“God always speaks concretely into situations of human need; no book of the Bible was written as an exercise in abstract theory” (David Powlison, Power Encounters, pg. 39) 

“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”  (Matthew 4:18-19)

“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:19-22)

“After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, ‘Children, do you have any fish?’ They answered him, ‘No.’  He said to them, ‘Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So, they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.  That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.  The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off… Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about this man?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!’” (John 21:1-8, 20-22)

What are the ordinary pursuits in which you have proven yourself to be faithful? What were the disciples doing when Jesus first called them? What are seven of them doing after they received the Holy Spirit? Peter’s words were, “I’m going fishing”.  This was their occupation to provide for their families and probably to take care of Mary (John 19:27). They were not given their gift as some abstract theory to ponder and lock themselves in some sort of monastery.  Jesus had sent them out! After all, “He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”  (Luke 16:10) It is interesting to note that the only occupation we know of for Judas Iscariot is that of treasurer for the disciples, and it is clear he was unfaithful.

What can we learn about the gift of the Apostles from these passages? Jesus sends out the Apostles and breathes the Holy Spirit on them.  Jesus calls someone to this office/gift, and it requires faithfulness (I Corinthians 4:2).  All of the Apostles were alike in the calling but different in how they excelled. John saw Jesus and stayed in the boat whereas Peter plunged into the water and swam.  Matthew Henry points out this distinction at the tomb of Jesus. John looked inside; Peter went in, and John finally came in after him. Think of when Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:21, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’” The others are just as enthusiastic as Peter but are slow to paddle the boat with the heavy load of fish to shore. John is called the disciple Jesus loves, and after Peter is charged to feed Jesus’ sheep. Peter wants to know, “What about John?” Jesus says, “Don’t concern yourself with John. Only follow Me!”

This is the faithful attitude we need to have when we see someone excel in the use of their gift. But the opposite is also true.  We must not despise our brothers and sisters whose gifts don’t seem remarkable. What is that to you? Jesus says, “Follow Me!”

Are you thinking you have been called to be a “fisher of men”? I would encourage you to read this illustration I received about 30 years ago from Rev. Bill Welzien, an OPC pastor in Key West, Florida.

Parable of the Fishless Fisherman

https://www.cru.org/us/en/blog/share-the-gospel/evangelism/parable-of-the-fishless-fishermen.html

 -Tim Verner