We have just learned that Jesus was declaring his fulfilment of scripture in the synagogue of his hometown. They were so upset that the son of Joseph could be healing, setting people free, and proclaiming the good news to the hurting that they took him to a cliff to throw him over. Jesus just went on his way passing among them. An interesting statement to think about is Luke 4:24, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.” Maybe we will explore that more in Matthew.

With power and authority Jesus started teaching God’s Word. He was casting out demons and healing the sick. One time, many people were gathering at the lake of Gennesaret to hear his teaching. He got in Simon’s boat and taught from there using the formation of the land and water as an amphitheater.

When Jesus was finished teaching, he told Simon to put his nets out to catch some fish. Simon explained how they had been working all night and had not caught anything but because Jesus said to let down their nets they did. They caught so many fish they had to call in help to get them all and even then, the boats were beginning to sink. Wow!

I can so identify with how Simon Peter felt! You see, when I was a teenager, I would go commercial mullet fishing with a friend from time to time. We had been fishing around Tampa Bay all day long with no results.  We had not even caught enough to pay the gas we used. I was so tired, and sun drained; I just wanted to get back to shore clean up and go home for a nice cool shower. But I heard those dreaded words “Let ‘er go!” That was my signal to start letting the nets out. Really? The sun was low on the horizon, we had been out since before sunrise, we were full throttle heading home and you want to do this again? Ugh! I threw the lead line out and the world changed in an instance.

The nets just started coming off the boat and I was hit by a jumping fish! It was literally raining fish in the boat! There were so many fish that the nets were sinking with their weight. Usually, we would shuck the fish out of the nets as we bring them up but there were so many fish, we were concerned about hauling them all. I got the cork line; my friend got the lead line; and we just started pulling the nets in fish and all so less fish would get caught in the nets. In that crazy 30 minutes, there were at least 25 fish that jumped into the boat on their own. The rest were in the nets with ice thrown over them to keep them cool. We started back to shore at an idol because there was only about a quarter of an inch of the stern out of the water. At the dock we had to shuck the mullet out of the nets as we put the nets back in the water and then bring the nets back in with no fish. There were so many fish that the fish box was full, and fish were in the rest of the boat around the box and up the sides of the well bow. Adrenalin and excitement gave us the energy to work those next few hours. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Understand, my friend was not Jesus. I did not even know Jesus at the time. We just happened upon a very large school of mullet during running season. But I can look back at that experience while reading this scripture and it comes alive for me.

Simon Peter was so amazed and humbled he fell at the feet of Jesus.  Jesus told Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they got to land Simon, James, and John left everything and followed Jesus. These were Jesus’ first disciples. That was so unlike us. We took the whole catch in for our payday. But the disciples left everything: boats, nets, fish, their way of making a living, their way of life, all to follow Jesus.

So, what does it mean to be fishers of men for us lay people? I mean for those who are not pastoring, preaching or teaching. The net is still the gospel; it is still truth but shown in our unique way. For this behind the scenes person, it is sharing Gods love with the children I teach…even when their behavior is less than stellar. It is sharing these thoughts and art process videos with everyone that can relate to this type of art. It is showing the love of Jesus to others in my daily life. I’m not perfect at this by any means; but that is covered by what Jesus did on the cross for me. I will love more in truth as I grow in Christ. We all will.