“And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.’” (Luke 5:10)
Jesus Christ came into the world to seek and save those who are lost (see Luke 19:10). He gave His life to deliver them from the power of sin and death, opening the way for them to enter His kingdom of light and life.
The sacrifice of Jesus’ life is unique and fully sufficient to save all humanity. Yet for people to be saved through Him, they must first know who He is. This is of the utmost importance, because there is no other way to God and to eternal life.
That is why Jesus commanded His followers to proclaim the good news about Him everywhere. This mission was not only for the time when He walked the earth, but also for the centuries that followed. As many people as possible need hear about Him so that they too may believe in Him and find life in His name.
Jesus’ first followers were fishermen. Building on that familiar image, He told them that from then on they would no longer catch fish, but people. This is a powerful metaphor that appears several times throughout the Bible.
Does this image resonate with you? What does it mean to you to be “caught”? And how can you be involved in “catching” people for Jesus?
Image by Lumo Project Films – www.lumoproject.com.