THE MINISTER OR THE FISHERMAN

Matt 4:12-23

When the Lord started His ministry, He called a core group: Peter and Andrew, James and John and others to become henceforth, ‘fishers of men’. These followers, who had been called as apostles, were to continue His work of salvation after he had ascended to heaven whether the people would like them or not.

But, why Jesus calls these fishermen? According to William Barclay, the famous Bible commentator, in his commentary about this gospel passage of St. Matthew had said that a good fisherman possesses the very qualities that Jesus wants when he calls the four fishermen in the gospel to become fishers of men.

First, a fisherman has patience. He learns to wait patiently until the fish will take the bait. If he is restless and quick to move, he will never make a fisherman. The good fisher of men must have patience. It is but rarely in preaching or in teaching that will seek quick results. We must learn to wait.

Second, a fisherman has perseverance. A fisherman learns not to be discouraged but always to try again. The good teacher and preacher must not be discouraged when nothing seems to happen. He must be always ready to try again.

Third, a fisherman has courage. As the old Greek said when he prayed to gods for protection: “My boat is so small and the sea is so large.” A fisherman is ready to risk and to face the fury of the sea and of the gale. The good preacher and teacher must be well aware that there is always a danger in telling man the truth. The man who tells the truth more often than not takes his reputation and his life in his hands.

Fourth, a fisherman has an eye for the right moment. The wise fisherman knows well that there are times when it is hopeless to fish. He knows when to cast and when not to cast. The good teacher and preacher choose his moment. There are times when men will welcome the truth. There are times when truth will move them and times when the truth will harden them in their opposition to the truth. The wise preacher knows that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

Fifth, a fisherman knows how to fit the bait to the fish. One fish will rise to one bait and another to another. The wise preacher and teacher know that the same approach will not win all men. He may even have to know and recognize his own limitations. He may have to discover that there are certain spheres in which he himself can work and others in which he cannot.

Lastly, the wise fisherman must keep himself out of sight. If he obtrudes his own presence, even his own shadow, the fish will very certainly not bite. The wise preacher and teacher will always seek to present men not with himself but with Jesus Christ. His aim is to fix man’s eyes, not on himself but on the figure beyond.