I Will Make You Fishers of Men
The phrase “I will make you fishers of men,” spoken by Jesus in the early days of his public ministry, is one of the most vivid and enduring metaphors in the Gospels. Found in both Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17, this call to Simon Peter and Andrew encapsulates the essence of discipleship and mission. More than a clever play on the brothers’ occupation as fishermen, Jesus’ words carry deep theological significance rooted in Old Testament imagery, the nature of the kingdom of God, and the transformative call to follow Christ.
The Context of the Call
The Gospel of Mark records the moment: “And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him” (Mark 1:17-18). Matthew’s account is nearly identical (Matthew 4:19). These verses occur at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, shortly after his baptism and temptation in the wilderness. Mark’s Gospel, in particular, emphasizes Jesus as the Servant-King who inaugurates the kingdom of God and calls people to repentance and belief (Mark 1:15).
The men Jesus calls–Simon Peter and Andrew–are working-class fishermen, engaged in their daily labor. Jesus meets them where they are and uses the language of their trade to invite them into a new vocation. The call is both radical and relational: “Follow me.” It is not just an invitation to adopt a new set of beliefs but a summons to leave behind their former way of life and enter into a transformative relationship with the Messiah.
Fishers of Men Scripture
The metaphor of fishing is not unique to the New Testament. The Old Testament contains several references to fishing, often in the context of judgment. For example, in Jeremiah 16:16, God declares, “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them.” Here, fishing is a metaphor for divine judgment, as God will “catch” the people of Israel for their idolatry and rebellion. Similarly, in Ezekiel 29:4-5, God speaks of putting hooks in the jaws of Pharaoh and drawing him out of the Nile, again using fishing imagery to depict judgment.
However, the Old Testament also contains hints of restoration and gathering. In Amos 4:2, the Lord swears by his holiness that the people will be taken away with hooks, yet the broader prophetic narrative includes promises of restoration and the gathering of the nations. Isaiah 60:3 proclaims, “And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” Though not using fishing language directly, this passage anticipates the missionary expansion of God’s kingdom.
Jesus’ use of the fishing metaphor, then, is both a fulfillment and a transformation of Old Testament imagery. While fishing once symbolized judgment, in the hands of Jesus it becomes a symbol of redemption. The disciples are not called to condemn but to gather, not to scatter but to bring people into the kingdom of God.
Fishers of Men Meaning
The phrase “I will make you fishers of men” reveals that discipleship is not merely about personal spiritual growth but about participating in Jesus’ mission. The call to follow is immediately linked to a call to be sent. Jesus does not say, “Follow me and I will teach you theology,” or “Follow me and I will make you better people,” though those things are certainly part of the Christian life. Instead, he says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The implication is that to follow Jesus is to be transformed into someone who draws others to him.
This transformation is not self-generated. Jesus says, “I will make you become fishers of men.” The Greek verb poieo (“to make”) emphasizes that this is Jesus’ work in the life of the disciple. The ability to reach others with the gospel is not a natural talent but a supernatural calling and equipping. As Paul later writes, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).
The disciples’ immediate response–leaving their nets and following Jesus–demonstrates the radical nature of this call. They leave behind their livelihood, their security, and their identity to follow a rabbi who offers no worldly guarantees. This act of surrender is echoed later in Jesus’ teaching: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Discipleship involves both a leaving and a becoming–a departure from the old life and a transformation into a new purpose.
The Mission of the Church
The call to be “fishers of men” is a paradigm for the mission of the entire church. After his resurrection, Jesus commissions his followers with the words, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). This Great Commission echoes and expands the original call to fish for people. The church is to be a community of disciple-makers, casting the net of the gospel into the world.
The book of Acts provides imagery of this mission in action. Peter, the same fisherman called by Jesus on the shores of Galilee, preaches at Pentecost and sees three thousand people added to the church (Acts 2:41). The net is cast, and the catch is abundant. The early church continues this work, proclaiming the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Paul, though not among the original fishermen, adopts similar language in describing his ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9:22, he writes, “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” Like a skilled fisherman, Paul adapts his approach to reach different kinds of people, always with the goal of bringing them to Christ.
The Method and Message of Fishing for People
Fishing for people requires intentionality, patience, and understanding. Just as a fisherman must know the waters, the habits of the fish, and the right bait to use, so too must the disciple understand the culture, the needs, and the questions of those they seek to reach. This does not mean compromising the message but communicating it in a way that is clear, compelling, and relative.
Jesus himself modeled this approach. He spoke in parables, engaged with people from all walks of life, and met them at their point of need. He called tax collectors, healed the sick, and welcomed sinners. His message was consistent–“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17)–but his methods were varied and personal.
The message of the gospel remains the same today. It is the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and rose again, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe. As Paul writes, “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The disciple is both a follower and a messenger, both a learner and a laborer in the harvest.
Conclusion
The call to be “fishers of men” is a profound and multifaceted metaphor that captures the heart of Jesus’ mission and the identity of his followers. Rooted in Old Testament imagery and fulfilled in the life and ministry of Jesus, this phrase challenges believers to embrace a life of discipleship that is both relational and missional. It reminds us that following Jesus is just as much a public calling as it is a private journey–to cast the net of the gospel and draw others into the kingdom of God. As Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37). May we, like Peter and Andrew, respond immediately and wholeheartedly to the call: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”