I can’t imagine a more apt metaphor than Jesus offered in Mark 1. As He walked by the sea of Galilee and saw Peter and Andrew this was all He had to say – “Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (vs. 17). The first century fisherman headed out early each morning, worked diligently, cast their nets out into the mass of the waters, and drew as many of God’s creatures out as they could. That perfectly illustrates the mission that Jesus had in mind. This evangelistic plea was not intended to be a secondary interest, a hobby, or passing cause. It was intended to be a lifestyle, a vocation, a commitment. Jesus was calling them to a work that would take complete control of their lives forever.
But often when we read Mark 1 we glance over the implications this call fully reveal, not just to Peter and Andrew, but to us, too, as we seek to be fishers of men. Take just a moment think about three lessons we can learn from this exchange.
- The reason for the disciples’ acceptance. Why did Peter and Andrew respond favorably to Jesus’ charge? Because they accepted the terms of His authority. It’s unlikely that this was Peter and Andrew’s first time in the presence of Jesus. He had been preaching around Galilee because He came across them while mending their nets. But what they had likely heard Him preach and what they had likely seen Him do was enough to convince them. This guy was the real deal. So when He came and singled them out, calling them to leave everything they had ever known, and commit their lives to doing His will they accepted. Why? Because He told them to. That’s the idea behind sovereign authority. It is authority that is reliant on nothing outside of the identity of the person issuing the command. Anything Jesus charges us to do should be accepted on the same terms. Nothing more than the sovereign authority of Jesus.
- The immediacy of the disciples’ acceptance. It wasn’t just Peter and Andrew’s acceptance of Jesus’ command. What’s interesting is the time frame in which they accepted it. There was no hesitancy or period of reflection. They immediately got up and followed Him. That same pattern of immediacy is seen in other passages through the Bible. In Genesis 22 God told Abraham to get up and go to Moriah to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. Then in vs. 3 we read Abraham’s response – “Abraham rose up early in the morning…and went unto the place of which God had told him.” In Acts 2 when Peter told the people that Jesus whom they had crucified was really Lord and Christ their acceptance was immediate (vs. 38ff). We have got to learn that concept of immediate acceptance. God has called us to action. What are we doing about it?
- The extent of the disciples’ acceptance. It wasn’t just that Peter and Andrew responded favorably and that they responded favorably with no hesitation. It is also interesting that when they accepted it they did it with no holds barred. When they responded vs. 18 says that they immediately forsook their nets and followed him. Forsaking their nets was not a momentary reaction. It was a lifetime decision. They were giving up their livelihood, the stability of life at home, and the opportunity to grow old as well respected and influential members of their community. They would develop a nomadic lifestyle, rarely calling one place home for very long. In other words, they were giving up everything they had ever known to follow after Jesus. They would live lives of total sacrifice. The very same thing we have all been called to do. But what have we sacrificed? What have we really given up? Have we accepted Jesus’ charge in our lives to the extent they did?
Mark 1:17 is much deeper than we sometimes assume. It’s much more than “you catch ‘em, He’ll clean ‘em.” In Jesus’ statement and the disciples’ response you see the full spectrum of Christianity – the authority of God morphing into total, immediate submission. That’s what we really see in Jesus and those fishers of men.
-Andy Brewer