Come After Me

Come After Me

“Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Mark 1:17. Jesus promised the first disciples that He would make them become fishers of men if they followed Him.

From this we conclude that if you want to be a fisher of men, you are not someone who discovers that he wants to travel and preach and consequently attends a religious school in order to acquire the necessary knowledge. A disciple is someone who has followed Jesus and whom Jesus was able to make into a fisher of men.

What, then, is the essence of these words, “Come after Me,” which allow Jesus to make us into fishers of men? It is the same as in the natural when you apply to an institution of higher learning or apply for a job. There are certain criteria that must be met in order to be considered.

The Scriptures say that if anyone desires to become an overseer, he desires a good work. 1 Tim. 3:1. In this instance it means: if anyone desires to become a fisher of men, he must follow Christ. Without fulfilling this condition you cannot be considered even if you applied to a religious institution by way of a substitute.

Therefore “Come after Me,” is a condition, but is also of spiritual significance.

Jesus came to earth not to be served, but to serve and to lay down His life. His entire conduct was a sacrifice; He did not do His own will but His Father’s. Therefore He says to us, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Mark 8:34.

Denying ourselves and taking up our cross is contrary to our sinful nature. It is the first act of devotion in the death of Christ. After that comes: “And follow Me”; that is the second act. What did Jesus do? He suffered for the others, and this is where the mystery is hidden. Rom. 14:1; Rom. 15:1-3; 1 Cor. 9:19, 10:24, 33; Phil. 2:4.

When we come to the point of living for each other, Jesus can make us fishers of men. Then love becomes a drawing power in our life, and people will sense they are being drawn by the water of life that flows from us.

Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” John 12:32. When we become like Him in our life, we also become like Him in our effectiveness.

God help us all to that end.