Daily Word: Becoming Fishers of Men

Note: Today, we are continuing our study on the actual teachings of Yeshua or Yahushua in the New Testament. We are in the Book of Mark. The translation will be the Aramaic English Testament. We are going to emphasize what He taught versus what was taught about Him later. Be prepared for a paradigm shift.

Mark 1:17 says: And Y'shua said to them, "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of the sons of men." We must remember that Yeshua (or as the translation quoted writes "Y'shua") spoke either Hebrew of Aramic. They are very similar languages, like first cousins. Yet, Mark comes to us in the form of a Greek text. There will be times we look to Hebrew and other times we will draw from the Greek language. We want to know what Yeshua actually taught. The passage today comes right after Yeshua has taught the importance of repentance. There is no following of Him unless it is preceded by repentance. Repentance is the beginning of following Yeshua. He says "come." The Greek word is deute and it is an adverb. An adverb qualifies the meaning of a verb. The ones that are following are the ones that have come through the door of repentance. We repent, but do we make ourselves fishers of men?

The word "make" in the text is the Greek word poieo and it is in the future tense. This means that Yeshua is describing something that He will do in the future. Some translations say, "make you become fishers of men." The word become is ginomai and it is in the aorist infinitive passive. This means that we that are being made fishers of men will passively receive the work of Yeshua in our lives so that we can do what He has called us to do. Our duty is to repent and Yeshua's promise is to make us fishers of men. It is not through our hard work and struggles; we are to passively receive His workmanship in our lives. This is done because we live a life of constant repentance, i.e constantly destroying our house (remember yesterday). If we are faithful in our responsibilities, then Yeshua will be faithful to make us what He wants us to be. And, He wants us to fish for men for the Kingdom of Elohim.

Today, are you passively receiving His workmanship in your life? Remember, while we receive passively, we must actively work in repenting. Keep destroying your old ways. Make your paths His paths. Truly follow Yeshua. (If you do, will this affect what you eat, when your worship, or your obedience to the Torah?) Perhaps, it is in the following of Yeshua that He makes us fishers of men.