother whenever we were afforded an opportunity. Every chance we got, we went fishing with Jesus.
Well, yesterday the Lord landed a whopper! My brother asked Jesus to be the Lord of his life and He, my Dad and I will get to spend eternity together with our INCREDIBLE and FAITHFUL Savior. THANK YOU JESUS!! Now, maybe the Lord will use me to help teach my big brother how to be a fisher of men.
I pray that if you have a loved one that you have been praying for for, DON’T give up! God is persistent (The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2 Peter 3:9). I pray that we would take every opportunity God gives us to glorify Himself to our loved ones, friends and co-workers and that He would use each of us mightily, to advance the gospel. Take every opportunity you get to go fishing with Jesus.
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you would go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver/) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Our Savior wants to rescue you and free you from the burdens that you are carrying. Once you have prayed that prayer, please reach out to me and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you and can hopefully help you grow in your knowledge of, and relationship with, our Precious Savior, Jesus Christ. He wants to teach you to fish too.
Luv Ya!
