A Fisherman Following Jesus Series

A Fisherman Following Jesus

Simon was among Jesus’ first followers but he like the crowds didn’t really make a commitment until Jesus called him as his disciples. As the story of this fisherman unfolds we see what Jesus does for us and to us when we choose to follow Him.

Jesus’ First Followers

Luke 5:1-11 (NCV)

5 One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God. 2 Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, a and asked him to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat.

4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will.” 6 When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. 7 They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.

8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” 9 He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were 10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.” 11 When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

There is something about Jesus…

There always seems to be a crowd following him. There were always people looking to him for help and understanding. Maybe it was his love for the people that showed through. Maybe it was his ability to connect with them in such an authentic way. He was real and he understood their lives. But more than anything I think it was the way he taught. There was a comprehension of the truth and ability to lay it out both clearly and powerfully. His teaching was like no one else’s – ever!

It was the hearing of this truth that was – and is the beginning of faith. It was then – for a fisherman named Simon – and it is now for a twenty-first century people.

Faith begins with hearing

Simon listened to Jesus that morning…

Simon (Peter) and his fishermen friends had spent the entire night fishing but had not been successful. In those times a fisherman would go out into this freshwater sea (which was really a big lake) at night and in the shallows where the fish would come to feed they would drop their nets and then gather them in to bring in the catch. This they had done all night without netting one fish.

Now they were on the beach drying his nets so they wouldn’t rot away when this new prophet-preacher came along with a lot of noisy people pushing and shoving to gain advantage behind him.

I can see them watching with both amusement and annoyance as the crowd – with Jesus in front came down the beach and stopped by their boats.

Then Jesus climbed into Simon’s boat and asked him to push off a bit. He sat down in the boat while Simon stood in the back and kept it from getting too far out. And while Jesus taught – Simon listened.

Not much risk here – just listening to Jesus – but this is the beginning of faith

Would you like to have faith?

I mean it! Would you like to have confidence about your future? Would you like to know an inner peace and comfort that comes from knowing – by faith – that no matter what happens around you that it will be ok?

Well I have a simple suggestion – It’s low risk. Just listen to Jesus.

As easy as that is my experience is that most people have to be ready to listen before they do listen.

I was talking with a friend the other day about an experience he had with a doctor who came in before the surgery to talk with his family about what was going to happen. He told the doctor some important information about how dealt with anesthesia and when the doctor left he turned to his wife and said, “ He didn’t hear a thing I said did he.”