Mark 1:16-20 (NIV): As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Like all of God’s promises, Jesus’ promise to make Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John into fishers of men was conditional; it had a condition that had to be met in order to receive the promise. In this case, that condition was that they had to follow Jesus.
Following Jesus meant way more than simply believing in Him, believing His teachings, or reading about what He did. To follow Jesus meant to actually leave your old life behind, and to take up a brand new “with Jesus” life. It meant going wherever Jesus went; being actively engaged in what He was doing; and staying focused, even on the way between activities as He taught. (Plus, you never knew when a new opportunity or challenge would suddenly present itself on the way!) It meant watching Him closely as He worked, as He prayed, and as He taught, so that you could become just like Him in all of those areas. And it meant putting aside self-sufficiency, and becoming completely dependent on God to provide what was necessary for each day.
These men knew all of this. So when Jesus called them, they immediately walked away from their boats and nets, and began the process of following Jesus. And the commitment that they were making to follow Him was not for a year, or two, or three. It turned out to be a commitment to follow Him every day, all the rest of their lives. Even after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, through the presence of the Holy Spirit, they continued to follow Jesus’ lead, continued to minister where Jesus was working, and continuing to be molded and shaped by His presence and His teaching. And as they followed Him, they really did become fishers of men.
Today the call to follow Jesus is the same. It is not merely a call to believe in Him, learn His teachings, or read about what He did. It is a call to leave our old lives behind, and be made into new creations, taking up a whole new “with Jesus” life. It means going wherever Jesus leads, being actively engaged in what He is doing, and staying focused, even between activities. It means staying sensitive to His leading, and consciously submitting ourselves to the molding, shaping, sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, so that we can become just like Jesus in how we live, work, pray, and teach. And it means putting aside all self-sufficiency, and becoming completely dependent on God for our daily bread, and for all that we need to fulfill His calling on our lives.
And, for all of us who are willing to follow Jesus, we find not only salvation, but joy, peace, power, and an effectiveness in prayer and ministry that most can only dream about. We too will become bold and effective fishers of men.
Father, these are great promises, and the conditions are clear. Help us, Lord, to really follow Jesus every day, in every area of our lives, so that we really can bring You glory by becoming effective fishers of men. Amen.