February 6, 2022
Pastor John Hering
Luke 5:1-11
Luke 5:1-11
One time, while the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats there along the lakeshore. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Jesus got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. He sat down and began teaching the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked hard all through the night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets were about to tear apart. 7 They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9 For Peter and all those with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Have no fear. From now on you will be catching people.”
11 After they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
How many of you have gone fishing? Catch anything? I remember fishing with Pastor Hering years ago. We through the net into the water to catch some shad, found our place under the Hwy 66 bridge and sat for hours and hours and …… I don’t think we caught a fish. That happens. On other days you go fishing and you might reel in fish one after the other. When you don’t catch fish someone in the boat might say something like this, “We go fishing, not catching!” The expectation is that you go fishing in order to catch fish. That’s why you go to the store and buy your fishing pole, the tackle, and get your bait. You know people love to catch fish when you visit the store and see aisles of equipment, hundreds or maybe even thousands of different hooks, spinners and flies and lures and such that are supposed to help you catch fish. This one sparkles, that one wiggles, and this one swims just like the real thing, but none of them, NONE OF THEM can truly guarantee you will catch a single fish.
During this Epiphany season our theme has been, “Uncovered.” Jesus appeared at the wedding of Cana and demonstrated his power. He visited his hometown in Nazareth and amazed the people with his preaching, and last week we see that the people were so thrilled to have Jesus with them healing all their diseases that they didn’t want to let him go. In each account it was revealed that Jesus was committed to his mission of saving us from our sins through his death on the cross. Today we see Jesus still committed to his gospel ministry to call his followers to be eagerly sharing the gospel with others. Indeed, through somebody Jesus call you and me to faith. It is Jesus who gave his life for our sins, and it is Jesus who goes out with us each day into the world to serve him by the way we love and serve one another. And it is Jesus who called Peter and Andrew to be fishers of men, to go out and catch souls for salvation. Today in Luke 5 Jesus calls and equips you and me to do the same thing: To Be Fishers of People. And we don’t have to go fishing for answers on how to do it. There is only one item in the tackle box God has given us: the Bible. It is all we need to catch souls for Christ. Let spend a few moments to meditate on the fact that
Christ Has Equipped You To Be Fishermen of People
Jesus has been with the people around the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum. Luke records the event for us: One time, while the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats there along the lakeshore. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Jesus got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the shore. He sat down and began teaching the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.”
We remember that Jesus had been with Simon at his house and healed his mother-in-law from her fever. St John tells us how Jesus called Peter and Andrew to be his disciples. The first time they met Jesus the invitation was to follow Jesus for their own salvation. Now, Jesus was calling these men in order to be his disciples and share the Good News with others. In order to do this kind of fishing they would need some training and Jesus was the best teacher ever. Jesus was sitting in the boat while he was teaching the crowds. He then turned to Peter and made a simple request: “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” Realize the setting. These men had been fishing for a while, they caught nothing and now Jesus is asking them to do something difficult. Jesus is asking them to trust in him. We take a deep breath because we know that when Jesus asks us to do something for him, it can be difficult. Yes,
Fishing can be difficult work
Now, going fishing for most people isn’t considered hard work. Usually we buy a couple dozen minnows and head out for a day on the water. The fishing done by the disciples was hard work. They tossed big nets out into the water that would sink down and catch the fish. Well, sometimes they caught them. They couldn’t always see just where the fish were. So they’d just keep tossing and hauling, tossing and hauling, until some fish were brought in. This is what we need when we are fishing for people – work! Fishing for people that are fighting against God and his will is not a lazy person’s past time. It would be good for us to become exhausted because we are fishing for people. Think about it! A fisherman will walk miles to his special fishing spot in the mountains, over rocks and through valleys – but how far are we willing to walk when we are fishing for people? Are you willing to go out of your way to meet someone that needs the Savior? Are you willing to drive over to his business or home to testify to the greatness of Jesus’ love? How much physical and mental work are you willing to do? Let us understand this point clearly – sharing the gospel of Jesus can be difficult work, but it is work Jesus has commanded us to carry out.
Fishing Requires Much Patience
Besides involving real effort on our part, fishing demands much patience – especially if the fish aren’t biting. Aren’t you amazed by Simon’s answer? “5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked hard all through the night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.” Peter is tired. He has been working hard with little to nothing to show for it. He shows his heart with his little comment about having already worked hard to catch fish. But, his patient, Spirit-led answer to Jesus is an answer that will led to a life changing event!
We also need such patience when it comes to fishing for people. We can see other people but we cannot see their hearts. We won’t always see the effect that God’s Word has on them. You may patiently talk about Jesus with a friend and not even realize just how much of an effect that Word of hope has on that person’s heart. But, you are living proof of the power of God’s Word patiently working on you. Somewhere along the way, years ago or perhaps just days ago, someone spoke to you about Jesus, someone invited you to get to know the Savior. They cared enough about you to tell you how much God cares about you. Today let’s offer special thanks to the Lord for providing someone in our past who shared God’s Word with us—and no doubt for some of us it took a lot of patience!
There are some sports that require lots of energy and endurance. Fishing probably isn’t one of them. That is until you hook the monster fish! You know what I mean. You are patiently casting your line over and over into the water in the hopes of catching A fish. Then, when you least expect it, the big catch of the day comes along and bites the bait! The heart races, the adrenaline flows, and you might even hear the shout, “Fish ON!” It takes hours and hours of patient fishing, but when that big fish hits, it’s a thrill!
In the same way when it comes to seeking out and sharing the gospel with people there are bound to be disappointments – you know, the one that got away! Maybe it is your neighbor that you’ve patiently invited to come and hear about Jesus here at church. Maybe it’s the co-worker that has a life that’s a mess and you witness Jesus’ love to them, but they just don’t bit. Maybe it’s the relative that has drifted away from church and you know what they’re missing. Remember, God calls us, even when we feel unqualified like fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, to patiently throw Jesus’ love into the lake of people around us. And you also know how wonderful it is when there are also those surprise catches for Jesus. May we be filled with attitude of Peter, “5 Simon answered him, “Master, we worked hard all through the night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.” Did you notice? Jesus told him to simply let down the nets. He didn’t say Peter had to catch the fish. Likewise, the Lord doesn’t expect us to catch every fish, but he does expect us to patiently put the bait of the Gospel out there for everyone. He will do the work of causing folks to be caught in Jesus’ love. He will create the faith. Let us pray that the Lord would always create in our hearts the desire to be Patient Witnesses Equipped To Be Fishermen of People!
And if you think you’re not the right person, or that you don’t have the right skills to witness to others, Luke reminds us that since it is the Lord who provides us with the Gospel of Jesus….
No special equipment needed
Listen to what Jesus told Peter. “[Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” While fishing usually requires lots of work and patience, it does not require much equipment or that much skill. Pastor Hering loves to tell his fishing story from the days when he would go trolling with his kids in Grandpa Schultz’s little boat up in beautiful lakes of Alexandria, Minnesota. Pastor happened to have a graphite rod and wonderful reel that cost quite a lot. Three of the other kids had pretty nice rods and reels, too. But, little Jenna sitting next to Pastor had a Mickey Mouse 2 foot fishing pole caught the most Northern Pike!!!!! Go Figure! You really don’t need special, expensive equipment to catch fish. There are only a few basic items needed to catch a fish: a rod, line, leader, a hook and some kind of bait. But, we dare not forget what perhaps is the most important part of fishing – you must put the bait down in the water where the fish are. And even then, in the end, you can’t make the fish bite.
The disciples learned what makes the fish bit. “6 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets were about to tear apart. 7 They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.” It has been said that there were really two miracles in this account. The first miracle is that they fished all night and didn’t catch a thing. The second miracle, is the miracle of catching so many fish. While we want to faithfully use the best equipment we have in order to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to others, we also want to remember that when people come to faith and are caught in the net of God’s kingdom, it is the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. You use the Word of God that draws people toward their Savior. It is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit to work through the powerful Word of God to bring people to faith. Therefore, when you have proclaimed God’s Word to someone, that is really all you can do. God must do the rest. This is when we must remember and rely on the power of the Word to carry on its work in the hearts of those people we are talking with. No special equipment is required. But, we also need to remember that we don’t want to purposely use poor equipment, such as a sloppy sharing of God’s Word, in order to become a hindrance to someone hearing the truth of God’s Word as well.
When you go fishing, the basic idea is to go and catch fish. There are some who go out for the enjoyment of it. Pastor Hering’s has told to the story of his wife, for example, will go out with her book and you might be tempted to think she is satisfied with just being out with the family – until she catches that big crappie! Her screams will tell you how excited she is to catch that fish! Now, in fishing for men, if you want to do it just because you enjoy getting out of the house, fine – go ahead. But, there is a greater joy in knowing you are doing what the Lord has equipped and asked you to do. There is even greater joy when someone is won over by the Lord through you. While you did not cause anyone to bite the gospel book-hook, it is quite satisfying to know that the Lord equipped you as a tool to gain the heart of someone who otherwise would have been lost. – Let’s understand – they were on their way to perishing eternally in hell. Now, they will be in heaven! This is a thrill that the Lord allows us to enjoy this side of eternity! While we enjoy this thrill, it is also important that we have our fishing for men skills sharpened in order to do the best we can to share Jesus’ love with others. So, may the Lord Jesus Equips Us To Be Fishermen of People with a
Willingness to learn
It is quite the scene there on the shores of Galilee! You can just imagine the commotion of the disciples and the excitement of all the people! “8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord.” 9 For Peter and all those with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Have no fear. From now on you will be catching people.” 11 After they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.”
It is always interesting when two fishermen get together. They will usually tell you their best fishing stories, or their latest techniques for catching fish. We have also received the basic instructions from Jesus for catching men – but I pray that we will always have a willingness to learn more from God’s Word as we enjoy the experiences we have to proclaim the gospel. Fishermen will tell you about their most exciting catches and the one they didn’t catch as well. “If only I had my net along. Or If I only hadn’t slipped on the mossy rock, etc.” Well, they learned and will try to avoid that same mistake next time they fish. Peter knew this all too well. He felt so unworthy to be in Jesus’ presence. But, Jesus graciously uncovered the main point: The Least Qualified Are the First Sent!
So it is when fishing for people. Do you feel unqualified to tell other the good news? Then be assured, jesus plans to use you exactly for that purpose. We can talk about our successes and our failures. We can share our ideas and learn from the experiences of others. But, finally the best teacher is taking the Word of God we have learned and humbly trying it out. Let’s go fishing for people! Maybe you have a favorite place to share the gospel, maybe you need to try a new place. Maybe you can join a community club with the specific intention of meeting folks to share the gospel with. Maybe you can go and knock on your neighbor’s door and find out if they have a church home. Maybe you can strike up a conversation at the grocery store with the same check out person every week. Remember, the important thing is that we put the hook with the bait—the instruction we have had—in the water. Then pray that sooner or later, God will cause someone to hear and believe the gospel you are sharing.
Maybe you’re all fired up and ready to go fishing for men. Before you go, here are some practical suggestions:
1. Jesus calls and trains us. “Jesus said to Simon, “Have no fear. From now on you will be catching people.” Remember that God must prepare us and train us. He does that through a regular dose of God’s Word. He fills us with Jesus’ love and reminds us that we are his adopted children. Right here in church he will remind us that we are precious to God and are living in his mercy. As we learn to appreciate this anew every week, we will learn what a privilege it is to go out and joyfully tell others the good news.
2. Follow a few common-sense rules: If you are fishing for trout, don’t put on your wet-suit and go splashing around in the water – you’ll scare them away. Likewise avoid wearing your cold-shoulder Sunday clothes and fail to give a warm welcome to visitors. This is a big deal. Let me tell you why. Pastor tells the story of fishing in a channel in Brownsville, TX as a boy. He thought he was snagged, but the skipper told him to let loose the line for a while and then suddenly to jerk it. Sure enough, it worked! Your see, there was an eel on the end of the line who took the bait and buried itself into its hole. If we go out arguing with folks on the first chance we get, they might bury themselves into their holes and we will never have a chance to share the gospel with them.
3. Pray – Pray that God will bless your witness about Jesus and that the Lord will keep you humble.
4. Talk about the essentials – You could argue about some obscure point in the Book of Daniel, but it is much more important to talk about Jesus Christ and what he did to save us all from our sins. When church members are being criticized or ridiculed, point out that no one is perfect and that is just why we worship our Savior. This is the one important fact that needs to get out there: Jesus Christ came to save sinners like me and you.
5. Finally you can fish by proxy – Maybe friends stop by to go fishing and you have to work, so you say to your son, “Why don’t you go. Here, use my rod and reel, money for travel and gas and mom will pack a lunch for you.” In the same way we must keep those gospel lines in the water of the world if any catching is to be done. That takes support. You and I can support those who go out in our name through our offerings. We can look to see how richly the Lord has blessed our families with homes, cars, jobs, friends, etc and then turn to the Lord with an offering that will keep the lines in the water.
Now, having been Equipped by Jesus is it time for us to go Fishing For People. Now is the time to shore how much you care, and patiently share Jesus with others. Don’t stop talking about what the Lord has done for you. Keep learning the Bible better and better by reading it at home and hearing it every week at church. God has opened up his heart to you, and he has opened up heaven to you. And God will give you all you need to be a fisher of men and women and boys and girls in your home and in your neighborhood. So let’s use what we have learned this week about Jesus, and let’s go fishing! Amen!
