Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matt. 4:19The call that Jesus issues is not the one that he repeats throughout his ministry to all men, that general call to respond to his preaching by repenting and embracing God. Rather, this is a specific call to specific people. Later he will point out to them that they did not choose him, but he chose them. All are called, but these are called out.
Jesus connects with Simon and Andrew in two ways. Familiarity with the concept of fishing allows him to direct their attention on the plan he has for them in a practical way. They know how to fish; they know the purpose of the net, the condition it has to be in, the seasons that are more productive than others, the weight of the fish when the net is full, the need to deal with your catch before it spoils - on and on. But Jesus also points out something else about fishing - it is a good living, but not eternal. Jesus calls men who are faithful in their business, but when he calls, he calls them from it. Priorities have to change.
There is much we can learn from the principles of successful fishing that we can apply to the spiritual harvest. But the beginning of Jesus' training for these men is to follow him. Hear him, travel with him, see the things that are important to him, see his power and authority. Their work is not collect men, but to bring them to Christ. How can they bring them to one whom they do not know. Priority one, therefore, is to learn Christ. He that is called to minister, is first called to know.
One cannot read this text (Matt. 4:18-25) and not be impressed with the immediate response by these men to the call. Straightway and immediately are the words used to describe their following of Christ at his call. I wish I knew what brings about the mentality that is ready and willing to follow when they hear Christ's call! Does it seem likely today that someone would have such a response? Are we more attached to the things of the world than they were? Or, were they just like us, but when in the presence of Jesus, overwhelmed by his persona? It is odd that scripture is silent on this subject - it simply states that they followed him - right NOW! No added blessing for it. No bonus or early bird special.
Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom - repent, the kingdom of God is at hand. Today when we read that he proclaimed the gospel fo the kingdom, we look at it with added information about the gospel. Paul, in I Cor 15, states that the gospel is the message of Christ's birth, death and resurrection. And that is the assumption we generally have when we see the word "gospel".
However, Jesus has not yet died. At this time, his crucifiction is still years ahead. To preach the gospel as we understand it, would not be understood at all by his hearers. So what was the gospel he proclaimed? It was the gospel of the kingdom; the good news of the sovereignty of God and its impact on those who submit themselves to his rule.
We are about to embark on a course study of this gospel - the gospel of the kingdom - as Matthew records the life of the King of kings. The book will end with the commissioning of those who have understood and experienced his reign in their lives, to go and make disciples everywhere.
I hope that you are ready for his call. Jesus is still at work in the world around us, and he performs his work of calling men and women to the kingdom though yielded people. If you hear the call today, will you immediately obey? I pray that would be so, and not for you alone. I, too, desire to be a willing and immediate follower at his call. -dave
