Making Fishers of Men

Fishers of Men

Most people who come to church don’t seem to have a problem learning about Jesus. We hear the stories, we listen to the sermons, and we might even go deep into things with big names like theology, hermeneutics, and apologetics.

All of that is fantastic, and it matters. But it forces us to confront a massive question: Is taking good notes all that Jesus ultimately wants from us?

Jesus sums up His entire desire for your life in just two words: "Follow Me."

There is a profound difference between studying a person and being changed by them. You can acquire endless information without ever surrendering your life. You can know everything about Jesus and still not actually follow Him.

As we look at Matthew 4:18-25, we see exactly what it looks like to move past information and step into a life of true transformation. Jesus lays out a clear roadmap through three distinct realities: the Call, the Cost, and the Commission.

The Call to Follow

Matthew 4:18-19

"As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 'Follow me,' he told them, 'and I will make you fish for people.'"

To understand how shocking this invitation was, we have to look at how ancient education worked. Today, we go to a class, write down information, pass a test, and move on. It is purely informational. In the ancient Jewish world, education was entirely formational. It wasn't about what you knew; it was about who you became.

The educational system was highly competitive:

Age 12-13: Most children went to school to memorize the first five books of the Bible (the Torah). After this stage, the vast majority finished their education and immediately went to learn a family trade.

Age 14-17: Only the best of the best students advanced. They spent these years memorizing the entire Old Testament.

The Elite: At age 17, only the absolute top tier—the best of the best of the best—would dare to approach a famous rabbi to ask if they could follow him.

The rabbi would interview them to see if they had what it took. If accepted, the disciple would leave everything to attach themselves to the rabbi, following him everywhere. The goal wasn't to take notes on what the rabbi taught; the goal was to imitate his actions, his speech, and his character until they became exactly like him.

So, who is Jesus calling on the shores of Galilee? Is He headhunting the top theological students in Jerusalem? Is He recruiting the proven spiritual elites?

No. He approaches Peter and Andrew while they are casting nets. They are working ordinary, everyday jobs. Because they were commercial fishermen, it meant they hadn't made the cut years ago. They had already been sent home to do manual labor. They were the ones who weren't deemed good enough, smart enough, or holy enough for a rabbi to choose them.

And that is the entire point.

Jesus doesn't call these men because of who they already are; He calls them because of who He knows He will make them into. They weren't finished, they weren't qualified, and they weren't ready. But when Jesus said, "Follow me," they went.

We need to stop asking, "Am I capable of doing this?" and start asking, "Am I willing to follow?" We are serving the Creator of the universe, the all-powerful God for whom nothing is impossible. If He is the one doing the work, it is no problem for Him to mold you, shape you, and qualify you. If you provide the willingness to follow, Jesus will take care of the rest.

The Cost to Follow

Matthew 4:20, 22

"Immediately they left their nets and followed him... Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him."

Notice the environment Jesus steps into: He doesn't wait for a quiet Sabbath day. He calls these men right in the middle of a chaotic, busy workday.

Commercial fishing with large hand-cast nets was exhausting, continuous manual labor. It wasn't a hobby; it was their livelihood, their family business, and their entire identity. Everyone in town knew them as fishermen.

When Jesus tells them to drop their nets, He is asking them to completely halt what they are doing. They had a dozen logical excuses ready to go: "I can't just walk away from work right now." "I have a family to feed and bills to pay." "Can I finish out this fishing season first and meet up with you in the winter?"

We do the exact same thing when we feel God nudging our hearts. We lean heavily into our excuses, waiting for a more convenient season: "I'll focus on my faith when I finish school." "When work slows down next quarter." "When the kids get a little bit older." "Once I finally reach retirement." Scripture shows us a consistent pattern: God almost always calls people when they are completely slammed with life. Saul was out hunting for lost donkeys; Moses was tending a massive flock of sheep; David was watching his father's livestock; Amos was working agriculture in Tekoa; Matthew was sitting at a chaotic tax collector's table.

God doesn't wait for your schedule to magically clear up. He shows up right in the thick of your busy life and demands a decision.

The Cost of Discipleship: Following Jesus requires the willing surrender of anything—your personal plans, your current comforts, your old identity, and your need for control—in order to fully trust, obey, and become like Him.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John didn't try to negotiate, and they didn't ask for a delay. They left the nets, left the boat, left the safety of their father’s business, and walked away.

The Commission to Follow

Matthew 4:23-24

"Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people... So they brought to him all those who were afflicted..."

If being a disciple means imitating the teacher, then the disciples learned exactly what it meant to "fish for people" by watching Jesus do it. As they walked behind Him through Galilee, they saw that His ministry boiled down to three distinct actions: Teaching, Preaching, and Caring.

These can sound like overwhelming tasks reserved only for professional pastors, but Jesus intends for every single believer to practice them in daily life.

Teaching (Explanation)

Teaching is simply explaining what the Bible says so someone else can understand it. You don't need a master's degree to teach. If you take just 15 minutes a day to read your Bible, you will learn truths that you can easily share with someone else.

While God absolutely calls some people to teach in a formal church classroom, the most impactful teaching happens outside those walls. It happens in our living rooms when we talk to our kids or grandkids. It happens in car rides, at the workplace, or sitting on a boat with a fishing pole. Anytime you share biblical wisdom with someone looking for advice, you are teaching.

Preaching/Proclaiming (Exhortation)

What is the difference between teaching and preaching?

Teaching focuses on explanation; it tells you what the Bible says to help you understand it.

Preaching (Proclaiming) focuses on exhortation; it calls for a response and challenges you to change.

You are proclaiming the gospel anytime you boldly speak about Jesus and invite people to act on it. When you share your personal testimony and encourage a friend to trust God, that is proclaiming. When you look at a brother or sister in Christ and gently say, "You know this behavior isn't right—you need to turn back to God," that is proclaiming. It is the willingness to speak the truth and ask for a real decision.

Caring (Demonstration)

While teaching shows people what is true and proclaiming calls them to respond, caring shows people that the gospel is real. Acts of genuine compassion and mercy give your words absolute credibility.

Caring means having the courage to step directly into someone else's messy, broken situation to bear their burdens. It means stopping to pray for a coworker right there in the hallway when they tell you they are overwhelmed. It means dropping off a meal, helping out financially, or using your time to lift a weight off someone else's shoulders.

When a church is actively teaching the truth, proclaiming the gospel, and aggressively loving and caring for people, you won't be able to keep people away. They will come, and they will bring their broken friends with them.

The Ultimate Blueprint

There are thousands of modern church growth strategies out there, but absolutely nothing can replace the ancient blueprint Jesus left behind. We are called to be a body of people who step outside the comfort of our four church walls and carry His light directly into a dark world.

If you claim to be an artist, but you own all the brushes and never paint a canvas, you aren't really an artist. If you claim to be a mechanic because you memorize car manuals, but you never actually touch an engine, you aren't a mechanic.

If we claim to be followers of Jesus, but we never talk about Him, never serve anyone, and never do what He commanded, we need to honestly evaluate if we are truly following Him.

Jesus is powerful enough to change you, and He has given you the Holy Spirit to empower you. The invitation is open. You just have to decide whether you will stay in the boat or drop your nets and follow.

The Gospel Rescue

The reason we can drop everything to follow Jesus is because of what He did to come after us.

The sovereign God who spoke the universe into existence looked down and saw us trapped, broken, and completely separated from Him by our own sin. Instead of leaving us in our darkness, He launched a rescue mission.

Jesus came to earth—fully God and fully man, born of a virgin, and living a completely sinless life. He didn't just come to perform incredible miracles and offer great moral teaching; He came to die. He willingly took your sin and my sin to the cross, paying our debt in full so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Three days later, He walked out of the grave, defeating death once and for all. He gave up His life to rescue you—now He asks you to lay down your nets and live your life for Him.

Main Point: Follow Jesus

When Jesus describes what His disciples will be, His answer is they will be fishers of men.

Meaning as a follower of Jesus you will be fishers of men. That is, at its core, what it means to be a Christian.

If you say you are an artist, you have all the supplies but never create anything, I would say you aren’t much of an artist. If you say you are a mechanic, but all you do is read car manuals all day, but you never touch a vehicle, I would say you aren’t much a mechanic. If you say you are a chef, and read cookbooks all day, but you never cook a meal, I would say you aren’t much of a chef.

Church, if you say you are follower of Jesus, but you never talk about Him or do the things He tells you to do…well you can come to that conclusion yourself. Jesus is powerful enough to change you. He has given you the Holy Spirit to witness. Now you must decide whether you will follow Him or not.

Challenge

This week, intentionally go out of your way to show Christlike care to someone in your life.

Don't wait for it to be easy, and don't do it only when it is convenient. Find a tangible way to step into someone's world—whether through an act of service, a financial blessing, or taking a moment to pray with them through a trial—and show them the radical love of the King.