Let’s Go Fishing with Jesus!
As Jesus was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. – Mark 1:16-18
Let’s Go Fishing with Jesus!
The elusive musky was out there. While growing up, my family had summer vacations at a lake in northern Wisconsin just outside of Eagle River. The lake contained plenty of fish: perch, bluegill, and walleye. The lake also had large muskies waiting to be caught. Family members had landed them and I had seen one follow our lure all the way up to the side of the boat, but this trophy-fish had always escaped me. Once, during dusk, I had a musky on the line. It was lurking under the resort’s floating raft. Unfortunately, it snapped the line just before we were able to get it into a net.
Thankfully, fishing wasn’t my day job as it was for so many of the disciples. Fishing was more than sport for them, it provided them with food and income. In the gospels we find a good number of Jesus’ miracles in and around the Sea of Galilee involving fish. Remember how the coin was found in the mouth of a fish, the unexpected large catch of fish, and the feeding of the 5000 all highlighted God’s will to provide what is necessary to sustain our lives.
Fish are used in teachable moments throughout the Old Testament as well. We find God undertaking great miraculous acts to save Jonah with a large fish. In words of warning in Isaiah 50, God is able to make the rivers and seas dry up as the smell of dead fish serves as a sign of judgement upon the land. And, in Ezekiel 47, life-giving water flowed freely from the temple into areas otherwise dead. And in that water graciously given from God? Large numbers of fish! A picture of the abundance of God’s good blessings given to us both physically and spiritually.
Such blessings to our faith are found in the saving work and living gospel of our Savior – which brings us full circle to Jesus and those fishermen on the shores of Galilee. Called by Christ, these average Joes (who for the most part are largely unknowns), would become fishers of people. Casting the nets of Jesus and his Word out into the sea of humanity, God will use his saving truth to convert and bring souls into his eternal kingdom.
This is important work for both pastor and parishioner! What an important job Jesus gives us to do! And yet, so often we are fishing in life for things that serve me instead of him, aren’t we? We fish for earthly wealth, security, comfort, and the praise of men. God the Holy Spirit helps us cut those lines and serve Christ selflessly for the eternal good of others. For when we are caught in the Word, then we are kept close to Jesus and have peace in his promises. Our Savior wills this for us and for many more people to hear and believe and be saved.
It’s no wonder the early Christians used the symbol of a fish to identify one another in times of persecution. Big fish, small fish, fish of all different kinds and in all different places: Jesus loves, values, and has saved human souls. With this in mind and with help from God, let’s go fishing for people with Jesus!
