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Fishers of Men

What does the Savior’s invitation “Come Follow Me” really mean? Please think about this.

Jesus was walking along the shores of the sea of Galilee, surrounded and pressed by a crowd. He came to two boats standing empty. He entered into the boat belonging to Simon Peter and asked him to take the boat out on the water just a ways. When he had done so, Jesus, ever the master teacher, sat down and began to teach the multitude. When he was finished, he turned to Peter, who had been listening and said, “Launch out into the deep and let down your net for a draught.”

Draught means a catch of fish.

“Master,” Peter said, “We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”

No sooner had they done this than a great multitude of fish hit the net. There were so many that the net began to break. Peter and Andrew beckoned to their partners James and John. They came and began pulling in the fish until both boats were swamped and began to sink.

Seeing this awesome display of power, Peter was humbled to the knees. He dropped before the Lord. “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O, Lord.”

Now having their complete attention, Jesus said to them, “Fear not. I am he of whom it is written by the prophets; follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

They brought the laden boats to land and the four of them forsook all and followed him.

What was the call? Notice he said, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” The call to follow Jesus now is the same as it was then. It was as if he said that you see the multitude pressing upon me—pleading? I need you. I need your help—to teach, to minister, to love. The call was not just to follow, but to fish.

What was the reason for the great multitude of fish? Never in his life had Peter had a catch like that. Peter walked away from his nets that day knowing to his core that Jesus could provide for him infinitely better than he could for himself. There would never be a need to look back.