And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:6-11)
Luke’s description of what Jesus said to Peter on this occasion is expanded by Matthew and Mark to include what he said to the four men.
Luke (Jesus to Simon Peter): “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
Matthew: “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (4:19).
Mark: “And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men’” (1:17).
I see these records like puzzle pieces. Each one adds a detail or two that expands the picture. Since Peter had reacted so strongly to Jesus giving them a miraculous catch of fish, Jesus explained to him what was really going on. But then we are shown what Jesus said specifically to the two pairs of brothers, and how the men left everything to follow him. The rest is His-story, as they say.
A very long time ago I read a Scripture verse that stated, “He who wins souls is wise”. I can’t recall which translation I was reading, or if that was a quote from a book, but it comes from Proverbs 11:30 which is written as “whoever captures souls is wise” (ESV). I can still feel the youthful longing to be such a person as that, someone who captures souls for the kingdom of God, not as trophies, but as treasures of the grace of God to deliver people out of darkness and transfer them into the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins (paraphrase of Colossians 1:13-14).
Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” I can relate far more to the first half than the second, but the Beatitudinal Valley leads me to let myself hunger and thirst for the righteousness of being a soul-winner and to be in a home church that is learning to fish for men just as Jesus taught the disciples.
For today, I mostly want to know where Jesus sees me in my discipling so I can mature into the disciplemaker he wants me to be. My part is to follow him completely and surrender to everything he is doing to make me like him. And if that helps someone get to know him today better than ever, I will rejoice in that as well!
© 2025 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8
Email: in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.)
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