Fishers in the Storm

Fishermen or fishers of men?

A downpour blanketed the river, yet the fishermen continued to fish from a boat near the shoreline. I had never taken photos during a whiteout but decided to do so at that moment.

After grabbing my camera and attaching the zoom lens, I returned to the glass sliders that showcase the river from the back of the house. One of the men was reeling in his catch. Quickly, I adjusted the camera settings and aimed.

Click. Click. Click.

As I viewed the digital images from the camera's LCD screen, my mind began to formulate my next blogpost. One about fishers of men in the storms of life.

All of us encounter storms. It’s not “if” we will experience trials and tribulations, but “when.” (James 1:2) Once on the other side of such circumstances, we see the trials for what they accomplished—our personal and spiritual growth. We are then able to help and lead others on how to journey through the curveballs thrown at them.

Jesus recognized such leadership qualities in a fisherman whom He encountered at the start of His ministry.

“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:18-20 NKJV)

Peter was one of Jesus’ first disciples. Many stories describe him as a colorful character who most likely possessed the equally colorful vocabulary and mannerisms of those in the fishing trade. As he traveled with Jesus, he would have witnessed the Lord’s humility and sacrificial love on a daily basis. 

This former fisherman would stumble many times as his old nature became more like Christ’s. He would be tested, disciplined and refined. And because of fear, he would even deny knowing Jesus. Not once, but three times. (John 18:16-18; 18:25-27) Through his human frailty, Peter would be an example to others that anyone can be forgiven and become a righteous man.

Peter would bring many people to Christ, particularly Jews like himself. However, the Gentiles were another matter. Like many Jewish people, Peter thought of Gentiles as common and unclean. Nevertheless, a vision from heaven would change his perspective. 

In that vision, Peter saw animals that Gentiles ate but that Jews avoided. A voice said, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” When Peter responded that he had never eaten anything common or unclean, the voice spoke again. “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” (Acts 10:12-15) Basically, God revealed to Peter that he was not to limit his ministry to Jewish people.

As a result of that divine revelation, Peter would keep company with Gentiles. He would teach that just like the Jews, “common” men also had access to a relationship with the Most High. Additionally, Peter paved the way for the Apostle Paul to focus his ministry on the Gentile nations. 

Yes, this former fisherman would stumbled yet become one of the pillars of the early Christian church. A fisher of men for the kingdom of God.

Have a blessed day!