One of my favorite names of Christ is The Good Shepherd.  I believe it is because of a memory from my childhood.

My grandpa had a small pasture of sheep just behind his house. Slipping on rubber boots that were well larger than my tiny feet, I remember walking hand in hand with him through the backyard, out to the pasture. Once we stepped through the gate, he called the sheep with his BAAA BAAAA. Out of nowhere the sheep came running towards us. They stepped in behind us, following down the hill to the barn. There were also early mornings with a baby bottle and an oversized nipple feeding a new lamb being cradled in little arms and the arms of my brother and sisters.

As a child I understood little of the shepherd and his sheep. How the sheep know the voice of their shepherd and how they follow him out of trust. The Shepherd cares for and loves his sheep.  He is their protector and provider. His sheep know this from experience. The shepherd has proven his love and care over time and involvement.

As an adult my mind takes me to Peter sitting with the Savior on the shore of Galilee after His resurrection.  In John 21 we read

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus ^astood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

14 This is now the ^athird time that Jesus ^bshewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, ^aFeed my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, ^aFeed my ^bsheep.

What did Peter know of being a Shepherd, he was a fisherman. His life had been spent casting and gathering, filling his nets with fish. A good catch meant food on the table for another day. Peter and his brethren even counted this catch, 153 fish verse 11 says.

 If Jesus needed Shepherds, why did he choose fisherman? What was this job change Jesus was asking of Peter?

Have we ever been asked to change “jobs”? Are we fishers of men or are we shepherds and aren’t both needed in the gathering of Israel? Do we move from one to the other? Who does Jesus need us to become?

How do we answer the call when it comes. Peter and Andrew “straightway” left their nets when the call came, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matt 4:18-22

The word straightway suggests the urgency to take that first step without delay or hesitation. He needs us to act now, not later, not tomorrow, but straightway.

Marvin J Ashton said,

“We invite all to serve the Savior and walk in His paths straightway. There is an urgency for all of us who have this knowledge of His divinity to act upon it without hesitation or delay. The time is now.”