Fishers of men

Mark 1:16-20 (ESV) Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. [17] And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." [18] And immediately they left their nets and followed him. [19] And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. [20] And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. I like the way Jesus calls disciples. One wonders if there isn’t more behind the picture. One wonders how many times these men had heard Jesus preach, if they were with john ofr sometime. It seems, seems, to incredible that disciples would just up and leave their occupations and families to follow Jesus, at just a word. Of course with God all things are possible. In any case, Jesus has a more important task for them, and they pick it up. Rather than fishing, they become fishers of men. Today the trend is becoming that of tent making. There is a push for pastors to be something other than pastors, to make their living doing work that isn’t related to the ministry. Paul did that, well at least at times he did. But this is not the model that is set out. To become fishers of men, the disciples had to leave their previous occupations. They went to follow Jesus, to learn their new occupation from him. It was important enough, to leave their occupations and do this. So it is today.