Warning! Many of these Biblical texts, quotes, ideas, etc. that I mention on this blog may be tough to swallow. Wrestle with the text, pray, and ask the Spirit to discern what Jesus is really saying. You need to give strictest attention to what God has said in His Son.
"While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:18-19
Jesus Christ, King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator, The Anointed One, The Messiah, Prince of Peace, Sovereign Ruler, Merciful God, The Great 'I am', The One who was, is, and is to come willingly and obediently laid down His Glorious life to become despised, rejected, chastised, beaten, broken, tempted, stricken, wounded, crushed, oppressed, afflicted, separated from His Father, and crucified for the sake of all man's sin.
During His time here on earth, Jesus Christ was obedient to God by making disciples and advancing the Kingdom. Jesus made disciples that made disciples and are still making disciples. The passage above is this vivid picture of Jesus Christ as He calls out to some lowly, hard working fishermen by telling them "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Jesus is calling them not to fish for wrath, wealth, honor, popularity, or anything for themselves, but for souls, to gain them to Christ. "They watch for your souls, and seek not yours, but you" Heb. 13:17. It is Jesus that makes them this way, fishers of men. It is Jesus that calls them, authorizes them in it, and gives them the commission to fish for souls. To become fishers of men, they/ we must do one thing.... "Follow me."
Following Jesus, seems simple right?... everyone does it. Wrong! Jesus tells us in Luke 14:26, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Also in Matthew 10:37-38, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." To be a disciple of and follow after Jesus Christ, it will cost you everything; your possessions, your family, and even your own life. In Matthew 10:37, Jesus is commanding those who claim to be His disciples to pick up an instrument of torture and death and obediently follow Him. It will cost you everything.
Jesus bore all our sins and failures to purchase our salvation. He conquered death. He is worthy of our full submission. Give your entire life and soul to following after Jesus because the reward is great.
Following Jesus, seems simple right?... everyone does it. Wrong! Jesus tells us in Luke 14:26, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." Also in Matthew 10:37-38, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." To be a disciple of and follow after Jesus Christ, it will cost you everything; your possessions, your family, and even your own life. In Matthew 10:37, Jesus is commanding those who claim to be His disciples to pick up an instrument of torture and death and obediently follow Him. It will cost you everything.
Jesus bore all our sins and failures to purchase our salvation. He conquered death. He is worthy of our full submission. Give your entire life and soul to following after Jesus because the reward is great.
Here is a video that I believe goes along very well with this text:
Grace and Peace,
Ryan
