Tom fishing on Leech Lake, Minnesota in the 1980s.

By Tom Shanklin

Note on Photo: There’s a story behind the photo which accompanies this article. I enjoy fishing, but don’t get to do a lot of it. In this photo, I look like an old pro with the big northern pike. But the truth is, this big fish was caught with some good advice from some real fishermen. As I often do, I stood at the docks as the old fishermen came in and ask them how and where they caught their fish. They gave me the location, the proper tackle and bait, and the depth where the fish were biting. I carefully followed their directions, and landed the big northern that you see here. It just goes to show you, you can learn a lot by listening to an old fisherman. Happy fishing!

“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17, KJV.

As Jesus began His earthly ministry, He spoke these words to a group of rough and tumble fishermen from the shores of Galilee. Simon, Andrew, James and John literally left their nets and their families to physically follow an itinerate preacher named Jesus everywhere He went for 3 1/2 years.

I can picture them getting up in the morning and asking, “What’s up Master? What are we doing today?” He might have said, “OK, boys, we’re going down to Capernaum today to preach some Gospel, heal some lepers and cast out devils. Let’s go!” And day after day, every day, they “followed Him.” They did their part; He did His! He turned them into fishers of men!

But the call of God to follow Jesus was not just for some rugged fishermen with calloused hands from the land of Israel. That same call is going out to you and me today. Follow Jesus and He will make you a Fisher of men!

Today, we don’t have a physical Jesus to follow. We know from the Scriptures that He is at the right hand of the Father in heaven. But He has sent His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in to all truth and to show us things to come. (John 16:13) And just like those fishermen from the shores of Galilee, we too can follow Jesus daily as we listen to the promptings and instruction of the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to follow Jesus?

1. It means to follow His compassion. The scripture says, “But when he [Jesus] saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36, KJV. It is not much different today. The sheep (people) are scattered abroad with every evil device of the devil and every confusing philosophy of man. They are like ships without a rudder and sheep without a shepherd. That is why Jesus is sending you and me to bring healing to them and give them a compass in their lives. May God awaken His compassion in our hearts!
2. It means to follow His example. The scripture says, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” Ephesians 5:1, 2, KJV. The word translated followers there means “imitators.” We are to imitate God as we see Him in the life of Jesus. We are to follow Jesus’ lifestyle of loving and serving others, of living in communion with the Father, and doing the works that no other man did.
3. It means to follow His sacrifice. As He said, “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23, KJV. Following Jesus means refusing to follow the dictates of the flesh or man. It means being willing to sacrifice pleasure, comfort, and the applause of others, so that the will of God is done and so that people are helped. It takes a real man or a real woman to follow Jesus!

A friend of ours told me about her son who loves to fish. In the summer, he’s fishing from a boat or from the shore. In the winter, he’s boring holes in the ice and sitting in an ice fishing house. Rain or snow, wind or storm, he’s there! Every Sunday he brings a load of fish all perfectly filleted to his mom. He enjoys fishing. Fishing for men is like that—it’s great! You just can’t quit! Helping people come to the Lord is one of the greatest joys of life!

I personally believe that no one will be fulfilled in the Christian life until they have some part in reaching others for Jesus. It is the GREAT Commission! It is the last thing Jesus told us to do before He left this earth. How can we really call Him Lord if we are ignoring His command? If we truly follow Him, He will fill our tackle boxes with dynamic gear and give us the ability to reach others. “Come on! Follow me!” Jesus says, “and I WILL make YOU to become fishers of men.”