“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men .” 1 Corinthians 1:25 KJV 

 

The apostle Paul pens a rather profound and revelatory epistle about the “Christ of the Church” to the believers in Colosse. In this epistle, he describes the Lord Jesus Christ as the embodiment of the wisdom and knowledge of God (Colossians 2:3).

 Colossians 2:3 KJV

“in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

God’s wisdom can be seen demonstrated, though not explicitly, in the seemingly innocuous account of Jesus walking along the sea of Galilee in His earthly ministry and choosing His first four apostles. It is incomprehensible to the carnal, natural, and undiscerning mind why Jesus chose ordinary, unlearned, and everyday men such as fishermen as His disciples rather than going to the palace or any other fanciful place or to the top echelons of His day. This is because He wanted to demonstrate His wisdom and what He could do with seemingly ignorant and ignoble men. When He walked along the sea of Galilee, He first called Simon and Andrew, his brother, who were casting their nets , and then James and John, who were mending their nets (1 Corinthians 1:26, Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20).

 1 Corinthians 1:26 KJV

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called”

 Matthew 4:18-22 KJV 

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.  And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.””

 Mark 1:16-20 KJV 

“Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.  And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”

In the aforementioned scriptures, we can see the depth of God’s wisdom at work in the choosing of the first four apostles, who were mainly fishermen. The first two were casting their nets , while the other two were mending their nets . This is a prophetic picture of the two major activities of the apostolic ministry . Those casting their nets are a picture of the apostles “proclaiming the gospel to those who need to hear it.” The word ” apostle ” has its roots in the Greek word ” apostolos “, which means ” a sent out one” or ” messenger “. The fisherman, by nature and attitude, isn’t really bothered by circumstances, discouragement, or prevailing weather conditions; all he has is a vision to catch fish.

Those ” mending their nets” is a picture of the apostolic ministry setting things in order in the church so that the fishes caught will stay within the nets and not swim out again. This second part is really crucial because a lot of evangelistic endeavours in the contemporary Church don’t amount to much because when the church is not in good order, the fish don’t stay and abide but swim out again (Titus 1:5, 1 Corinthians 14:37-40).

 Titus 1:5 KJV 

“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee”

 1 Corinthians 14:37-40 KJV 

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”

The apostle, by the spirit of wisdom and revelation, does not only bring the fishes in, but also sets things in order so that a lot of fish caught don’t swim back out because we have not worked on and restored our relationships and attitudes towards one another, and because people are not rightly relating to one another in the church’s everyday life in terms of relationships, administration of spiritual gifts, and brotherly love towards one another (1 Corinthians 3:10, Galatians 1:11-12).

 1 Corinthians 3:10 KJV 

“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

 Galatians 1:11-12 KJV 

“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

This is crucial because when fish come in, God’s will is for them to abide (John 15:16), so that they don’t come in and say, “If this is what Christianity is, I don’t want to be a part of it.”

 John 15:16 KJV 

“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

May the Holy Spirit give you a deeper understanding of this simple but all important discourse in Jesus name.

 

Shalom!