It’s a striking scene – a miraculous catch of fish is followed by an unequivocal call: “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt. 4:18-22; cf. Luke 5:1-11). Of course, there are aspects of the calling of the 12 disciples that are unique to them – in their role as authoritative eye-witnesses of the life and teaching of Jesus and his death, resurrection and ascension, they would have no successors. But it is also true that every disciple can learn much from this deeply moving scene.
The call to follow is entirely gracious. In Luke’s account, Simon Peter is acutely conscious of his sin and shame – he is so utterly unworthy of the One who stands before him. Yet the One before whom he bows speaks words which comfort, “Don’t be afraid”, and words which commission, “From now on you will catch men”. Being conscious of our sin and of the many ways in which we have failed our Lord and are still so unlike him does not disqualify us from following him. He speaks to dispel our fear and to call us into fresh service in his name.
The order here is interesting – it was in following that they were to become. They were to follow Jesus and learn from him. They needed to stay close and hang on his every word; they needed to make sure they paid the closest attention as they witnessed the powerful in-breaking of the Kingdom of God and were caught up in its progress. But whilst the responsibility to follow closely rests with the one called, the formation of that person is in the hands of the one who calls: “I will make you…”.
There is set in motion here a process that would lead into genuine maturity under the tutelage of the Saviour. But their discipleship was not simply an end in itself. Jesus calls them so that they might call others; he would make them able to disciple others, to be “fishers of men”. From the calling of Abraham onwards, through the election of Israel, the call of God was never simply for the sake of the one called but for the sake of the nations. The same is true of the church; Jesus said, “I have chosen you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit” (Jn. 15:16) – not simply the fruit of renewed lives but seeing the gospel reach and renew others too.
Discipleship is never simply about the maturing of individuals in isolation from the great task of mission. Rather, it is with mission as integral and essential, and at the very core of what it means to be a disciple.
And the call to follow and to become was given and heard in the context of an ordinary day, in the midst of ordinary lives. No doubt mission gatherings and conferences play a part in focussing thoughts and prayers and have often been used by the Lord to awaken a fresh sense of call. But we should also expect to become aware of the Lord calling us, and experience his forming of us, in the everyday events of life.
In that context, Jesus’ choice of metaphors here is interesting. In the New Testament, a whole variety of images are used to describe gospel workers – athletes, farmers, builders, shepherds, soldiers, parents, ambassadors; the list is very extensive. Here, Jesus calls fishermen to become…fishermen. What they had been would be taken up and become a part of what they would be. And still today he takes us where we are, as we are, in order to form and use us for his glory in the lives of others as we obey his call to follow him. Could anything be more thrilling?
