Mat 4:18-22
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20At once they left their nets and followed him. 21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus was walking beside the ‘sea’ representing the sea of humanity with their varied unmet needs and frustrations. They were fishermen implies they understood that fishing involved the use of baits to attract hungry fish. When Jesus says to the fishermen to follow Him so that they could fish for people—one, He is speaking in their language. Two, He is offering to provide answers that would satisfy hungry men. Probably they too were experiencing problems in their lives which prompted them to leave everything they were doing and follow Him.
Jeremiah 16:16“But now I will send for many fishermen,” declares the LORD, “and they will catch them.
Listening to the teachings of Jesus helped them see their life differently. They had never heard such things from anyone before. They were often amazed at the new paradigm they were being introduced to. Most people cannot intuit their way into Jesus’ way of doing life. It must be taught. It has to be learned. Jesus is the best teacher. We need to follow Him and lead other men to Him so that they too will find comfort and answers to the problems facing them.
Requirements for Teachers
Mat 13:52: He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
Those who teach the principles of the kingdom are likened to house owners. A house owner is one who builds his house. Relating from Proverbs 24:3-4 – By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches—the house owner must have wisdom and understanding as well as knowledge to fill the rooms with precious and pleasant riches. They must bring out these riches when they explain the principles of the kingdom. They may have gained wisdom, understanding and knowledge a while ago, so that it appears old. Or they may have acquired them recently so that it is brand new. They are required to use both as necessary to instruct others.
The Key to Gaining More Disciples
Luke 5
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Interpretation
The key is to put out into the deep. The place called ‘deep’ is the place where God does His wonders.
Ps 107:23-24: Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep.
Darkness was over the face of the deep but when the Spirit of God hovered over it and God commanded light to appear, it did. (Gen 1:2) The LORD God made Eve after causing a deep sleep to fall upon Adam (Gen 2:21) Jacob blessed Joseph saying: “May the Lord bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below”
What Wonders Does God Do in the Deep?
Psalm 42:7 – Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. NIV
He calls unto us in our deep where we experience large storm floods because the waves and breakers(or billows) sweep over us. Storm floods represent the torrents of emotions arising from the tempests of life while waves and billows represent ‘doubts that assail us’ (see James 1:6b). This signifies that God knows what we are experiencing in the depths and is able to calm the storms within. This is the wonderful work that God does in our inner person. He alone can give you peace even in the midst of the storm (Peace, be still; My peace I give unto you). He alone can calm your inner fears and all the doubts that assail you. This is one of the greatest wonders of God by which people know without a doubt that God is real. He is indeed real because He gives you His peace like no one else can.
He establisheth a whirlwind to a calm, And hushed are their billows. – Psa 107:29 KJV
He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. – Job 41:31 KJV
I was a boiling pot until I met God. He poured out his ointment and restored me to who He made me. Amen.
To gain disciples, speak to their deep and minister words of wisdom, knowledge and understanding from God that speak to their storm within. Jesus also asked believers to speak to the mountain (Mark 11:23). Mountains represent strongholds in their thinking. You can cause their mountains to move and be cast into the sea through the faith-filled words you speak. When the words you speak release their power, they will be delivered from the billows and waves of doubt / mountains of fear, insecurity and so on and feel at peace. This miracle will open up their understanding to the reality of God and His power to give them divine peace and joy like no other can. This is how Jesus taught his disciples to catch people—demonstrate God’s power to give them what they need and they will stay forever faithful. Amen.
Prayer:
Almighty God, you are powerful beyond measure. You are our gracious Maker. Holy Lord, we extol you greatly for we are fearfully and wonderfully made to respond to your voice in our inner depths. You speak to us and mold us into your image and likeness. We are well-pleased in you. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.