We were coming in after a rough night of fishing. As happens from time to time, we weren’t able to catch anything. I was frustrated, angry and tired. The last thing I wanted was someone who obviously didn’t know one fish from another telling me how to do my job. However, that’s exactly what happened.
As we were coming to shore, a Man called out from the beach, asking if we’d caught anything. I managed not to give Him the rough side of my tongue, but it was an effort. He told us to cast our nets out on the other side of the boat.
I’ve been a fisherman all my life. You’d think I’d know my craft, but I did it anyway. You won’t believe what happened next. The net was so full of fish it began to rip. I had to call our partners over to help haul it in before we sank.
When I got to shore, I knelt at His feet. “I am a sinful man,” I told Him. He raised me up and told me that now I would be a fisher of men. He asked me to follow Him.
What you may not know is that rabbis don’t call just anyone. They can have their pick of educated and even cultured men. They don’t typically ask a fisherman and certainly not one such as me.
I invited Him home with me, and He accepted. When we got to my house, I found that my wife’s mother had taken ill. The Man, whose name is Jesus healed her with a touch of His hand. After the fishing incident, I knew this Jesus was someone special. This sealed it for me.
Jesus is right. From now on, I will follow Him and I will become a Fisher of Men. I am willing to give my life for Him.