Jesus invites everyone to find meaning and purpose in life by following him. In the Bible, Mark 1:17, Jesus tells his first followers, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This means that by following Jesus, people not only find a deeper sense of purpose for themselves, but they also get the chance to help and positively affect others. True fulfillment, according to Jesus, comes from looking beyond your own needs and helping others.
Jesus uses fishing as an example because it was familiar to the people he spoke to—many relied on fishing for their food and income. But Jesus wanted his followers to understand that serving others can go much deeper than just meeting physical needs. He called them to help people in a spiritual way, not just a material one.
At the heart of Christianity is the belief that God cares about people more than anything else. Jesus’s main goal was to offer everyone a special gift from God—salvation. By inviting his followers to join him in sharing this gift, he gave them the chance to find true meaning, not just for themselves, but for everyone they helped realize this gift was available for them, too.
The phrase “fishers of men” means that Jesus wants everyone to take part in God’s big plan. Being part of this mission is seen as an honor. By helping others discover a relationship with God, believers experience deep change themselves and help others do the same. This is described as the foundation of true meaning and purpose in life.
Sometimes, people hold back from accepting this invitation because they are afraid to take emotional risks, or they focus on things like money and safety. Wanting acceptance and approval can keep people from truly connecting with God’s plan. Hidden personal needs can also make it hard to get involved.
But Jesus’s teachings say that He meets these needs by offering love, safety, and value through his grace. By dying on the cross, Jesus has taken care of the deepest needs that people have. When we understand how important this gift of grace is in our lives, we are inspired to join in Jesus’s mission and find real meaning by helping others learn about this incredible gift.
