NO BUSINESS IS LIKE SOUL BUSINESS (LUKE 5:1-11)
When Apple computer went public in 1983 and two years later made its debut in the Fortune 500 list of America’s top companies, Steve Jobs, Apple’s young and legendary founder, needed a CEO and mentor for his company. His first recruit was John Sculley, who was then president of Pepsico Corporation. Jobs set up a meeting with Sculley to persuade him to leave Pepsi for Apple, to direct the new company and to lend his corporate experience.
Sculley, though he had no reason to doubt the impact of Apple, was unwilling to give up a good, cushy and dream job at Pepsi, which was already a brand name, a powerhouse corporation and a darling stock. The idea of building Apple from its foundation and steering Apple into the future did not interest him. He was not particularly enamored with his job at Pepsico, but moving West did not appeal to him either.
Pepsi’s CEO turned Jobs down, but Jobs would not take no for an answer and posed to him a question to him that changed his mind, the direction of Apple, and the course of computer history. Sculley remembers that day with Jobs: “He looked up at me and just stared at me with the stare that only Steve Jobs has and he said, ‘Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life or do you want to come with me and change the world?” And I just gulped because I knew I would wonder for the rest of my life what I would have missed.” http://www.pbs.org/nerds/part3.html
At Jesus’ first recorded lake appearance in Luke, people crowded round him to listen to the word of God. Jesus saw two boats lying there at the edge of the lake, but He chose Simon’s boat. The catch of the day was not Peter’s haul at the Lake of Gennesaret; the biggest catch that day was Peter and the fishermen, who were captivated and challenged by Jesus to join Him in the foremost business of all – soul business.
What kind of mission is awaiting God’s people? What kind of people is He heavily recruiting? Why is it intended for serious people only?
No Listening is More Productive
5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people 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.” (Luke 5:1-5)
A college student taking a year-end economics exam was ill-prepared for the task, critical of the timing, and leery of his fate. Worse, Christmas was around the corner, cramming was not his style and vacation occupied his dreamy thoughts. He could not concentrate on the exam and gave up on it without trying. Holiday was written on his face and all he could think of. In exasperation, defiance and cheek he wrote on the paper he handed in: “Only God knows the answers to these questions. Merry Christmas.”
When the student returned to school after the holidays, he found his paper returned to him in his box with a note attached to it that read: “God gets 100, you get 0. Happy New Year!” (Adapted, 7,700 Illustrations # 1992)
Epictetus said, “It is impossible for a man to learn that which he thinks he already knows.” (Quotable Quotations p. 212)
A lot of people think they know everything. Simon faced a fisherman’s dilemma: “What does a carpenter’s son from the inland know about lake fishing, weather forecast and wind conditions?” After all, Simon and his professional partners had failed to catch fish after laboring all night; they were already washing their nets (v 2). That many local fishermen can’t be wrong! They were experts on the place to anchor, the time to fish, and the bait to use.
Jesus, however, told Simon to row his boat to the far side and to let down the nets for a catch. Not just to push out a little from shore anymore (v 3), which was for teaching purposes, but to launch out to the deepest waters. Worse, the inlander had no bait, gear or experience for the expedition. Further, fishing is best done at night. People fish for fun in the day, but fish for a living at night. Yet Simon surrendered his knowledge, opinion and control to Jesus when he let the net down. After all, Jesus had healed his mother-in-law from a high fever (Lk 4:38-39). Peter, who had just finished washing the nets (v 2), however, did not surrender without a word or a mouthful, saying as much: “Master, we’ve been there and done that and did not find even as much as an anchovy. All we caught was hot air in the chilly waters! Do you mean we will have to rewash our nets, unpack our equipment and row that far?” Washing nets was time consuming, with its sprawling size, small holes and coarse material. It was a day job by itself and a group effort (v 2), not the work of one.
Simon was a witty, feisty and vocal individual who was more interested in the seas than in the Scriptures. While people gathered around Jesus to hear him preach and teach, Simon’s thoughts were on looking for fish, making a living and cleaning the nets. He had no time for leisure, preaching or Jesus, for that matter. He could deal with Jesus coming on board, loaning his boat, invading his space and using his things, but fishing tips, boating trips and deep waters were entirely different matters.
The range of Simon’s enigmatic, expressive and endearing personality and character was in full swing. Though he moaned and groaned, but he lectured and listened. The Greek phrase “your word” or “because you say so” in NIV is peculiar to Luke (1:38, 2:29). Like servants Mary (1:38) and Simeon (2:29) who submitted themselves to God’s plan for their lives, Peter used the expression “Your word” in Luke to submit himself to Jesus’ word. Simon’s remarkable turnaround, responsive attitude and reliable course were indicative of a servant’s heart.
Have you found yourself doubtful of, resistant to or even impatient with God’s interference in and direction for your life? Do you argue, negotiate or cooperate with God when He has things for you to do? Are you willing to listen, submit and obey when God speaks?
No Learning is More Precious
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!” (Luke 5:6-8)
One Sunday morning the pastor encouraged his congregation to consider the potential of the church. He told them, “With God’s help we can see the day when this church will go from crawling to walking.” The people responded, “Let the church walk, Pastor, let the church walk.”
The pastor continued, “And when the church begins to walk, next the church can begin to run.” And the people shouted, “Let the church run, Pastor, let the church run!”
The pastor continued, “And finally the church can move from running to flying. Oh, the church can fly! But of course, that’s going to take lots of money for that to happen!” The congregation grew quiet, and from the back, someone mumbled, “Let the church crawl, Pastor, let the church crawl.”
Simon and his partners turned out to be wholehearted and not halfhearted learners. The lesson was not lost on them when they discovered there is much to do and they had much to learn, especially with all the help, they were still helpless. They had caught a lot of fish that day, so much so that the nets began to break, that they signaled for help, but even then the two boats, not only one, were sinking. The Greek expression for the catch is a double emphasis - “a great multitude,” alluding twice to the abundance of the catch, meaning lots and lots of fish. This is the same phrase for the public turnout that greeted Jesus when he appeared at major regions like Galilee (Mk 3:7), Tyre and Sidon (Mk 3:8), and all Judea and Jerusalem (Lk 6:17). A related expression “a great crowd” was used to describe the five thousand men, besides women and children, that Jesus fed with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matt 14:21).
At that point, Simon no longer called Jesus “Master,” but “Lord.” The word Lord is an emphatic, a preferential and reverent way to address Jesus. It occurs 751 times in the New Testament. “Master” (v 5) was an early pre-resurrection expression used exclusively in Luke and no other gospels (Luke 5:5, 8:24, 8:45, 9:33, 9:49, 17:13). Simon did not concede anything and mean much when he called Jesus “Master”, but now he fell to his knees to acknowledge Jesus as “Lord.” Readers may not be aware that Simon is the first person in the New Testament to recognize Jesus’ Lordship, the only apostle to fall at Jesus’ knees, and the only biblical individual to do both. Not even John the Baptist, Jesus’ forerunner and cousin, had called Him “Lord.” The alarmed Simon rightfully confessed, condemned and corrected his ignorance, insensitivity and, most of all, his unworthiness to the Lord.
God’s first choice for apostles to preach Christ, save souls and transform lives were unschooled fishermen, not learned rabbis, talented CEOs or charismatic leaders. His first four apostles were all fishermen – Andrew, his brother Simon (Mt 4:18), and brothers James and John. Peter and company were stinking, lowly, rough outdoor folks, but Christ’s gift of salvation is offered freely to all who believe, regardless of skin, skill, sight, smell, or success.
God is not concerned with how big, brainy or beautiful a person is; how capable, cool or cultured an individual is; or even how tainted, tarnished or tattered you are, but that you are taught and transformed by Him, open and obedient to Him, and captivated by Him and committed to Him.
Are you set in your thinking, ways or sentiments? What do you have to do to move, crawl or climb out of the rut? Are you an expert in your field and a genius to your friends, but a failure to the Lord? Do you know God has saved, used and upheld you in spite of your weaknesses, faults and unworthiness?
No Labor is More Permanent
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 catch men.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:9-11)
I have the wonderful opportunity of teaching seminary students for the ministry since 1999. I attended Bible college when I was twenty, but what amazes me about most current seminary students is their age, aspiration and attitude. Many of them are over 30 years old, and they enter seminary to study for the ministry after having a stable job, starting a successful business or achieving recognition in their field. I had doctors, engineers, professors, doctoral graduates and people from all sorts of life in my classes.
The story is almost the same. After tasting success in their field, these students felt a void in their life, felt a burden for the lost and offered their lives to serve Christ. They desire to do something more valuable and worthwhile, more lasting and satisfying. I have had students who were in politics, business, music, technology and from all walks of life, but they all discovered and testified that knowledge, stability and money did not fulfill them, empower others or change the world much.
Simon and his partners made an extraordinary commitment that day. They left all they had to follow Jesus. Matthew’s gospel specifically mentioning leaving their nets (Mt 4:20), boat and father (Mt 4:22), in that order. That, however, doesn’t mean one does not care for the family, their well-being and livelihood. Mark 1:20 reveals that James and John’s father had hired men to work for him. Also, Jesus had provided for the Zebedees’ father and the remaining fishermen two boats (v 7) full of fish. Further, the apostles were not so dumb or irresponsible as to leave without a word, a note or a care. They pulled their boats up to shore first (Lk 5:11).
The biblical word “leave” is as definitive in the Bible as the word “forgive.” It is the same word in Greek (Matt 6:12, 9:2, 12:31, 18:21), because leaving, like forgiveness, is never 1% or 10%; it has to be 100% or it is not forgiveness!
Simon and his partners gave up their familiar occupations, ocean surroundings and rugged living to follow Jesus (Luke 18:28-29, Mk 10:28-30). The initial resolve of Simon made to follow Jesus was made with friends and relatives – Andrew, James and John (Matt 4:18-21) – but the last command Jesus made to Peter after His resurrection ended with a personal challenge – “You must follow me” (John 21:22) or in Greek, “You (emphasis), me follow!” When Peter asked about the beloved disciple John, saying “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:22)
Jesus is looking for eager beavers, willing horses, people who are willing to forsake, surrender or exchange part of their lives, a few years and possibly all of their lives for the biggest business in life – soul business, or the struggle for the salvation of lost souls.
Conclusion: A lot of people have no passion for Christ or people because they never attempt anything for Jesus, expect anything from Him or direct anyone to Jesus. Are you the type that say to Jesus, “It’s impossible,” “It’s illogical,” or “It’s impractical,” instead of saying “I’ll obey you,” “I’ll follow you” or “I’ll witness you?” Are you occupied with your business or the Lord’s business? Have you made it your business and burden to lead others to the cross, to the Savior, to the Lord? Do you still participate with angels, heaven, and neighbors to celebrate the repentance, transformation, and restoration of a sinner? Finally, do you want to row boats, wash nets, and catch fish the rest of your life or an opportunity to change the world?
Victor Yap
Other sermons in the series and other sermon series:
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