Matthew 4:19 Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

The Story
Mat 4:18-22 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." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

The Words of Jesus
Matthew 4:19 Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Background
Jesus came to save the world (Joh 3:17)...That has always been His mission. And he was laser-focused on doing the will of His father and let nothing distract Him.

Here is an example: Jesus healed Peter’s mother one day and the next morning a crowd of people was looking for Him; but the scripture says, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." Mar 1:35-38

Today’s story also shows another portion of His strategy. It was that after his death and resurrection He would commission the church to carry His message to the ends of the earth. He sets the tone for that when He calls these fishermen to follow Him...and that He would make them fishers of men.

Application
We are men & women who have also been captured by His message, and as we follow Him, we too will become fishers of men. Our highest priority in evangelism is to learn to FOLLOW Him. It was interesting that His decision to go “to the nearby villages” per Mar 1:38 was an outcome of having gone “off to a solitary place, where he prayed”. What better place to learn to follow, than by spending time with Him in the solitary place of prayer.

May we too find ourselves committed to the solitary place.
May we too learn to hear His voice to make those strategic decisions.
May we too follow Him so that the natural outflow of that relationship is we catch men.

Matthew 4:17 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.

The Story
Mat 4:16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

The Words of Jesus
Mat 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Background
When Jesus walked the earth, people in darkness saw a great light; and Jesus called these same people to repent for the kingdom of heaven was near.  Darkness describes the realm of Satan, whereas light describes the kingdom of God. This was clearly outlined in the commission of the apostle Paul. (see Act 26:17-18) Paul was given a task to turn the Gentiles from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

This is the great struggle that still exists in the world. There are still those who sit in darkness and must be called to repentance - and those who turn find themselves as followers of Jesus. And Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (see Joh 8:12)

Unfortunately there will be those who reject the light and will not turn or repent. John puts it this way. “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. Joh 3:19-21

Application
For those who have come into the light:

• We can rejoice that we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and have received forgiveness of sins. Col 1:12-14

• We can declare the praise of Him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1Pe 2:9

• We can live as children of light. Eph 5:8

• We can let our light shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven. Mat 5:14-16