“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they their nets and followed him. … Jesus went through Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to him all the sick, those who were afflicted with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and he cured them. And great crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and from beyond the Jordon.” Matthew 4:19-20, 23-25
Later, Jesus will tell his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 That is a command to us, today, as well. Going forth to make disciples is fishing for people. Notice who was “caught”: They brought to him all the sick, those afflicted with diseases and pains, those possessed by demons, those with epilepsy, and paralyzed persons. Jesus healed them! Let that sink in, sit here a moment. Jesus recruited fishermen, who dropped what they were doing, to follow Jesus. They changed environments and species but kept on fishing. They “caught” a lot of trash – if they were still catching fish, they would be throwing these trach fish back into the lack. But now – these people, these sick, afflicted people who are in pain in so many ways are “caught” and brought to Jesus – who heals them. When is the last time I brought a sick person to church, when is the last time we welcomed a sick person? More to the point, when is the last time we went fishing for sick, diseased persons in pain? When was the last time we searched out a demon possessed person and invited them to come be healed? Do I/you/we possess faith in God, to do what he says he’ll do? Why are our sanctuaries not full? Maybe we aren’t fishing for the right people……. Maybe we aren’t casting our nets wide enough……… Maybe we aren’t as faith-filled as we claim to be. Jesus healed them all, Jesus heals us all and Jesus can and will heal all – it is on me/you/us to make the introductions.