The Art of Fishing

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” You could strip down Jesus’ message this one single message; the kingdom has come. In the gospel of Luke Jesus is recorded, “I must proclaim the kingdom of God…that is why I was sent.” Jesus was a man with a one-track mind, bring in and proclaim the kingdom of God. 

There should be no shock or surprise when Matthew 4:19 comes along: Jesus begins to recruit disciples to proclaim this same message. Peter, Andrew, James and John were all fishermen and being fishermen they had an incredible understanding of the art of fishing. 

Most of us have dropped a line in at some point or another. It could have been a simple stick with a string and hook as a child. When we imagine fishing we think of kicking back on the shore or a boat, taking it all in. Perhaps with a nice cold beverage and some great friends. This is not how these four would have described a day on the water. Fishing was work, hard, arduous work. 

A large circular net was spread across the water with heavy weights at the perimeter. The net was cast out and pulled back up. This process would repeat till they caught their goal or decided it just wasn’t their day. To be a fisherman meant you put in long hours sometimes with very little to show for your labor. Fishing for men was to be a similar process. You can cast your net, a wide net and cast it again and cast it again and come back with nothing. You can work through the night into the morning and still arrive back at shore with an empty boat. It took patience and persistence to be a fisherman. Fishing for men would be no different. 

Proclaiming the gospel, sharing our faith is work. Sometimes it can feel as if you have been throwing your net out for days, months, years and always come back empty. Patience, perseverance and purpose, strenuous work; its impossible to bring in a catch without at least one of those.  We are called to follow Jesus; to live his life, to imitate and follow in his footsteps. Proclaiming the kingdom of heaven, fishing for men is who he was and who we are. As disciples of Jesus we can never grow tired of casting our net. 

Last closing thought. A fish that has been caught has one purpose to be eaten. In essence the fisherman brings death to that fish. As disciples we catch with a new purpose; to bring life, eternal life to those we catch in our net. 

Are we still fishing for men? Are we casting our net with patience, perseverance and purpose?