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Walking with Jesus: • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewCalling to follow of first disciples
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1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth
Where ever Jesus is and the word of God is taught crowds show up.
2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
If nets are not washed and stretched out to dry, they rot and break.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Jesus chooses Simon’s boat / Ask him
Did Jesus need Simon’e boat? Later He walks on water. Matt 14
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
This time did not ask but told Simon what to do.
Master - worked all night - failure to catch anything
But because you say so - Bias for action test.
Peter had probably been fishing his whole life. Jesus was an itinerant preacher who had probably spent much of his life doing carpentry work like his dad. Nevertheless, Jesus advised the professional fisherman how to do his job.
Through his Word, God calls you to action in your specific circumstances, but your instincts and experience may tell you that obeying won’t work. We have to remember that our instincts and experience have been distorted by sin. We can’t see things perfectly. We lack information. Our understanding is flawed. We must depend on the almighty God who is all knowing and can accomplish the impossible.
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
This is impossible.
This wasn’t flimsy fishing gear; these were professional nets made to hold a lot of fish.
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
Jesus had blessed his followers with more than they could handle. If you will obey him in faith, then your vision of him, praise for him, trust in him, and experience of blessings from him will grow.
When humans are confronted with the holiness of God, their sinfulness is exposed.
Isaiah was a godly man. But when he saw God on his throne in all his glory and the heavenly beings describing him as, “Holy, holy, holy,” Isaiah said, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips” (Isa 6:1–5). Peter saw Jesus for who he really was, and thus saw himself for who he really was.
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
Previously Peter had caught fish for a living. From this point forward, he would fish for people as a kingdom ambassador so that they might become followers of Jesus. Jesus had blessed Peter, opening his eyes to his sinful condition and need for God so that Peter could extend that blessing to others. The same is true for you. Regardless of the blessings God brings into your life—physical, spiritual, financial, relational—they are not meant for your benefit and enjoyment alone. Be a blessing.
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Consider the fact that fishermen generally have the qualities that make for success in serving the Lord. It takes courage and daring, patience and determination to work on the seas; and it also takes a great deal of faith. Fishermen must be willing to work together (they used nets, not hooks) and help one another. They must develop the skills necessary to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
If I had fished all night and caught nothing, I would probably be selling my nets, not washing them to get ready to go out again! But true fishermen don’t quit. Peter kept on working while Jesus used his ship as a platform from which to address the huge crowd on the shore. “Every pulpit is a fishing boat,” said Dr. J. Vernon McGee, “a place to give out the Word of God and attempt to catch fish.”
But there was another side to this request: Peter was a “captive audience” as he sat in the ship listening to the Word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17, NKJV). In a short time, Peter would have to exercise faith, and Jesus was preparing him. First He said, “Thrust out a little”; and then, when Peter was ready, He commanded, “Launch out into the deep.” If Peter had not obeyed the first seemingly insignificant command, he would never have participated in a miracle.
Peter must have been surprised when Jesus took command of the ship and its crew. After all, Jesus was a carpenter by trade (Mark 6:3), and what do carpenters know about fishing? It was a well-known fact that, in the Sea of Galilee, you caught fish at night in the shallow water, not in the daytime in the deep water. What Jesus asked Peter to do was contrary to all of his training and experience, but Peter obeyed. The key was his faith in the Word of God: “Nevertheless, at Thy word” (Luke 5:5).
The word translated “Master” (Luke 5:5) is used only by Luke and it has a variety of meanings, all of which speak of authority: chief commander, magistrate, governor of a city, and president of a college. Peter was willing to submit to the authority of Jesus, even though he did not understand all that the Lord was doing. And remember, a great crowd was watching from the shore.
How people respond to success is one indication of their true character. Instead of claiming the valuable catch for themselves, Peter and Andrew called their partners to share it. We are not reservoirs, but channels of blessing, to share with others what God has graciously given to us.