Fishers Of Men

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

JESUS SAID, “FOLLOW ME, and I will make you fishers of men.”^a Using imagery drawn from their long-standing vocation, Jesus summoned his disciples to an all-consuming mission. More important than searching for fish all over the sea, they would spread the gospel all over the world. As a result of being disciples of Jesus, they would make disciples of Jesus.

The book of Matthew ends with Jesus on a mountainside, saying to these same disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”^b

Somewhere between Matthew 4 and Matthew 28, Jesus transformed these disciples into disciple makers, and by the time they got to that mountain in Matthew 28, they were eager to tell everyone about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Having been forgiven of their sin and soon to be filled with God’s Spirit, they would give their lives not simply to being disciples of Jesus, but to sacrificially making disciples of Jesus. Fishing for men would become central for them—and costly to them.

Tradition tells us that Peter preached the gospel to thousands at Pentecost and eventually was crucified upside down. Similar traditions tell us that Andrew was crucified while preaching the gospel in Greece; Judas (not Iscariot) was clubbed to death for ministering near modern-day Turkey; Thomas was speared through his side while making disciples in India; James was beheaded; Philip was stoned; and Matthew was burned at the stake, all for preaching the gospel. As a result of being disciples of Jesus, every one of these men literally gave their lives to making disciples of Jesus.

As Jesus transformed their minds, they became convicted that others needed to hear the gospel. As Jesus transformed their desires, they longed for people to hear the gospel. As Jesus transformed their wills, they were compelled to give their lives proclaiming the gospel. As Jesus transformed their relationships, they loved people enough to share the gospel with them, even though it cost them everything they had. As Jesus transformed their very purpose for living, every disciple was sacrificially committed to making disciples—and the trajectory of their lives was never the same.

Ask God to give you faith and obedience as you seek to obey Christ’s great commission. Pray that God would replace the fear of man with a right fear of him.