“Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, [Jesus] saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him” Mark 1:16-18 (ESV)
“Gone Fishin’” is what comes to mind when I read these words from Mark 1:16-18. Soon after His baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus went fishing. Unlike many who put up the sign “Gone Fishin’!” in their store window to unwind on a fishing excursion, Jesus goes right to work. Jesus went fishing, that is fishing for people who would follow Him. Jesus goes fishing for the people He was sent to save. Jesus hooks people with His Word. Jesus goes fishing for you.
The first “fish on” for Jesus were two fishermen named Simon and Andrew. Yes, this is the same Simon as in Simon Peter. These two men worked as fishermen - a hard, grueling, stinky task. These brothers, alongside James, John and Zebedee, did the work of casting nets out on the Sea of Galilee and bringing in the haul for sale in the marketplace. What would these guys know about fishing for men
Not exactly the kind of bait one might use to snag a follower of God. When Jesus goes fishing, Jesus doesn’t initially go into the fancy country clubs of Roman and Jewish society (though He does eventually “reel” in those folks at His crucifixion and resurrection). Jesus starts His fishing expedition in an unlikely place with unlikely people.
Who better to bring in the Lord’s haul than fishermen? Who would know how much patience and tenacity and hard-work fishing takes better than fishermen? Did Simon and Andrew need much convincing? No. Immediately, Mark says, the brothers abandon their nets and began following Jesus. Did they know where He was going? No. In simply speaking His Word, the brothers were hooked. They all left their nets and followed Him.
These brothers would witness Jesus fish for three years before dying on a cross and being raised to new life on the third day. There at the honey hole - the empty tomb - Peter and John learned that Jesus’ fishing expedition was just getting started.
Thus is similar for you and me today: Jesus continues to hook people with His Word. Through His church, Jesus continues to go fishing so that He would reel you back to Him. The risen and ascended Jesus continues to go fishing for men and women who would follow Him.
So, read these words of Jesus. He has “gone fishin’” for you: “follow me.”