Why Fishermen?

Matthew 14:22-33:

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Blog:

Most of us have asked ourselves at some point in our lives, “why did Jesus choose a number of Fishermen to become His Apostles?”  If you know anything about fishing back in the days of Jesus, it was very tough work.  It came with a lot of long hours and journeys, a lot of casting your nets only to come-up empty, a lot of rough seas along the way, a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of turbulence (especially on choppy waters).  Fishermen had to be strong, patient, persistent, hungry, ambitious, hard-working, etc.  They were often very muscular from hauling-in all of the rope netting that they used to troll the waters with; and, this often led to them having rough calloused hands with cuts and abrasions all over their bodies.  Fishing was a hard-living for sure.  And, it still is in today’s modern times.  Now, imagine for a second that you’re watching one of those videos on modern fishing – the videos that show fishing crews going out into the deep to seek a great catch.  Imagine, being in the middle of the sea among tall waves and Jesus walking towards your vessel encouraging you to step into the dark murky waters at night.  Imagine that you don’t have a life-jacket and there isn’t a Coast Guard or related Search and Rescue Team(s) standing by to pull you out of the brink should things go poorly for you.  And, in all of this imagining is just part of the answer as to why Jesus chose many Fishermen to embark upon His three-year Ministry with Him.  He knew that they could and would do His Good Work – both during His Ministry and when He was Home.  That they would push-out from shore into dark waters and into the unknown to seek His Glory.  That they would get denied many times and still keep trying; trying and losing so much that it would actually make them stronger and more determined with each and every cast of His Net.  That they would be patient, persistent, and strong in an unknown world given over to the lusts of the enemy.  Jesus knew what He was doing when He chose regular guys and gals just like you and I.  And, it’s no different to when He calls each of us out into the deep today – He knows what He’s doing when He calls to us and He knows (better than us) what we are capable of.  If only, we will take that first step out of the boat and onto the water with a ruthless Trust in Him.  The first step leads to a second, a third, and so on.  Let’s step-out into this world for Jesus and leave what lies beneath the surface to Him.  Sure, we’ll often be rejected, ridiculed, and hurt for our Beliefs in Him, but, what the world can’t see below the surface in our hearts is what our Heavenly Father sees in us.