The term “fishers of men” (Or “fishers of people”) is found in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:2-11, and John 1:40-42). This phrase means that when we become followers of Jesus, we will share that message of hope with those around us.
As a young girl, my family would take a beach trip every year. I loved the sound of the ocean waves, the smell of the salty air, and the quality time together. No one in my family is an avid fisher, but one summer my dad brought along a fishing rod. I stepped up and took a turn casting my line into the sea and within minutes a foot-long catfish took the bait and we reeled it in. I felt so proud to have caught a fish, but I did not have a full knowledge of how truly difficult it can be to succeed. The Bible talks about how we are to be “fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). Today, I want to dig deeper into Scripture on the meaning of this phrase.
What Does 'Fishers of Men' Mean?
I am going to be honest, if I heard this term and did not understand it, I would think Christians were straight-up weird. However, many times Jesus spoke in parables or gave common analogies that would relate to the people around Him. Although we may not live in fishing communities, this was the perfect example for His audience and ultimately a beautiful picture to the world of believers.
The term “fishers of men” (Or “fishers of people”) is found in all four of the Gospels (Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:2-11, and John 1:40-42). This phrase means that when we become followers of Jesus, we will share that message of hope with those around us. I love how in Luke 5 Jesus sees that the boats were pulled up to the shoreline and the men had given up after a night of no success. Sometimes in our lives, we might feel as if we are getting nowhere with sharing our faith. However, never underestimate the power of God to show up even in our seemingly disappointing situations. The disciples could have ignored Jesus’ advice to go back and fish, but they were obedient to Him and were able to be a part of a miracle.
What Is the Context of Mark 1:17 and 'Fishers of Men'?
This was the moment that Jesus called Peter and Andrew, “And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will have you become fishers of people” (Mark 1:17). Soon after, Jesus called James and John. All four were fishermen by trade. These men made up one-third of Jesus’ disciples. This was a calling for these men and a calling of all people who choose to place their faith in Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus and He will help us bring other people to Himself.
The focus is on Jesus, not on our abilities. A fisherman cannot control the outcome of what he catches, but he can be faithful to get into his boat and cast his net, leaving the results to God. For instance, what if you have a friend who you know and love, but that friend does not have faith in Christ? She might know that you are a Christian, but if you never cast your net and share the hope of the Gospel with her, then you are missing out on the opportunity of bringing her into the family of God. It is by grace we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Many people in the world have a cultural view of Christianity. Part of our job is to point them to Scriptures that shed clarity on salvation and the message of hope. This Bible passage propels believers everywhere to be involved in the call to share Jesus with the world. I think about how a fisherman has a strategy in casting his net. We do not want to be Bible beaters, but loving neighbors, encouraging friends, and genuine coworkers who are patient with others on their journeys to faith in Christ and faithful in our witness as we live alongside them. Jesus was clear in his question and the men were confident in their responses. Whether the people around us are quick to respond or slow to receive the gift of salvation, may we never give up on pointing them to Jesus.
Ashley Hooker from Bible Study Tools shares, “We then reach the point of our desired text. Jesus calls his first disciples when he is walking on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Simon and Andrew were casting their nets into the water when Jesus says “Follow Me.” In the region of Galilee, there would have been many fishermen on the water. This was the staple diet of the people as they rarely ate meat. It would not have been hard to find a fisherman because this was an area dotted with fishing villages.”
It is easy to excuse ourselves from the call of God to share the message of Christ, but this passage makes it clear that all believers are able to do this with the help of the Lord. Since fishermen were common around the Sea of Galilee, we can be reminded that the Lord can use anyone for His purposes. Even if we feel small or too common, we serve the One who uses the unlikely. It can be intimidating to tell someone the truth of the Bible, but what a relief knowing that we depend on Christ and His Word. There can be such a burden for those around us to know the love of freedom of faith in Jesus. We can share the message, but only the Holy Spirit can change a heart.
What Does the Bible Have to Say about Fish and Fishing?
There are many examples of fish in the Bible. The first mention of fish started at creation in Genesis. Fish was a staple food item.
Jonah and the Big Fish
One of the most famous mentions of a fish occurs in the book of Jonah when he was swallowed by a big fish and lived inside the fish for three days. This foreshadowed the death and resurrection of Jesus (Jonah 1:17-2:10).
Feeding of the 4,000
There was also the miracle of feeding the 4000. Jesus multiplied seven loaves of bread and a few small fish to feed 4000 people (Matthew 15:29-39).
Paying the Temple Tax
Jesus and Peter were asked to pay a temple tax in Matthew 17:24-26, and Jesus responds in verse 27, “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Feeding of the 5,000
There was the feeding of the 5000 (Mark 6:38-43) when a young boy had five loaves of bread and two fish and Jesus multiplied the meal.
How Do Christians Effectively 'Fish' without Scaring People Away?
Even though the Lord is the one who ultimately changes hearts, our approach with those around us is important. I have friends and family members who do not associate with Christianity. However, I love each one of them and desire for them to each find the joy and freedom of salvation through Jesus. Each relationship is unique though and there are levels of trust and communication with some that are different from others. There can be more of an openness to discuss spiritual things from one person, and unwillingness to talk about God from another. It is valuable to read the room and listen to the person. It is important to hear their thoughts and perspectives and to share yours. We can scare people away when we are pushy, demeaning, or even passive. Humble confidence is key in approaching others.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit might move us to share with someone we do not know, and God can work in those scenarios, but many times it will be within faithful relationships where we continually live to honor Christ and tell them of that hope.
Jack Graham from Crosswalk says, “A fisher of men is someone who looks at the lost people around him or her and sees future disciples of Jesus Christ. Fishermen have a vision for bringing people to faith, and never give up hope because someone is “too far gone.”
If someone is breathing, they have an opportunity to accept Jesus. God does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). One of the most powerful tools we have as believers is prayer. No matter if someone seems far away from saving faith in Christ, we can pray boldly in the name of Jesus that they would see His great love and forgiveness for them. May our prayers, words, and actions be a testimony as we cast our nets and see how God provides.
Further Reading
What Does It Mean to be Fishers of Men?
4 Ways Christians Can Be Fishers of Men
What Jesus' Words "Fishers of Men" Means for Us Today
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Serhii Sobolevskyi
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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