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Fishing for Souls

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will send you out to fish for people.' At once they left their nets and followed him." Matthew 4:18-20 

After Jesus began his public ministry he began to gather disciples. Jesus immediately spread his ministry beyond himself and developed others who would carry the ministry beyond their time with him.  If Jesus had not taken that step then Christianity would have ended shortly after Jesus returned to heaven, because no one would have understood enough about Jesus and his ways to continue the ministry. 

Who Jesus called to be his disciples is uniquely interesting.  First of all he went to fishermen, who were more than likely just rough everyday guys, and called them to be his disciples.  He did not go after scholars, warriors, theologians or merchants, he went after fishermen who knew what it meant to work hard for something.  He knew that they understood what it was like to hope for something that they could not yet see. The very nature of fishing involves these elements for which Jesus was searching in his disciples. Remember that these fishermen were using nets thrown over the side of a boat rather than hooks. 

  • Fishermen do not see what they are catching until it is caught, they are constantly hopeful; 
  • Fishermen enjoy the process of fishing, the challenge intrigues them and draws them back again; 
  • Fishermen understand that timing and location matter more than anything else; 
  • Fishermen enjoy the process of fishing, they feel reward in having done their best and can accept the results. 
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