And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Jesus called working fishermen by the Sea of Galilee to leave their nets and follow Him so He could turn them from catching fish to gathering people into God's kingdom for salvation. The invitation was short with no promise of pay or position, yet they recognized His authority and left boats, livelihood and family ties at once without excuse or delay. Following meant sharing His self-denial and learning in His school by walking and working with Him, rather than by prior schooling in traditions and human wisdom. He chose humble, teachable toilers over the learned and self-sufficient, and by three and a half years of personal contact qualified them to carry His truth to all lands and ages. That same call still comes to every person today, promising that human effort joined with divine power will not fail in winning souls by His method of sympathy, ministry to need, and personal labor.
Setting By The Sea
The saying belongs to the early ministry by the Sea of Galilee, where crowds were taught, the good news of salvation and the kingdom was proclaimed, and ministry was carried on as the great Healer and Restorer bringing eternal life to hearers. Jesus was walking by the sea when He found Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers, and James and John were called together with them, so that four fishermen were called together, including John the Galilean fisherman who obeyed without hesitation.
The call followed a fruitless night of toiling with empty nets in weariness and discouragement. Jesus taught the multitude from Peter's boat, then commanded launching into the deep and letting down the net. The result was a multitude of fishes that broke the net and nearly sank both boats after James and John were summoned to help, leaving fishermen mending nets broken by the draught.
In substance the words were first spoken to Peter as assurance not to fear that he would henceforth catch men. The miracle had thrilled him with divine power, shamed his unbelief and discouragement over John's death, and made him feel sinful and unworthy before the Son of God, and after Peter recognized his sinfulness in the presence of the Messiah Jesus told him not to fear and promised he would catch people. Then came the joint invitation to the fishermen together to follow and be made fishers of men, leading them to leave former work.
The call to the apostolate took place a little distance from the sea beneath the sheltering trees of the mountainside in the region round about the Sea where many miracles had been worked, not long before the stilling of the tempest. It came only a little while before the disciples were called the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and it carried a promise of blessing in the work. Before fully joining Him the fishermen had seen His miracles and heard His teaching yet had not entirely left fishing, and grief and fear led them back to their work for a time.
What Fishers Means
To be made fishers of men is to be turned from catching fish to catching people for the kingdom, gathering people by sharing the gospel, bringing them to Christ and to God, and winning them to salvation by spreading His teachings. The new work is to bring people to Christ, learning His way of labor in order to carry the commission with wisdom, patience, meekness, earnestness, and energy. The call turns fishing work into a mission to win people to the gospel, making those called His workers in bringing people to Him, and it is answered by at once leaving nets to follow.
Fishing means taking people out of Satan's service and placing them in God's service, bringing them out to faith in Christ and to belief, and teaching them about God's kingdom. It means becoming His witnesses, His prime ministers and evangelists, who bear His truth to the world unmingled with human traditions and sophistries and without the customs and traditions of the rabbis. Fitness for this comes not by worldly schools, Jewish synagogues, halls of philosophy, or teaching after the manner of Jewish educators, but by walking and working with Him, practicing His virtues, hearing His words, learning from His teaching and example, watching Him open Scripture and heal, and witnessing His humble service. His call itself, together with the power of His grace, appoints to gospel ministry, and following prepares and equips as His representatives to preach and to carry responsibilities like His.
As His word gathered fish from the sea, He can impress human hearts and draw them by love, enabling His servants to become fishers of people. The promise meant a worldwide, age-long mission in which God by quickening power would enlighten the minds of unlearned men to spread Christ's doctrines far and wide, winning many to salvation. Humble, unlearned, discouraged and illiterate fishermen of Galilee, and sturdy working men from among them, received a high commission the Light of the world was abundantly able to qualify them for, leaving nets, boats, regular work, and worldly possessions in obedience to divine authority recognized at once. What seemed a simple calling was of mighty signification to influence the world through all time, a tremendous event to shake the world, continued afterward by others until reaching all lands and taught in all ages, with humble work producing a power felt through eternity.
The gospel net stays cast to gather still more, bringing in people to take their stand for the truth and keep the Sabbath, taken right out of the world and soundly converted, giving up tobacco and beer and irreligion for hope and joy and courage in the Lord. The later miraculous catch after the resurrection recalled the first call given after the first draught when the net broke with the multitude taken, and renewed the commission with greater impressiveness. Jesus' death did not cancel or lessen the duty to do the work assigned, and though deprived of His personal companionship and of livelihood from their favorite employment, the risen Saviour watches over His workers and will care for them and provide for their needs while they do His work. The catches teach that labor succeeds when human effort is joined with divine power where Christ stands, so that working in connection with Him will not fail and success is certain when His divine power unites with human effort.
Call And Prompt Obedience
The call was a short invitation with no long explanation and no promise of wages, yet it implied all He intended for them and carried an impelling, drawing, convincing power. They received His message and understood the truth, with their minds under His influence and recognition of His divine authority. At that word they straightway left nets, boats, ship, regular work, worldly possessions, and even father and family ties to follow Him and to bring people to Him by sharing the gospel. The same call is given to each person today and is to be answered at once as James and John also left ship and father without question.
Obedience was immediate and unquestioning, without stopping to make excuses, presenting whys or wherefores, hesitating, or delaying. They did not anxiously ask how business, livelihood, and family support would continue, nor wait until every practical resource was available. Following requires faith in what He knows is best and faithful obedience without first weighing personal or temporal advantage, as Peter, James, and John obeyed when called. His word was sent to save the soul, and heeding His call to follow keeps from departure from the faith, while refusing to heed it lets a departure work for a long time.
Those who obey keep the path of obedience, show love for Christ, and stay close by His side where Satan cannot touch or pluck them away. With Christ beside them there is no failure or defeat, for the Lord opens the way for those who serve Him fully and supplies their needs. It is enough to be with Jesus, to hear His words and unite with Him in His work trusting His care, and those who so obey will afterward find they lacked nothing. Turning from truth to secure success is perilous, because Jesus lives and those who live by Him will live also.
Following means walking in His footsteps and learning from His practical example of obedient life, not merely being told what to do. He leads the way, removes obstructions, and teaches by His own obedient life in humanity as the example for all who believe in Christ and walk in His footsteps. Following is walking and working in His footsteps to become fishers of people.
Service Without Earthly Reward
The call offered no stated sum, fixed payment, agreed compensation, large salary, worldly gain, honor, high position, or highest wage, but meant sharing in self-denial and sacrifices and serving from unselfish devotion rather than for personal gain. Simon Peter and Andrew were called from casting a net by the Sea of Galilee to be made fishers of men, and as His first disciples they left their work at once to bring people to Him and to God. Following meant sharing His work of gathering people while sharing His self-denial instead of receiving a set payment.
A true follower is actuated only by self-denial and self-sacrifice, free from covetousness and from seeking position and wage. Devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice are the first requisites of acceptable service, bringing exactitude and skill, tact and wisdom into the work, with not one thread of selfishness woven into it. Love for Christ makes people glad to work with Him and willing to trust His care, and making God their strength gives clear perceptions of duty, unselfish aims, and a noble purpose that lifts above selfish gain and sordid motives. Those whose hearts are touched by that love do not put compensation first but rejoice to be co-workers with Him without fear.
Peter and his companions left boats and nets at once without first asking what they would receive or how they and their families would be supported. Being with Him, hearing His words, and uniting with Him in His work was enough, and afterward they could say they lacked nothing. His call still breaks the world's enchantment, drives greed and ambition from the heart, and frees people to follow Him.
Training In Christ's School
Following Him would qualify them, for by walking and working with Him and practicing His virtues they would become His witnesses, taking people from Satan's service into God's service and sharing His truth free from human traditions and sophistries. Through connection with Him they would bring people to faith in Christ and teach them about God's kingdom, His call together with the power of His grace appointing them to gospel ministry. They were prepared not by worldly schools or rabbinical customs and traditions but by hearing His words, learning from His example, watching Him open Scripture and heal, and witnessing His teaching, virtues, and humble service. That training made them His representatives, equipped to preach His truth without human traditions and to carry responsibilities like His.
He took them directly to Himself rather than first sending them to a school for training, and they followed without asking questions. They learned their work by joining Him and accompanying Him as He taught, being led through towns and countryside so they could watch His example, learn how to serve, and join Him in blessing others. Their interests were linked with His and drawn into work alongside Him, and after accompanying Him they received further instruction from Him about the truths He presented.
The training meant three years and a half of personal contact and association with the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. It meant walking and talking with Him day by day, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy laden, seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf of the sick and afflicted, and learning the mysteries of the kingdom of God and the truths of the way of salvation as He unfolded them. That unfolding came sitting on the mountainside, beside the sea, walking by the way, and wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message. It did not mean merely being commanded to do this or that, but going with Him through country and cities to see how He taught, traveling from place to place, sharing His frugal fare, hunger and weariness, and being with Him on crowded streets, by the lakeside, in the lonely desert, and in every phase of life. This traveling, observing, and receiving instruction at His feet, gathering about Him on a rock or some elevated place while hundreds listened, is the pattern for training gospel medical missionary evangelists. Their lack of learning did not prevent them from becoming co-workers under His refining influence, in contrast to learned leaders who trusted their own wisdom and righteousness and would not accept His teaching.
They were prepared not by worldly schools, rabbinical customs and traditions, Jewish synagogues, or halls of philosophy, but by hearing His words, watching Him open Scripture and heal, witnessing His virtues and humble service, and learning under His personal supervision. Following Jesus and doing what He commands brings disciples into His school, where God teaches them. Christ can take people from ordinary work and unite them with Him for service, for workers to look to Christ, be changed into His image, and do as He did, and He would teach them and prepare them to bring people to Him by proclaiming the word of life. Fitness for this work comes by practicing His virtues and by walking and working with Him, serving as His prime ministers and evangelists who bear His truth unmingled with human traditions and sophistries.
Following, obeying His commands, and learning with God as teacher prepared them for service without first completing a course at a rabbinical school or first going elsewhere to learn before coming to Him. This example supports sending workers into gospel service without delaying them for years of preparation, and illustrates that people may go from the church straight into harvest work and do God's work even without ordination, with no one to forbid them. At the same time education remains necessary and must not be allowed to absorb every spiritual interest.
Christ called humble fishermen at the beginning of His ministry to follow Him and become fishers of men, thereby beginning early to gather and train helpers. That beginning is the pattern for ministers to seek and train others rather than trying to do all the work alone. Their example illustrates how young workers in cities should receive practical, thorough training under experienced, devoted leaders before going out to labor. That practical preparation includes gathering for prayer and to share experiences.
Why Humble Fishermen Chosen
Jesus passed over the talented and great, the dignitaries and those relying on learning and position, and called humble, toiling, working fishermen, poor peasants of Galilee from the lower ranks. He did not go to the Pharisees to choose teachers because He knew He could work with and educate humble working men for the highest work given to mortals. He chose lowly, unlearned men not spoiled by praise or flattery or filled with self-sufficiency, men whose willingness to be taught suited His purpose of teaching right principles and lifting people from earthliness and debasement.
They had good natural ability and were humble, teachable, candid, fair and kind, willing to be taught, with hearts not hardened by blind prejudice and able to feel for the woes and sorrows of others as He did. Their simple lives, experience of hardship, and freedom from love of riches and worldly honor made them receptive to truth and to mercy, righteousness, justice and holiness. Their habits had not been shaped by worldly customs and fashions, and they had not taken up the false teaching and bigotry of the scribes and Pharisees, so He could teach them in a way they would remember and preserve for future generations. Their freedom from the false teaching of the time made them more ready to learn and serve, illustrating God's plan to use humble people for great work so that the glory belongs to God rather than to human instruments.
The learned lawyers, scribes, elders, rulers and Pharisees were passed by because they trusted human wisdom, pride of intellect, learning, position, self-righteousness and fixed traditions, felt whole and all-sufficient, realized no need of a Redeemer, and would not follow or receive His teachings. They prided themselves on learning and position, were fixed in traditions and superstitions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, while He could read all hearts and chose poor fishermen who were willing to be taught. He offered them no promise of high pay or worldly honor, but that following Him meant sharing in His sufferings.
Choosing fishermen showed no preference for ignorance and did not oppose education, for Christ as the source of knowledge and the most perfect educator the world has ever known could qualify them for their work, and the highest culture sanctified by love and fear of God receives His approbation. Learned and honorable people could have served Him, but some lacked courage to confess Him before hostile leaders, while the world's men of learning trust human wisdom, pride themselves on intellectual superiority, and are unwilling to become humble learners in His school. The fishermen had not been schooled in false customs and traditions, and He joined them to Himself for three years of training under His own care that no course in the schools of the rabbis or halls of philosophy could equal in value. He chose obedient, faithful men and educated them through His own teaching and care to carry on His work after He left.
Their lessons and work had consequences far beyond humble beginnings to transform the world, for made mighty by God's power their lives and testimony would shape the faith and practice of future Christians. Their knowledge was to come from God free of error, superstition and human precepts, and their work required wisdom, perseverance, fortitude and energy. Those lessons are recorded in the Word and keep their weight until the end of time. God still accepts the humble and calls people from humble and obscure circumstances, from ordinary work, poverty and obscurity; though others see little worth in them, He sees their possibilities, knew the fishermen would be willing to be molded, and by grace can prepare them for useful service and make them valuable workers. God selects whom He will and is not dependent on fluency or business ability, and He did not measure efficiency by grammar or business skill; He can use humble and contrite workers, while the self-sufficient He cannot use.
Those called must let the lessons have a sanctifying influence on the heart, bring natural disposition under discipline, and put them into practice. Judas did not learn this way, and his undisciplined disposition finally led to betrayal of Christ. But John learned and practiced the lessons, and after his Master's death stood firmly on principle when assailed by enemies of truth. Those taught by Jesus, though ignorant men, astonished enemies by boldness and excellent instruction because they had been with Jesus and learned of Him, and when people connect with God the light given to the apostles is imparted to them. In the ordinary walks of life many patient toilers in daily toil possess dormant powers that, called into action by a skillful hand, would raise them to equality with the world's most honored men, and every young man fails in duty to himself if he does not improve and enlarge his faculties through study, reflection and learning in Christ's school, the best and truest educator the world has ever known.
Call Extended To All
The call to leave former work and follow into saving souls is given to each person today, to every believing soul, and to both men and women, including ministers led to take up His work, with true humble workers giving God's honor first place. It is to be answered at once as the fishermen answered, straightway leaving nets to follow, as James and John also immediately left ship and father without question, receiving His instruction so they can go into the world and win people as disciples. Christ gives unlearned people power and efficiency to carry it out, and their spiritual conquests bring glory to God and show Christianity's divine character. Following Christ includes receiving His grace and passing it on, consecrating life to God and serving Him by helping others find salvation, coming into right relation with Him and cooperating with Him in His work. Peter, James and John left their nets, and the call to become fishers applies to men and women who leave vocations to proclaim the gospel and gather people to Christ.
Christ is the only authorized leader of His people in laying the foundation of the church, seen at the very commencement as He walked by the Sea of Galilee and saw Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers, and called them to follow to become fishers of men. He is the Captain of the Lord's host who must be recognized as Leader, and heeding His call to follow produces obedience and unites workers on the common ground that the Bible is the true guide and Counselor to be obeyed, with no human sophistry or human authority put before it. He chose humble fishermen as the foundation, architects, and first disciples of His church to be built on Himself as true foundation, not on any human foundation. They in turn were to educate other workers and send them out with the gospel message to quarry stones and hew timber for the building, going constantly from place to place proclaiming salvation through Christ rather than building fine churches and settling down over them as pastors. Those who received Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah through their work were expelled from the synagogues, but Christ opened before them the door no man could shut, and they were to go into highways and hedges and compel men to come in that God's house might be filled. Their limited understanding, shaped by the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, made it difficult for them to receive all He wanted to teach and restrained what they could receive, for they were not yet able to hear all divine truths He wished to reveal.
The Lord still calls people from ordinary occupations, farms, businesses, trades, and the plow to warn perishing souls, as Christ called fishermen away from their work to follow and serve in His cause. He Himself directly calls humble working men as of old, gives them instruction about their field of labor and the methods they should follow, and as great Teacher opens their understanding to see wondrous things in His word. There are many ways and many kinds of service for the Master in warning the world, and their service belongs to Him, not to a human supervisor or a fixed branch of work. Those called need not bind themselves to serve for a term of years under the direction of one group of men or in one specified branch, but the Lord must be given opportunity to show them duty and work upon minds. He Himself directs and educates those He calls, so they need not bind themselves to serve under a human teacher, but are to follow His call and go into missionary work where people have not heard the truth, receiving the understanding and education needed for warning those without truth.
The call to the fishermen to leave former pursuits and follow into His work also illustrates Jesus' call to leave a secret-society allegiance and devote talents to gospel work, as heeded by Faulkhead who left his ties and devoted his talents to the work the Lord had for him, with following meaning accepting the work He appoints in His cause. The call required Peter to leave literal fishing, a lifelong livelihood and strong natural love for boats and for the water, and that change was difficult, with Peter repeatedly drawn back from Christ's side to his favorite occupation on the water. The Lord did not prosper Peter in clinging to fishing, and Peter came back from the boat disappointed and weary with no fish, and the same call requires leaving such infatuation with boats and water in order to follow Christ and serve Him. Following does not always mean abandoning ordinary duties, withdrawing from society, or treating inactivity as virtue, for His call is to active, earnest, diligent work with ample opportunity in every walk of life to serve Him and grow spiritually through exercise in His work. Here His call leads in the duties He assigns, and for one woman it led back to neglected home responsibilities as wife and mother, not away from them to other religious work. Following Christ is made the aim of life, directing people to obey Him and let His leading guide choices.
After Peter denied his Lord, entrusting him with the souls for whom Christ gave His life showed Christ's confidence that Peter had been restored and could serve again as a fisher of men. Jesus personally calls individuals still, as He called the humble fishermen in Galilee, with the same call addressed to new believers and people still deciding whether to accept the faith. Following means responding to conscience and letting light influence others, obeying His voice and entering His school to learn from Him, as in the personal calling of W to follow Him. His call to the Harrises was a personal summons to follow, meaning giving powers to God's service and accepting opportunities to know God and Jesus better, connected with becoming workers who help draw people to Christ.
Methods For Soul Winning
Being fishers means working for souls with hearts filled with Christlike love, sharing tender compassion for souls and sternness against all evil working, taking Christ as pattern and laboring together with Him, for no one wins people unless He works in and through that person. It requires separation from business entanglements that would tarnish Christlikeness of character, bring coarseness into life, and hinder advancement in spiritual things. The call comes after His method of mingling as one desiring good, showing sympathy, meeting needs, and winning confidence, then bidding follow, and true success comes only by that method. That means coming close by personal effort with less sermonizing and more personal ministry to the poor, sick, sorrowing, bereaved, ignorant and inexperienced, weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice, with persuasion, prayer and love, and such work will bear fruit.
Workers cast the gospel net with watchfulness, tears, earnest prayer, faith and untiring effort, persevering even when efforts appear fruitless or advance slowly, trusting God to give success and sustain the entrusted work. Like watchers of a fishing net they must not give up when labor seems fruitless but keep working at the Master's command in continued faithfulness. Success may come sometimes and not at other times, but followers persevere carrying God's message to unbelievers, which can win many hearts. Fishing engages the whole person through witness, prayer, praise and a life leading to conviction and conversion, requiring a burden for souls, earnest prayer, active wise work among reachable people as fishers casting nets where fish are found, and humble labor in harmony with Christ. Every family needs this deep living experience, and service requires sincerely seeking the Lord for humility and fitness, with consecrated people uniting to labor untiringly especially at conferences and camp meetings with less lengthy preaching and more personal effort.
Effectiveness comes as hindrances to Christian growth are put away and the Holy Spirit shapes minds and works through steadfast servants to the end, so that service carries salvation and light and shines like a lamp to those in darkness. Following makes soul-winning one of the greatest works, set above buying and selling and getting gain, far more profitable than seeking money, meaning warning the community all around, seeing nearby souls, speaking personally, letting light flash forth with kindness, tenderness, pitifulness and sweetness of His Spirit to win others, putting all abilities into active salvation work. The work includes compassionate service to the suffering and helpless who cannot help themselves, supplying necessities, feeding the hungry, welcoming the poor, relieving needs and giving the bread of life, which with tender sympathy creates opportunity to present Christ crucified and draw toward salvation, requiring daily strength from God. Being fishers means being used with evidence in doing the medical missionary work He did, learning the art of saving souls with converting power, true sympathy, seeing and doing what is needed, and hard painstaking effort with wisdom sought in unwavering faith, and those not doing this should go apart until they give that evidence.
Ministers must learn from Christ daily and serve with His love for souls, tender compassion and firmness against evil, reflecting Him in speech and conduct, and those called to ministry must give up business entanglements that coarsen character or hinder spiritual growth, as shown by straightway leaving nets. Soul-winners become such only by daily consecration linking with the Great Teacher, learning precious lessons, gaining Scripture knowledge qualifying them to speak of Christ, remaining humble enough to receive instruction from above rather than wise in own estimation, with the Spirit's renewing power giving practical saving energy to labor where one is for those around, while the most learned knowledge without His school is foolishness for this work. The work is hunting and fishing for souls by evangelists, canvasser-evangelists and gospel workers who preach the Word, carry truth family to family, seek opportunities to speak of the Saviour, help through prayer and song in meek humble spirit, teach publicly and house to house, give Bible readings, pray with families and educate new believers, reaching those not reached by camp meetings. An evangelist is a lover of souls who hunts and fishes, fishing must be the business of life, and every power is devoted to bringing people to Christ.
Believers are to have no idlers but combine into small companies, even two or three united in love, to gather precious souls from corruption into saving purity, working for members, unbelievers and those outside the fold, praying together for special ones with forbearance and patience, forgetting self, so numbers increase. The call directs teachers, students, church members and families to efficient service: cooperate with the evangelist, teach seekers, use abilities, join ministers, carry the message to all parts of the globe to prepare a people to stand before God, approach the wealthy, rulers and stewards of means to advance the gospel to all nationalities, warn in highways and byways and hedges, go to new regions and cities where truth has scarcely been preached to proclaim and give readings, rather than only established churches, which also gives home members something to do. At Los Angeles members are to cooperate with the evangelist especially by teaching seekers, at Battle Creek to uphold Bible truth before crowds and reach patients and multitudes using every opportunity, and where multitudes gather fishing is done by strong mature experienced men who outline plain Bible truth unmixed with popular errors, improve opportunities, reach true-hearted Christians, and guard youth and workers among unbelievers from being ensnared. Such burden-bearing seeking in new places advances the cause in every line, as seen in Brother Shireman's labor which many more should follow, and earnest workers so labor to win souls and open living streams to refresh the thirsting. God calls for fishers, and Christ makes followers fishers who gather from the world into saving purity.
Faithful women giving whole time to hunting and fishing do work as essential as ministers, in the same line carrying burden by visiting family to family, opening Scriptures, giving readings, praying, educating new believers, and bearing tremendous responsibility day and night from morning until late at night, and justice requires proportionate wages from tithe rightly reserved for this work even without ordination. New converts share the call at once without waiting years of education, taking Bibles, studying diligently, explaining truth as explained to them, and inviting all classes including men of high standing to the marriage supper. The work embraces temperance reform as a living interest, circulating literature, forming vigilant united companies, inoffensive gentle speech, grace dwelling richly, encouraging words, and laying aside self-magnification to come into line. Following without asking where it leads or what reward comes means consecrating every power, promptly leading others to light through judicious faithful effort under the divine Leader, letting light shine in good works, relying on God's strength and grace rather than human strength alone, for God does not replace entrusted work.
Human messengers are essential because people reach others through visible compassionate connection, and the call continues through imperfect sinful people who learn from Him and partner with Him, with effort made effective by divine power not human strength. Neglecting to seek the lost, teach Bible truth and warn the ignorant and erring about requirements is a sin of omission to be exposed in judgment when the lost ask why they were not warned, for believers are responsible to use opportunities. Continual dependence on word and providence enables the called to use all powers for the Redeemer and to keep working in partnership trusting Him to guide and make fishers even when plans are hindered and resources seem inadequate. Following requires integrity, moral resolve, self-denial, unreserved surrender, serving under His banner and shining as light rather than living for pleasure or display, using influence and example to guide children and others in the Lord's way. Consecrated united untiring hunting and fishing with less sermonizing and more personal effort at conferences and camp meetings, treating time as precious and seeking fitness in humility, can do great good.
Receptive hearts are made vessels for the new wine of the kingdom where He pours truth, as with the Samaritan woman and Matthew the publican. The call to become fishers is a call to be a chosen people separate from the world, urgent because the end is near, to prepare a people to stand before God and gather souls to bear the test of the last days, with answerers becoming living agencies and laborers together with God beginning at once even at cost of a meal, following Him who fasted forty days under temptation. Every true believer wholly devoted and guided by wisdom helps others find Christ through spoken words, everyday influence or printed material, using every jot of strength including public outdoor preaching casting the net and drawing whatever it takes. Followers learn His methods and plans rather than bringing old practices, giving up all as willing volunteers, and by following learn wisdom, patience, meekness, earnestness and energy for their commission. Jesus taught directly giving knowledge free from tradition and bigotry as seed to cultivate, and their testimony was to be regarded as highest authority among nations.
The Spirit's sanctifying influence helps hear and respond with individual responsibility, producing obedience and unity on the common ground that the Bible is guide and Counselor before human authority or sophistry. Following where He goes means relying on His direction rather than running ahead with own plans, not facing opposition alone, for He goes before so followers need not be overcome by the enemy's schemes. Following means using heaven's light to show destruction by sin, point to the only safe path, preserve powers for practical rescue work, then give oneself to benefit the perishing, directing away from unnecessary study toward helping souls find righteousness and salvation. The call promises blessing in the work of bringing people to Him, given little before salt and light, and requires sustained labor from morning until late at night. Disciples consecrated themselves when called, and discipleship equipped them to work for others and speak about Christ.
The call makes them disciples and gives work to bring people to Him, joining His work of gathering to God and entering gospel ministry as co-laborers bringing people through the gospel. Being fishers means bringing people to Him, turning fishing work into mission to win people to the gospel, and following is a call to bring others to Him and gather people for Him. Following means joining Him, learning His methods and plans, and working for salvation as volunteers willing to leave all, going with Him and learning by contact and watching His teaching then joining His work. Communicating truth in faith is like casting the net on the right side, beginning with individuals leading under providence to communities as distinct members of one united effort linked with one another and God. As His word gathered fish, He draws hearts by love enabling servants to become fishers, and His preaching joined with restoring suffering is the pattern for followers.
Christ calls people to learn from Him by personal contact and association, seeing possibilities in them and training them through being with Him, still calling from humble and obscure circumstances where others see little worth. Their ability, teachable spirit, and training through hard work prepared them to be instructed and shaped, and as they listened and lived with Him He taught and trained them to carry the gospel to others. Their training came through teaching from the Old Testament and work alongside Him as He traveled, taught, and healed, watching His work among the sick and suffering. The call means walking and talking day by day hearing cheer, seeing power for the sick, learning mysteries sitting mountainside, beside sea, by way, wherever hearts open, going through country and cities, traveling, sharing fare, hunger and weariness in every phase. Followers learn work by joining Him and receiving further instruction, linking interests with His and drawing alongside Him.
He can work with and educate humble working men rather than Pharisees for the highest work given to mortals, giving dignity of intelligence and forming them in God's image. He can make fishers out of people without great education who love Him, His teachings taking hold of mind, soul, and abilities enabling acceptable preaching clothed with His righteousness. He can take people from ordinary work and unite them with Him, workers looking to Him, being changed into His image, and doing as He did, without first going elsewhere to learn. The call does not require speaking and acting exactly like a minister, but all may contribute differently in harmony toward the same purpose. He still raises men and women from the common people and equips them to carry truth to many places and to others.
Learning from Him could give an education greater and farther-reaching than formal religious schooling, and He gave knowledge and wisdom for testimony reaching the whole world so advanced schooling is not required before answering. The highest education is following in His footsteps with living connection making laborers together with God, traveling, observing, and receiving instruction at His feet while He taught multitudes as the pattern for training gospel medical missionary evangelists. Preparation comes by simple obedience under divine teaching in His school where God teaches, so workers should not be long delayed by schooling though schools remain needed and education must not absorb spiritual interests. They were prepared not by schools but by hearing teaching, learning example, watching Scripture opened and healing, walking and working with Him, equipped to witness without traditions and represent Him humbly. Fitness came from His personal supervision not rabbis' schools, by practicing virtues and walking with Him, becoming witnesses bearing truth unmingled as prime ministers and evangelists.
Christ preferred to work for fishermen rather than learned men who knew so much, and men formed by what the world wants learned are not fitted for God's work. He called fishermen as ministers shaping work through connection rather than the school of the prophets, requiring willing learners serving anywhere and putting aside rivalry, for brilliant talent alone is not qualification. God selects whom He will and is not dependent on fluency or business ability, not measuring efficiency by grammar or business skill, using humble contrite workers while the self-sufficient He cannot use. He chose obedient faithful men and educated them through His own teaching and care to carry on work after He left, with far-reaching transforming consequences, not showing preference for ignorance since learned and honorable could have served. Calling ignorant fishermen did not oppose education, for highest culture sanctified receives approbation, placed under refining influence three years with the most perfect educator He qualified them.
Their humility and teachability made them receptive so glory belongs to Him not instruments, illustrating God's plan to use humble people for great work. Their freedom from false teaching made them more ready to learn and serve, not schooled in traditions but having natural ability, humble and teachable, developing in mind and character through close association to fit them for work. Their willingness to be taught suited His purpose of teaching right principles and lifting people from earthliness and debasement, with candor, fairness, benevolence, sympathy, and freedom from customs and bigotry making them fit to preserve teachings. He chose men without schooling in false customs but with ability and teachable spirits, lowly unlearned rather than dignitaries not spoiled by praise or self-sufficiency. Their limited understanding shaped by scribes and Pharisees made it difficult to receive all He wished to reveal and restrained what they could receive.
The call honors humble sturdy workers whose service can last through eternity and produce power felt through eternity, choosing working fishermen as co-laborers honoring humble work. Ordinary hardworking people can be called to bring salvation, and faith and hope in responsibility can produce lasting good. The call can take people from farms, businesses, and trades to warn the world, still calling from ordinary occupations giving instruction about field and methods to warn perishing through many kinds of service. He directs and educates those called so they need not bind to a human teacher but go where truth is not heard, giving understanding and education under His direction rather than binding to term or branch. The Lord still calls from ordinary work to take part in the closing work, calling from the plow to warn, opening understanding to see wondrous things.
The call demands immediate unquestioning obedience with no stipulation, leaving former work at once without waiting to ask how to live or sustain dependents, it being enough to be with Jesus and unite with Him, afterward lacking nothing. The call requires immediate obedience without whys or wherefores, without weighing advantage, without waiting for resources, His invitation carrying impelling power and implied purpose followed promptly without questions. Leaving nets took precedence over former work and commitments, meaning leaving nets, boats, and livelihood at once in obedience to divine authority to catch men for the kingdom. Their immediate leaving of nets illustrates the call to serve others by leading them to the gospel and to leave former pursuits for His mission, accepting appointed work and leaving allegiance devoting talents. Following means entering His work of bringing people to Him and placing interests with His, leaving everything at once as co-laborers in gospel ministry.
The words were first spoken as Fear not to Peter after the miracle shaming unbelief, then as Follow me to the group, after the miraculous catch when nets broke, and the later catch renewed commission showing success when effort is joined with power though losing companionship and livelihood. The promise was confirmed by abundant catch, and the last draught made the first more impressive showing the resurrected Saviour watches and provides with divine power uniting with effort where He stands. Turning from truth to secure success is perilous, because Jesus lives and those who live by Him will live also, obedient followers lacking nothing and staying where Satan cannot pluck them with no failure beside Him. Leaving lifelong livelihood was difficult and Peter was repeatedly drawn back to water, coming back disappointed with no fish when clinging to it. Before fully joining they had seen miracles yet not left fishing, returning for a time through grief and fear.
The call to follow makes them His disciples and gives work to bring people to Him, to be answered at once as James and John also left ship and father without question, each person today called to respond, come into right relation, and cooperate. Believing in Christ and walking in His footsteps is the response He wants, with His life in humanity as example for all, following as aim of life directing obedience letting leading guide choices. He leads the way, removes obstructions, teaches by example not merely directions, walking in footsteps and working in them. Following includes receiving His grace and passing it on through consecrated service helping others find salvation, representing Him carrying love to perishing souls with meekness and simplicity winning from error to truth. Fishing means using appointed abilities humbly so people believe and receive everlasting life, gathering through seeking and helping come to faith, a work women as well as men can perform.
The call gives work every gospel minister is blessed in doing, as Christ ministered going into highways and hedges for the ignorant and out of the way, calling for earnest wholehearted labor in cities to carry present truth in simplicity. Just such a work is to be carried on now with those working in harmony with Christ, entire consecration bringing God's mighty power with them, their minds under His influence coming right to His side. The call to leave former work applies to men and women leaving vocations to proclaim the gospel and gather people, going out to win souls on Christ's path of self-denial rather than seeking high position. The call to become fishers applies to explaining Scripture to those ignorant and making earnest self-sacrificing efforts for the perishing, sowing truth expecting rich immeasurable harvest. The verse teaches labor for the lost who do not know truth, seeking sinners earnestly with prayer, carrying concern, taking message to new regions rather than only established churches, with angels ready to help and Christ training teachers.
Following Christ involves self-sacrifice, Christlike words and actions, and service bringing sinners to the Saviour, those forgetting self and depending on Christ becoming light-bearers sharing His peace and joy. The call teaches willing service, trust in His care, and freedom from making compensation chief concern, servants rejoicing in the work and relying on His provision without promising worldly gain or honor. The call means sharing His work including self-denial rather than serving for promised payment, offered no fixed wage but sharing self-denial, defining true followers free from covetousness and seeking position and wage. Sharing His example means sharing in God's work of doing good and saving souls, which will finally enter the Lord's joy, giving wholly to blessing others as the way to happiness filling earth with glory. The call offered no promise of high pay or worldly honor but sharing sufferings, choosing the willing to learn over those trusting learning and position, passing by learned rulers fixed in traditions. The call breaks enchantment driving greed and ambition freeing to follow, not driven by compensation but love making glad to work trusting care.
The verse belongs to the account of calling fishermen to follow and become fishers of people by the Sea of Galilee proclaiming good news to ordinary people bringing eternal life. The call shows Christ's own method for all to copy, choosing humble fishermen as first disciples with no promise of wages but sharing self-denial, leaving work as first disciples. Their fishing skill offered a fitting picture of winning souls, His command carrying convincing power received, understood, followed without hesitation leaving work and possessions. Four poor discouraged unlearned illiterate fishermen became closest associates given high commission He could qualify them for, a tremendous event shaking world with worldwide soul-winning through ages. God's power would enlighten and equip them despite lack of schooling to spread teachings winning many, made mighty shaping future faith with knowledge from God free of error requiring wisdom and energy. The net stays cast bringing more, the catch being people standing for truth keeping Sabbath converted giving up tobacco beer irreligion for hope joy courage.
The God who called humble fishermen is the example for believers to carry truth to others as missionaries, and will help His disciples and give them souls in places where truth has scarcely been preached when they simply read and explain Scripture. The call means these uneducated peasants received the divine commission to repeat Christ's lessons and carry them to all peoples, nations, and tongues, beginning gathering helpers as pattern for ministers to train others rather than work alone. The call to follow and receive instruction sends workers into the world to win disciples, giving unlearned people power and efficiency whose spiritual conquests glorify God and show Christianity's divine character. The verse is linked to the temple's purpose of helping people from other nations learn about God. Calling Peter entrusting souls for whom Christ died showed confidence restored after denial could serve again. The same call addressed to new believers means responding to conscience and letting light influence others, personally calling individuals to obey His voice and enter His school, as to the Harrises giving powers to service and accepting opportunities to know God better while helping draw people. Following means going where He leads in assigned duties, here leading a woman back to neglected home as wife and mother not away to other work, and the call is to active diligent work with opportunity in every walk not abandoning duties withdrawing or treating inactivity as virtue.
Jesus called working fishermen by the Sea of Galilee to leave their nets and follow Him so He could turn them from catching fish to gathering people into God's kingdom for salvation. The invitation was short with no promise of pay or position, yet they recognized His authority and left boats, livelihood and family ties at once without excuse or delay. Following meant sharing His self-denial and learning in His school by walking and working with Him, rather than by prior schooling in traditions and human wisdom. He chose humble, teachable toilers over the learned and self-sufficient, and by three and a half years of personal contact qualified them to carry His truth to all lands and ages. That same call still comes to every person today, promising that human effort joined with divine power will not fail in winning souls by His method of sympathy, ministry to need, and personal labor.
Setting By The Sea
The saying belongs to the early ministry by the Sea of Galilee, where crowds were taught, the good news of salvation and the kingdom was proclaimed, and ministry was carried on as the great Healer and Restorer bringing eternal life to hearers. Jesus was walking by the sea when He found Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers, and James and John were called together with them, so that four fishermen were called together, including John the Galilean fisherman who obeyed without hesitation.
The call followed a fruitless night of toiling with empty nets in weariness and discouragement. Jesus taught the multitude from Peter's boat, then commanded launching into the deep and letting down the net. The result was a multitude of fishes that broke the net and nearly sank both boats after James and John were summoned to help, leaving fishermen mending nets broken by the draught.
In substance the words were first spoken to Peter as assurance not to fear that he would henceforth catch men. The miracle had thrilled him with divine power, shamed his unbelief and discouragement over John's death, and made him feel sinful and unworthy before the Son of God, and after Peter recognized his sinfulness in the presence of the Messiah Jesus told him not to fear and promised he would catch people. Then came the joint invitation to the fishermen together to follow and be made fishers of men, leading them to leave former work.
The call to the apostolate took place a little distance from the sea beneath the sheltering trees of the mountainside in the region round about the Sea where many miracles had been worked, not long before the stilling of the tempest. It came only a little while before the disciples were called the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and it carried a promise of blessing in the work. Before fully joining Him the fishermen had seen His miracles and heard His teaching yet had not entirely left fishing, and grief and fear led them back to their work for a time.
What Fishers Means
To be made fishers of men is to be turned from catching fish to catching people for the kingdom, gathering people by sharing the gospel, bringing them to Christ and to God, and winning them to salvation by spreading His teachings. The new work is to bring people to Christ, learning His way of labor in order to carry the commission with wisdom, patience, meekness, earnestness, and energy. The call turns fishing work into a mission to win people to the gospel, making those called His workers in bringing people to Him, and it is answered by at once leaving nets to follow.
Fishing means taking people out of Satan's service and placing them in God's service, bringing them out to faith in Christ and to belief, and teaching them about God's kingdom. It means becoming His witnesses, His prime ministers and evangelists, who bear His truth to the world unmingled with human traditions and sophistries and without the customs and traditions of the rabbis. Fitness for this comes not by worldly schools, Jewish synagogues, halls of philosophy, or teaching after the manner of Jewish educators, but by walking and working with Him, practicing His virtues, hearing His words, learning from His teaching and example, watching Him open Scripture and heal, and witnessing His humble service. His call itself, together with the power of His grace, appoints to gospel ministry, and following prepares and equips as His representatives to preach and to carry responsibilities like His.
As His word gathered fish from the sea, He can impress human hearts and draw them by love, enabling His servants to become fishers of people. The promise meant a worldwide, age-long mission in which God by quickening power would enlighten the minds of unlearned men to spread Christ's doctrines far and wide, winning many to salvation. Humble, unlearned, discouraged and illiterate fishermen of Galilee, and sturdy working men from among them, received a high commission the Light of the world was abundantly able to qualify them for, leaving nets, boats, regular work, and worldly possessions in obedience to divine authority recognized at once. What seemed a simple calling was of mighty signification to influence the world through all time, a tremendous event to shake the world, continued afterward by others until reaching all lands and taught in all ages, with humble work producing a power felt through eternity.
The gospel net stays cast to gather still more, bringing in people to take their stand for the truth and keep the Sabbath, taken right out of the world and soundly converted, giving up tobacco and beer and irreligion for hope and joy and courage in the Lord. The later miraculous catch after the resurrection recalled the first call given after the first draught when the net broke with the multitude taken, and renewed the commission with greater impressiveness. Jesus' death did not cancel or lessen the duty to do the work assigned, and though deprived of His personal companionship and of livelihood from their favorite employment, the risen Saviour watches over His workers and will care for them and provide for their needs while they do His work. The catches teach that labor succeeds when human effort is joined with divine power where Christ stands, so that working in connection with Him will not fail and success is certain when His divine power unites with human effort.
Call And Prompt Obedience
The call was a short invitation with no long explanation and no promise of wages, yet it implied all He intended for them and carried an impelling, drawing, convincing power. They received His message and understood the truth, with their minds under His influence and recognition of His divine authority. At that word they straightway left nets, boats, ship, regular work, worldly possessions, and even father and family ties to follow Him and to bring people to Him by sharing the gospel. The same call is given to each person today and is to be answered at once as James and John also left ship and father without question.
Obedience was immediate and unquestioning, without stopping to make excuses, presenting whys or wherefores, hesitating, or delaying. They did not anxiously ask how business, livelihood, and family support would continue, nor wait until every practical resource was available. Following requires faith in what He knows is best and faithful obedience without first weighing personal or temporal advantage, as Peter, James, and John obeyed when called. His word was sent to save the soul, and heeding His call to follow keeps from departure from the faith, while refusing to heed it lets a departure work for a long time.
Those who obey keep the path of obedience, show love for Christ, and stay close by His side where Satan cannot touch or pluck them away. With Christ beside them there is no failure or defeat, for the Lord opens the way for those who serve Him fully and supplies their needs. It is enough to be with Jesus, to hear His words and unite with Him in His work trusting His care, and those who so obey will afterward find they lacked nothing. Turning from truth to secure success is perilous, because Jesus lives and those who live by Him will live also.
Following means walking in His footsteps and learning from His practical example of obedient life, not merely being told what to do. He leads the way, removes obstructions, and teaches by His own obedient life in humanity as the example for all who believe in Christ and walk in His footsteps. Following is walking and working in His footsteps to become fishers of people.
Service Without Earthly Reward
The call offered no stated sum, fixed payment, agreed compensation, large salary, worldly gain, honor, high position, or highest wage, but meant sharing in self-denial and sacrifices and serving from unselfish devotion rather than for personal gain. Simon Peter and Andrew were called from casting a net by the Sea of Galilee to be made fishers of men, and as His first disciples they left their work at once to bring people to Him and to God. Following meant sharing His work of gathering people while sharing His self-denial instead of receiving a set payment.
A true follower is actuated only by self-denial and self-sacrifice, free from covetousness and from seeking position and wage. Devotion to God and a spirit of sacrifice are the first requisites of acceptable service, bringing exactitude and skill, tact and wisdom into the work, with not one thread of selfishness woven into it. Love for Christ makes people glad to work with Him and willing to trust His care, and making God their strength gives clear perceptions of duty, unselfish aims, and a noble purpose that lifts above selfish gain and sordid motives. Those whose hearts are touched by that love do not put compensation first but rejoice to be co-workers with Him without fear.
Peter and his companions left boats and nets at once without first asking what they would receive or how they and their families would be supported. Being with Him, hearing His words, and uniting with Him in His work was enough, and afterward they could say they lacked nothing. His call still breaks the world's enchantment, drives greed and ambition from the heart, and frees people to follow Him.
Training In Christ's School
Following Him would qualify them, for by walking and working with Him and practicing His virtues they would become His witnesses, taking people from Satan's service into God's service and sharing His truth free from human traditions and sophistries. Through connection with Him they would bring people to faith in Christ and teach them about God's kingdom, His call together with the power of His grace appointing them to gospel ministry. They were prepared not by worldly schools or rabbinical customs and traditions but by hearing His words, learning from His example, watching Him open Scripture and heal, and witnessing His teaching, virtues, and humble service. That training made them His representatives, equipped to preach His truth without human traditions and to carry responsibilities like His.
He took them directly to Himself rather than first sending them to a school for training, and they followed without asking questions. They learned their work by joining Him and accompanying Him as He taught, being led through towns and countryside so they could watch His example, learn how to serve, and join Him in blessing others. Their interests were linked with His and drawn into work alongside Him, and after accompanying Him they received further instruction from Him about the truths He presented.
The training meant three years and a half of personal contact and association with the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. It meant walking and talking with Him day by day, hearing His words of cheer to the weary and heavy laden, seeing the manifestation of His power in behalf of the sick and afflicted, and learning the mysteries of the kingdom of God and the truths of the way of salvation as He unfolded them. That unfolding came sitting on the mountainside, beside the sea, walking by the way, and wherever hearts were open to receive the divine message. It did not mean merely being commanded to do this or that, but going with Him through country and cities to see how He taught, traveling from place to place, sharing His frugal fare, hunger and weariness, and being with Him on crowded streets, by the lakeside, in the lonely desert, and in every phase of life. This traveling, observing, and receiving instruction at His feet, gathering about Him on a rock or some elevated place while hundreds listened, is the pattern for training gospel medical missionary evangelists. Their lack of learning did not prevent them from becoming co-workers under His refining influence, in contrast to learned leaders who trusted their own wisdom and righteousness and would not accept His teaching.
They were prepared not by worldly schools, rabbinical customs and traditions, Jewish synagogues, or halls of philosophy, but by hearing His words, watching Him open Scripture and heal, witnessing His virtues and humble service, and learning under His personal supervision. Following Jesus and doing what He commands brings disciples into His school, where God teaches them. Christ can take people from ordinary work and unite them with Him for service, for workers to look to Christ, be changed into His image, and do as He did, and He would teach them and prepare them to bring people to Him by proclaiming the word of life. Fitness for this work comes by practicing His virtues and by walking and working with Him, serving as His prime ministers and evangelists who bear His truth unmingled with human traditions and sophistries.
Following, obeying His commands, and learning with God as teacher prepared them for service without first completing a course at a rabbinical school or first going elsewhere to learn before coming to Him. This example supports sending workers into gospel service without delaying them for years of preparation, and illustrates that people may go from the church straight into harvest work and do God's work even without ordination, with no one to forbid them. At the same time education remains necessary and must not be allowed to absorb every spiritual interest.
Christ called humble fishermen at the beginning of His ministry to follow Him and become fishers of men, thereby beginning early to gather and train helpers. That beginning is the pattern for ministers to seek and train others rather than trying to do all the work alone. Their example illustrates how young workers in cities should receive practical, thorough training under experienced, devoted leaders before going out to labor. That practical preparation includes gathering for prayer and to share experiences.
Why Humble Fishermen Chosen
Jesus passed over the talented and great, the dignitaries and those relying on learning and position, and called humble, toiling, working fishermen, poor peasants of Galilee from the lower ranks. He did not go to the Pharisees to choose teachers because He knew He could work with and educate humble working men for the highest work given to mortals. He chose lowly, unlearned men not spoiled by praise or flattery or filled with self-sufficiency, men whose willingness to be taught suited His purpose of teaching right principles and lifting people from earthliness and debasement.
They had good natural ability and were humble, teachable, candid, fair and kind, willing to be taught, with hearts not hardened by blind prejudice and able to feel for the woes and sorrows of others as He did. Their simple lives, experience of hardship, and freedom from love of riches and worldly honor made them receptive to truth and to mercy, righteousness, justice and holiness. Their habits had not been shaped by worldly customs and fashions, and they had not taken up the false teaching and bigotry of the scribes and Pharisees, so He could teach them in a way they would remember and preserve for future generations. Their freedom from the false teaching of the time made them more ready to learn and serve, illustrating God's plan to use humble people for great work so that the glory belongs to God rather than to human instruments.
The learned lawyers, scribes, elders, rulers and Pharisees were passed by because they trusted human wisdom, pride of intellect, learning, position, self-righteousness and fixed traditions, felt whole and all-sufficient, realized no need of a Redeemer, and would not follow or receive His teachings. They prided themselves on learning and position, were fixed in traditions and superstitions, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, while He could read all hearts and chose poor fishermen who were willing to be taught. He offered them no promise of high pay or worldly honor, but that following Him meant sharing in His sufferings.
Choosing fishermen showed no preference for ignorance and did not oppose education, for Christ as the source of knowledge and the most perfect educator the world has ever known could qualify them for their work, and the highest culture sanctified by love and fear of God receives His approbation. Learned and honorable people could have served Him, but some lacked courage to confess Him before hostile leaders, while the world's men of learning trust human wisdom, pride themselves on intellectual superiority, and are unwilling to become humble learners in His school. The fishermen had not been schooled in false customs and traditions, and He joined them to Himself for three years of training under His own care that no course in the schools of the rabbis or halls of philosophy could equal in value. He chose obedient, faithful men and educated them through His own teaching and care to carry on His work after He left.
Their lessons and work had consequences far beyond humble beginnings to transform the world, for made mighty by God's power their lives and testimony would shape the faith and practice of future Christians. Their knowledge was to come from God free of error, superstition and human precepts, and their work required wisdom, perseverance, fortitude and energy. Those lessons are recorded in the Word and keep their weight until the end of time. God still accepts the humble and calls people from humble and obscure circumstances, from ordinary work, poverty and obscurity; though others see little worth in them, He sees their possibilities, knew the fishermen would be willing to be molded, and by grace can prepare them for useful service and make them valuable workers. God selects whom He will and is not dependent on fluency or business ability, and He did not measure efficiency by grammar or business skill; He can use humble and contrite workers, while the self-sufficient He cannot use.
Those called must let the lessons have a sanctifying influence on the heart, bring natural disposition under discipline, and put them into practice. Judas did not learn this way, and his undisciplined disposition finally led to betrayal of Christ. But John learned and practiced the lessons, and after his Master's death stood firmly on principle when assailed by enemies of truth. Those taught by Jesus, though ignorant men, astonished enemies by boldness and excellent instruction because they had been with Jesus and learned of Him, and when people connect with God the light given to the apostles is imparted to them. In the ordinary walks of life many patient toilers in daily toil possess dormant powers that, called into action by a skillful hand, would raise them to equality with the world's most honored men, and every young man fails in duty to himself if he does not improve and enlarge his faculties through study, reflection and learning in Christ's school, the best and truest educator the world has ever known.
Call Extended To All
The call to leave former work and follow into saving souls is given to each person today, to every believing soul, and to both men and women, including ministers led to take up His work, with true humble workers giving God's honor first place. It is to be answered at once as the fishermen answered, straightway leaving nets to follow, as James and John also immediately left ship and father without question, receiving His instruction so they can go into the world and win people as disciples. Christ gives unlearned people power and efficiency to carry it out, and their spiritual conquests bring glory to God and show Christianity's divine character. Following Christ includes receiving His grace and passing it on, consecrating life to God and serving Him by helping others find salvation, coming into right relation with Him and cooperating with Him in His work. Peter, James and John left their nets, and the call to become fishers applies to men and women who leave vocations to proclaim the gospel and gather people to Christ.
Christ is the only authorized leader of His people in laying the foundation of the church, seen at the very commencement as He walked by the Sea of Galilee and saw Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea, for they were fishers, and called them to follow to become fishers of men. He is the Captain of the Lord's host who must be recognized as Leader, and heeding His call to follow produces obedience and unites workers on the common ground that the Bible is the true guide and Counselor to be obeyed, with no human sophistry or human authority put before it. He chose humble fishermen as the foundation, architects, and first disciples of His church to be built on Himself as true foundation, not on any human foundation. They in turn were to educate other workers and send them out with the gospel message to quarry stones and hew timber for the building, going constantly from place to place proclaiming salvation through Christ rather than building fine churches and settling down over them as pastors. Those who received Jesus of Nazareth as Messiah through their work were expelled from the synagogues, but Christ opened before them the door no man could shut, and they were to go into highways and hedges and compel men to come in that God's house might be filled. Their limited understanding, shaped by the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, made it difficult for them to receive all He wanted to teach and restrained what they could receive, for they were not yet able to hear all divine truths He wished to reveal.
The Lord still calls people from ordinary occupations, farms, businesses, trades, and the plow to warn perishing souls, as Christ called fishermen away from their work to follow and serve in His cause. He Himself directly calls humble working men as of old, gives them instruction about their field of labor and the methods they should follow, and as great Teacher opens their understanding to see wondrous things in His word. There are many ways and many kinds of service for the Master in warning the world, and their service belongs to Him, not to a human supervisor or a fixed branch of work. Those called need not bind themselves to serve for a term of years under the direction of one group of men or in one specified branch, but the Lord must be given opportunity to show them duty and work upon minds. He Himself directs and educates those He calls, so they need not bind themselves to serve under a human teacher, but are to follow His call and go into missionary work where people have not heard the truth, receiving the understanding and education needed for warning those without truth.
The call to the fishermen to leave former pursuits and follow into His work also illustrates Jesus' call to leave a secret-society allegiance and devote talents to gospel work, as heeded by Faulkhead who left his ties and devoted his talents to the work the Lord had for him, with following meaning accepting the work He appoints in His cause. The call required Peter to leave literal fishing, a lifelong livelihood and strong natural love for boats and for the water, and that change was difficult, with Peter repeatedly drawn back from Christ's side to his favorite occupation on the water. The Lord did not prosper Peter in clinging to fishing, and Peter came back from the boat disappointed and weary with no fish, and the same call requires leaving such infatuation with boats and water in order to follow Christ and serve Him. Following does not always mean abandoning ordinary duties, withdrawing from society, or treating inactivity as virtue, for His call is to active, earnest, diligent work with ample opportunity in every walk of life to serve Him and grow spiritually through exercise in His work. Here His call leads in the duties He assigns, and for one woman it led back to neglected home responsibilities as wife and mother, not away from them to other religious work. Following Christ is made the aim of life, directing people to obey Him and let His leading guide choices.
After Peter denied his Lord, entrusting him with the souls for whom Christ gave His life showed Christ's confidence that Peter had been restored and could serve again as a fisher of men. Jesus personally calls individuals still, as He called the humble fishermen in Galilee, with the same call addressed to new believers and people still deciding whether to accept the faith. Following means responding to conscience and letting light influence others, obeying His voice and entering His school to learn from Him, as in the personal calling of W to follow Him. His call to the Harrises was a personal summons to follow, meaning giving powers to God's service and accepting opportunities to know God and Jesus better, connected with becoming workers who help draw people to Christ.
Methods For Soul Winning
Being fishers means working for souls with hearts filled with Christlike love, sharing tender compassion for souls and sternness against all evil working, taking Christ as pattern and laboring together with Him, for no one wins people unless He works in and through that person. It requires separation from business entanglements that would tarnish Christlikeness of character, bring coarseness into life, and hinder advancement in spiritual things. The call comes after His method of mingling as one desiring good, showing sympathy, meeting needs, and winning confidence, then bidding follow, and true success comes only by that method. That means coming close by personal effort with less sermonizing and more personal ministry to the poor, sick, sorrowing, bereaved, ignorant and inexperienced, weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice, with persuasion, prayer and love, and such work will bear fruit.
Workers cast the gospel net with watchfulness, tears, earnest prayer, faith and untiring effort, persevering even when efforts appear fruitless or advance slowly, trusting God to give success and sustain the entrusted work. Like watchers of a fishing net they must not give up when labor seems fruitless but keep working at the Master's command in continued faithfulness. Success may come sometimes and not at other times, but followers persevere carrying God's message to unbelievers, which can win many hearts. Fishing engages the whole person through witness, prayer, praise and a life leading to conviction and conversion, requiring a burden for souls, earnest prayer, active wise work among reachable people as fishers casting nets where fish are found, and humble labor in harmony with Christ. Every family needs this deep living experience, and service requires sincerely seeking the Lord for humility and fitness, with consecrated people uniting to labor untiringly especially at conferences and camp meetings with less lengthy preaching and more personal effort.
Effectiveness comes as hindrances to Christian growth are put away and the Holy Spirit shapes minds and works through steadfast servants to the end, so that service carries salvation and light and shines like a lamp to those in darkness. Following makes soul-winning one of the greatest works, set above buying and selling and getting gain, far more profitable than seeking money, meaning warning the community all around, seeing nearby souls, speaking personally, letting light flash forth with kindness, tenderness, pitifulness and sweetness of His Spirit to win others, putting all abilities into active salvation work. The work includes compassionate service to the suffering and helpless who cannot help themselves, supplying necessities, feeding the hungry, welcoming the poor, relieving needs and giving the bread of life, which with tender sympathy creates opportunity to present Christ crucified and draw toward salvation, requiring daily strength from God. Being fishers means being used with evidence in doing the medical missionary work He did, learning the art of saving souls with converting power, true sympathy, seeing and doing what is needed, and hard painstaking effort with wisdom sought in unwavering faith, and those not doing this should go apart until they give that evidence.
Ministers must learn from Christ daily and serve with His love for souls, tender compassion and firmness against evil, reflecting Him in speech and conduct, and those called to ministry must give up business entanglements that coarsen character or hinder spiritual growth, as shown by straightway leaving nets. Soul-winners become such only by daily consecration linking with the Great Teacher, learning precious lessons, gaining Scripture knowledge qualifying them to speak of Christ, remaining humble enough to receive instruction from above rather than wise in own estimation, with the Spirit's renewing power giving practical saving energy to labor where one is for those around, while the most learned knowledge without His school is foolishness for this work. The work is hunting and fishing for souls by evangelists, canvasser-evangelists and gospel workers who preach the Word, carry truth family to family, seek opportunities to speak of the Saviour, help through prayer and song in meek humble spirit, teach publicly and house to house, give Bible readings, pray with families and educate new believers, reaching those not reached by camp meetings. An evangelist is a lover of souls who hunts and fishes, fishing must be the business of life, and every power is devoted to bringing people to Christ.
Believers are to have no idlers but combine into small companies, even two or three united in love, to gather precious souls from corruption into saving purity, working for members, unbelievers and those outside the fold, praying together for special ones with forbearance and patience, forgetting self, so numbers increase. The call directs teachers, students, church members and families to efficient service: cooperate with the evangelist, teach seekers, use abilities, join ministers, carry the message to all parts of the globe to prepare a people to stand before God, approach the wealthy, rulers and stewards of means to advance the gospel to all nationalities, warn in highways and byways and hedges, go to new regions and cities where truth has scarcely been preached to proclaim and give readings, rather than only established churches, which also gives home members something to do. At Los Angeles members are to cooperate with the evangelist especially by teaching seekers, at Battle Creek to uphold Bible truth before crowds and reach patients and multitudes using every opportunity, and where multitudes gather fishing is done by strong mature experienced men who outline plain Bible truth unmixed with popular errors, improve opportunities, reach true-hearted Christians, and guard youth and workers among unbelievers from being ensnared. Such burden-bearing seeking in new places advances the cause in every line, as seen in Brother Shireman's labor which many more should follow, and earnest workers so labor to win souls and open living streams to refresh the thirsting. God calls for fishers, and Christ makes followers fishers who gather from the world into saving purity.
Faithful women giving whole time to hunting and fishing do work as essential as ministers, in the same line carrying burden by visiting family to family, opening Scriptures, giving readings, praying, educating new believers, and bearing tremendous responsibility day and night from morning until late at night, and justice requires proportionate wages from tithe rightly reserved for this work even without ordination. New converts share the call at once without waiting years of education, taking Bibles, studying diligently, explaining truth as explained to them, and inviting all classes including men of high standing to the marriage supper. The work embraces temperance reform as a living interest, circulating literature, forming vigilant united companies, inoffensive gentle speech, grace dwelling richly, encouraging words, and laying aside self-magnification to come into line. Following without asking where it leads or what reward comes means consecrating every power, promptly leading others to light through judicious faithful effort under the divine Leader, letting light shine in good works, relying on God's strength and grace rather than human strength alone, for God does not replace entrusted work.
Human messengers are essential because people reach others through visible compassionate connection, and the call continues through imperfect sinful people who learn from Him and partner with Him, with effort made effective by divine power not human strength. Neglecting to seek the lost, teach Bible truth and warn the ignorant and erring about requirements is a sin of omission to be exposed in judgment when the lost ask why they were not warned, for believers are responsible to use opportunities. Continual dependence on word and providence enables the called to use all powers for the Redeemer and to keep working in partnership trusting Him to guide and make fishers even when plans are hindered and resources seem inadequate. Following requires integrity, moral resolve, self-denial, unreserved surrender, serving under His banner and shining as light rather than living for pleasure or display, using influence and example to guide children and others in the Lord's way. Consecrated united untiring hunting and fishing with less sermonizing and more personal effort at conferences and camp meetings, treating time as precious and seeking fitness in humility, can do great good.
Receptive hearts are made vessels for the new wine of the kingdom where He pours truth, as with the Samaritan woman and Matthew the publican. The call to become fishers is a call to be a chosen people separate from the world, urgent because the end is near, to prepare a people to stand before God and gather souls to bear the test of the last days, with answerers becoming living agencies and laborers together with God beginning at once even at cost of a meal, following Him who fasted forty days under temptation. Every true believer wholly devoted and guided by wisdom helps others find Christ through spoken words, everyday influence or printed material, using every jot of strength including public outdoor preaching casting the net and drawing whatever it takes. Followers learn His methods and plans rather than bringing old practices, giving up all as willing volunteers, and by following learn wisdom, patience, meekness, earnestness and energy for their commission. Jesus taught directly giving knowledge free from tradition and bigotry as seed to cultivate, and their testimony was to be regarded as highest authority among nations.
The Spirit's sanctifying influence helps hear and respond with individual responsibility, producing obedience and unity on the common ground that the Bible is guide and Counselor before human authority or sophistry. Following where He goes means relying on His direction rather than running ahead with own plans, not facing opposition alone, for He goes before so followers need not be overcome by the enemy's schemes. Following means using heaven's light to show destruction by sin, point to the only safe path, preserve powers for practical rescue work, then give oneself to benefit the perishing, directing away from unnecessary study toward helping souls find righteousness and salvation. The call promises blessing in the work of bringing people to Him, given little before salt and light, and requires sustained labor from morning until late at night. Disciples consecrated themselves when called, and discipleship equipped them to work for others and speak about Christ.
The call makes them disciples and gives work to bring people to Him, joining His work of gathering to God and entering gospel ministry as co-laborers bringing people through the gospel. Being fishers means bringing people to Him, turning fishing work into mission to win people to the gospel, and following is a call to bring others to Him and gather people for Him. Following means joining Him, learning His methods and plans, and working for salvation as volunteers willing to leave all, going with Him and learning by contact and watching His teaching then joining His work. Communicating truth in faith is like casting the net on the right side, beginning with individuals leading under providence to communities as distinct members of one united effort linked with one another and God. As His word gathered fish, He draws hearts by love enabling servants to become fishers, and His preaching joined with restoring suffering is the pattern for followers.
Christ calls people to learn from Him by personal contact and association, seeing possibilities in them and training them through being with Him, still calling from humble and obscure circumstances where others see little worth. Their ability, teachable spirit, and training through hard work prepared them to be instructed and shaped, and as they listened and lived with Him He taught and trained them to carry the gospel to others. Their training came through teaching from the Old Testament and work alongside Him as He traveled, taught, and healed, watching His work among the sick and suffering. The call means walking and talking day by day hearing cheer, seeing power for the sick, learning mysteries sitting mountainside, beside sea, by way, wherever hearts open, going through country and cities, traveling, sharing fare, hunger and weariness in every phase. Followers learn work by joining Him and receiving further instruction, linking interests with His and drawing alongside Him.
He can work with and educate humble working men rather than Pharisees for the highest work given to mortals, giving dignity of intelligence and forming them in God's image. He can make fishers out of people without great education who love Him, His teachings taking hold of mind, soul, and abilities enabling acceptable preaching clothed with His righteousness. He can take people from ordinary work and unite them with Him, workers looking to Him, being changed into His image, and doing as He did, without first going elsewhere to learn. The call does not require speaking and acting exactly like a minister, but all may contribute differently in harmony toward the same purpose. He still raises men and women from the common people and equips them to carry truth to many places and to others.
Learning from Him could give an education greater and farther-reaching than formal religious schooling, and He gave knowledge and wisdom for testimony reaching the whole world so advanced schooling is not required before answering. The highest education is following in His footsteps with living connection making laborers together with God, traveling, observing, and receiving instruction at His feet while He taught multitudes as the pattern for training gospel medical missionary evangelists. Preparation comes by simple obedience under divine teaching in His school where God teaches, so workers should not be long delayed by schooling though schools remain needed and education must not absorb spiritual interests. They were prepared not by schools but by hearing teaching, learning example, watching Scripture opened and healing, walking and working with Him, equipped to witness without traditions and represent Him humbly. Fitness came from His personal supervision not rabbis' schools, by practicing virtues and walking with Him, becoming witnesses bearing truth unmingled as prime ministers and evangelists.
Christ preferred to work for fishermen rather than learned men who knew so much, and men formed by what the world wants learned are not fitted for God's work. He called fishermen as ministers shaping work through connection rather than the school of the prophets, requiring willing learners serving anywhere and putting aside rivalry, for brilliant talent alone is not qualification. God selects whom He will and is not dependent on fluency or business ability, not measuring efficiency by grammar or business skill, using humble contrite workers while the self-sufficient He cannot use. He chose obedient faithful men and educated them through His own teaching and care to carry on work after He left, with far-reaching transforming consequences, not showing preference for ignorance since learned and honorable could have served. Calling ignorant fishermen did not oppose education, for highest culture sanctified receives approbation, placed under refining influence three years with the most perfect educator He qualified them.
Their humility and teachability made them receptive so glory belongs to Him not instruments, illustrating God's plan to use humble people for great work. Their freedom from false teaching made them more ready to learn and serve, not schooled in traditions but having natural ability, humble and teachable, developing in mind and character through close association to fit them for work. Their willingness to be taught suited His purpose of teaching right principles and lifting people from earthliness and debasement, with candor, fairness, benevolence, sympathy, and freedom from customs and bigotry making them fit to preserve teachings. He chose men without schooling in false customs but with ability and teachable spirits, lowly unlearned rather than dignitaries not spoiled by praise or self-sufficiency. Their limited understanding shaped by scribes and Pharisees made it difficult to receive all He wished to reveal and restrained what they could receive.
The call honors humble sturdy workers whose service can last through eternity and produce power felt through eternity, choosing working fishermen as co-laborers honoring humble work. Ordinary hardworking people can be called to bring salvation, and faith and hope in responsibility can produce lasting good. The call can take people from farms, businesses, and trades to warn the world, still calling from ordinary occupations giving instruction about field and methods to warn perishing through many kinds of service. He directs and educates those called so they need not bind to a human teacher but go where truth is not heard, giving understanding and education under His direction rather than binding to term or branch. The Lord still calls from ordinary work to take part in the closing work, calling from the plow to warn, opening understanding to see wondrous things.
The call demands immediate unquestioning obedience with no stipulation, leaving former work at once without waiting to ask how to live or sustain dependents, it being enough to be with Jesus and unite with Him, afterward lacking nothing. The call requires immediate obedience without whys or wherefores, without weighing advantage, without waiting for resources, His invitation carrying impelling power and implied purpose followed promptly without questions. Leaving nets took precedence over former work and commitments, meaning leaving nets, boats, and livelihood at once in obedience to divine authority to catch men for the kingdom. Their immediate leaving of nets illustrates the call to serve others by leading them to the gospel and to leave former pursuits for His mission, accepting appointed work and leaving allegiance devoting talents. Following means entering His work of bringing people to Him and placing interests with His, leaving everything at once as co-laborers in gospel ministry.
The words were first spoken as Fear not to Peter after the miracle shaming unbelief, then as Follow me to the group, after the miraculous catch when nets broke, and the later catch renewed commission showing success when effort is joined with power though losing companionship and livelihood. The promise was confirmed by abundant catch, and the last draught made the first more impressive showing the resurrected Saviour watches and provides with divine power uniting with effort where He stands. Turning from truth to secure success is perilous, because Jesus lives and those who live by Him will live also, obedient followers lacking nothing and staying where Satan cannot pluck them with no failure beside Him. Leaving lifelong livelihood was difficult and Peter was repeatedly drawn back to water, coming back disappointed with no fish when clinging to it. Before fully joining they had seen miracles yet not left fishing, returning for a time through grief and fear.
The call to follow makes them His disciples and gives work to bring people to Him, to be answered at once as James and John also left ship and father without question, each person today called to respond, come into right relation, and cooperate. Believing in Christ and walking in His footsteps is the response He wants, with His life in humanity as example for all, following as aim of life directing obedience letting leading guide choices. He leads the way, removes obstructions, teaches by example not merely directions, walking in footsteps and working in them. Following includes receiving His grace and passing it on through consecrated service helping others find salvation, representing Him carrying love to perishing souls with meekness and simplicity winning from error to truth. Fishing means using appointed abilities humbly so people believe and receive everlasting life, gathering through seeking and helping come to faith, a work women as well as men can perform.
The call gives work every gospel minister is blessed in doing, as Christ ministered going into highways and hedges for the ignorant and out of the way, calling for earnest wholehearted labor in cities to carry present truth in simplicity. Just such a work is to be carried on now with those working in harmony with Christ, entire consecration bringing God's mighty power with them, their minds under His influence coming right to His side. The call to leave former work applies to men and women leaving vocations to proclaim the gospel and gather people, going out to win souls on Christ's path of self-denial rather than seeking high position. The call to become fishers applies to explaining Scripture to those ignorant and making earnest self-sacrificing efforts for the perishing, sowing truth expecting rich immeasurable harvest. The verse teaches labor for the lost who do not know truth, seeking sinners earnestly with prayer, carrying concern, taking message to new regions rather than only established churches, with angels ready to help and Christ training teachers.
Following Christ involves self-sacrifice, Christlike words and actions, and service bringing sinners to the Saviour, those forgetting self and depending on Christ becoming light-bearers sharing His peace and joy. The call teaches willing service, trust in His care, and freedom from making compensation chief concern, servants rejoicing in the work and relying on His provision without promising worldly gain or honor. The call means sharing His work including self-denial rather than serving for promised payment, offered no fixed wage but sharing self-denial, defining true followers free from covetousness and seeking position and wage. Sharing His example means sharing in God's work of doing good and saving souls, which will finally enter the Lord's joy, giving wholly to blessing others as the way to happiness filling earth with glory. The call offered no promise of high pay or worldly honor but sharing sufferings, choosing the willing to learn over those trusting learning and position, passing by learned rulers fixed in traditions. The call breaks enchantment driving greed and ambition freeing to follow, not driven by compensation but love making glad to work trusting care.
The verse belongs to the account of calling fishermen to follow and become fishers of people by the Sea of Galilee proclaiming good news to ordinary people bringing eternal life. The call shows Christ's own method for all to copy, choosing humble fishermen as first disciples with no promise of wages but sharing self-denial, leaving work as first disciples. Their fishing skill offered a fitting picture of winning souls, His command carrying convincing power received, understood, followed without hesitation leaving work and possessions. Four poor discouraged unlearned illiterate fishermen became closest associates given high commission He could qualify them for, a tremendous event shaking world with worldwide soul-winning through ages. God's power would enlighten and equip them despite lack of schooling to spread teachings winning many, made mighty shaping future faith with knowledge from God free of error requiring wisdom and energy. The net stays cast bringing more, the catch being people standing for truth keeping Sabbath converted giving up tobacco beer irreligion for hope joy courage.
The God who called humble fishermen is the example for believers to carry truth to others as missionaries, and will help His disciples and give them souls in places where truth has scarcely been preached when they simply read and explain Scripture. The call means these uneducated peasants received the divine commission to repeat Christ's lessons and carry them to all peoples, nations, and tongues, beginning gathering helpers as pattern for ministers to train others rather than work alone. The call to follow and receive instruction sends workers into the world to win disciples, giving unlearned people power and efficiency whose spiritual conquests glorify God and show Christianity's divine character. The verse is linked to the temple's purpose of helping people from other nations learn about God. Calling Peter entrusting souls for whom Christ died showed confidence restored after denial could serve again. The same call addressed to new believers means responding to conscience and letting light influence others, personally calling individuals to obey His voice and enter His school, as to the Harrises giving powers to service and accepting opportunities to know God better while helping draw people. Following means going where He leads in assigned duties, here leading a woman back to neglected home as wife and mother not away to other work, and the call is to active diligent work with opportunity in every walk not abandoning duties withdrawing or treating inactivity as virtue.