Fishing For Life

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”   Matthew 4:18-19 (ESV)

I’ve never enjoyed fishing—mainly because it seems so unfair to the fish! We put a piece of bait, like a bright red salmon egg, on a hook and we dangle it in the water. When the hungry fish gulps it down, it finds death—not life.

To be honest, this reminds me of some kinds of evangelism. Some Christians seem to think they must “sell” Jesus—they must disguise his message as something else so that people will be attracted to it and swallow the bait. How can this be right when we serve the God of truth?

The “fishers of men” thing bothered me until I realized Jesus’ disciples didn’t use bait and hooks for their livelihood. They were net fishermen. Their nets were right out there in the open for everyone to see, even the fish. And they took fish alive.

This is how we must fish--openly, without trying to deceive or confuse people. We are telling them the same Good News that somebody once told us—that God himself has come into this world to rescue human beings from the power of death and evil. We tell them about Jesus, who died on the cross and rose from the dead for us. He is the True Fisherman who laid down his life for the fish, for us—and whoever is caught in his nets will live forever.

By Dr. Kari Vo