Mark 1:16-20
Credits to: The Teacher’s Devotional Blog, https://theteachersdevotional.com/2020/03/10/fishers-of-men/
Christ’s call to the men was simple, “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Yet, it was a call that changed their lives forever! For Jesus did take these men, these simple Galilean fishermen and He transformed them into some of the greatest “fishers of men” the world has ever seen! Christ is still in the business of taking ordinary people like us; just like we are, with all our faults, failures and rough edges and He wants to transform us into fishers of men. Our text gives us a few insights into how this can come to pass. If we are going to become “Fishers of Men”, then we must:
I. WE MUST FOLLOW THE RIGHT PERSON
Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-21
The word “followed” in our text means “to cleave to another, conforming to His example.” In other words, these men left their nets, their boats and life as they knew it, to cleave to Jesus and learn from Him! And they did learn. They saw Jesus go into places and interact with people that most religious, upstanding citizens would have nothing to do with! Jesus taught them this truth: Every life matters to God! He loved them all and reached out to everyone, regardless of who they were or where they were! When you follow
the right person, you learn the truth that God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9); that Jesus came to die for sinners, Luke 19:10; Mark 2:17 and that the Gospel message is to be preached everywhere to everyone, Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19-20!
II. WE MUST FINISH THE RIGHT PREPARATIONS
Mark 1:19
In our text, we saw James and John “mending” their nets. This word means “to render complete, to prepare or to strengthen.” In other words, they are busy getting their nets ready to cast. They want to be sure there are no holes in their nets that the fish can swim through. They want to make sure their nets are strong and will not break. If we are going to be effective as fishers of men in this world, then we too must be sure that our nets are ready to cast. This speaks of our preparedness.
You should:
● Be sure of your own salvation – 2 Corinthians 3:5; 2 Peter 1:10
● Know what the Lord did for you and how to share that with someone else – Your best witnessing tool is the simple story of how Jesus saved you and changed your life!
● Be prayed up and ready for the Lord to use you when He allows opportunities to witness to come your way – 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15
What kind of shape are your nets in this evening? Close the holes and strengthen the nets so the Lord can use your life to reap His harvest!
III. WE MUST FIND THE RIGHT PROCESS
Mark 1:16
Peter and Andrew were casting their nets when Jesus found them. That word means they were “Casting first on one side, then on the other.” In other words, they were casting those nets all over the place trying to gather in some fish! We are to be in the business of casting the net everywhere we go! Our Master and Savior did the same. As He went about His daily life, He used every situation as an opportunity to talk to someone about the condition of their soul. He used a well of water to talk to a thirsty woman. He used bread to speak to a hungry multitude. He talked about seeds to farmers, money to merchants, He used the ordinary, run of the mill experiences of life to get the message out! Indeed, every conversation can be turned into a conversation about Jesus Christ, if we are listening to His voice and we are sensitive to what is happening. What is the right process? Is it the Roman Road? Is it John 3:16? Those will work just fine, but the right process is a Spirit-filled saint of God pointing a lost sinner to Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8).
IV. WE MUST FISH THE RIGHT PLACES
Mark 16:15
Peter and Andrew were casting their nets into the water. You know why? Because that’s where the fish live! They would have been wasting their time had they been casting their nets onto the dry ground! If they were going to enclose fish in their nets, they would have to go where the fish were. This same truth holds when it comes to the matter of witnessing. If we are going to see people saved, then we have got to go where they are. That is, we are to go outside the walls of this place and take the net out into the world
where the lost live and share the gospel with them. We are to be active in this matter of getting the message out into the world. People are perishing and we hold the antidote to their sickness. We must get the message out into the world. We preach the Gospel in the church, but we must preach the Gospel in the world if we would see people saved.
V. WE MUST FURNISH THE RIGHT PATIENCE
Mark 1:17; John 15:16
Jesus said to Peter and Andrew, “I will make you to become fishers of men.” That statement is in the future tense. In other words, they would get there, but it would take some time. Jesus saw the potential in their lives before that potential was ever apparent. Jesus chose them, they did not choose Him. Disciples normally chose a rabbi to follow, but Jesus went after His own disciples, and He chose them with the objective of equipping them to share in His task. Perhaps you want to see people saved and you want to point people to Heaven, but you feel so inadequate and so unprepared. Listen, if Jesus can take these ignorant, unlearned fishermen and use them to touch the world, then, He can use you. The fact is, He has already equipped you (Acts 1:8). So, get those nets mended, get after Jesus, let Him show you where to fish and go do it. The harvest, after all, is His responsibility.
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