THE blessed Servant of God and of men is walking by the Sea of Galilee. His eye is towards four fishermen. He calls them from their nets to come after Him, and to become, by His grace, fishers of men.
He had come from heaven to do the Father's will, to seek those which were lost.
Most gracious it was in Him to associate with Himself in His work of love disciples of His calling. The Lord would not be alone in the loving toil of catching men from out of the sea of this world.
He began to preach the gospel of God, and bade men repent and believe the gospel. Now that He is in heaven the gospel of God is concerning the Son risen from among the dead. This is our net, and the Lord is "working with" His servants giving power to the word.
In the fisherman who catches men, in the true evangelist, there is without doubt, a special intimacy with the Master in relation to the work in hand. We hear of gifted preachers, eloquent speakers and the like; the true gift of a fisherman is the catching of fish. Some will catch a basket of fish where others do not gain even a bite. A skillful fisherman cannot explain how it is he catches the fish, an intuitive guidance, an instinct fits him for the work. A true gospel fisherman can, however, explain how he catches menthe Lord gives him the wisdom to accomplish the work. Apart from Him nothing can be done. The Lord knows where the "fish" are, and how they may be caught, "Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.”
The four disciples from the border of the Sea of Galilee followed the Lord into Capernaum. Its synagogue was familiar to them, its pride that to which they were accustomed; moreover, in a house there, lay the mother of the wife of one of them, sick of fever, and with its sorrows they were also acquainted.
On the first Sabbath day of their coming after the Lord in order to their catching of men, they were taught the pride of the citizens, and the presence of Satan in the place of worship in Capernaum. Was this to show them a strength mightier even than human pride, even the love of God, and that which is stronger than Satan's power over man, even divine authority? Who can catch men without these two powers? If we would catch men, one thing is evident, the Lord must go first and we must follow Him.
The people were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. "Not as the scribes" are important words for us. It is not sufficient to have learned the letter of the word, to know by rote its passages, to have ability in finding chapter and verse, and to be orthodox in doctrinal knowledge; all these maybe ours, and yet our teaching may lack the power of God. Human wisdom and learning may be present in handling the word of God, and the gospel preached be that "as the scribes"—without the authority of the Spirit of the living God. Our Lord's teaching commanded His hearers. He spoke to them with divinely-given authority.
Sermons made to make an impression, doctrines clear as the winter's stars, truths told in mere human vigor, will not catch men, It is the fisherman who catches the fish, not merely his lines or net. By all means have sound nets, and the right kind of lines—by all means preach the truth—all the truth, and nothing but the truth—but it is only as coming after the Lord that we shall catch men. Real dependence on the Lord is needed—particular dependence for the particular occasion. He must tell us where to go, what to say, and how to say it. Apart from Him we can do nothing. It is not even enough to be called by Him to be a fisherman of men, it is also necessary for the called fisherman closely to follow the Lord, As the Lord taught in the synagogue that Sabbath day, His teaching discovered Satan's presence. The religious calm of customary worship was rudely broken; in the presence of the congregation the demon cried out, "What have we to do with thee, Jesus?" Ah shall the very politeness of religious assemblies delude souls into fancying that all is peace? Too often such calm is as that peace which smiles on the countenance of death.
Satan was in the synagogue, and covetousness in the temple, and both fled, driven out before the Lord.
Jesus rebuked the demon in the man and cast it out of him, then the people "were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? A new teaching! With authority He commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
Is the arm of the Lord shortened? He is risen from among the dead, He has brought Satan's power to naught. "A new teaching!" Ah we ask not for new doctrines, but for the power of Christ. What a "new teaching" would this be in most places of worship.