Fishing is a favorite subject of mine. If I can’t get out to do it, I can at least sit around and talk about it, and that’s the next best thing.
There are some who would rather not do either. So, I wouldn’t want to push fishing on anyone. Even though 4 of 12 of Jesus’ chosen apostles were fisherman. In fact, if you run down the list of the 12, you’d find a tax collector, a political revolutionary, a doubter, and a swindler. But of 12, Peter, Andrew, James, and John are fisherman. From them Jesus chooses Peter, James, and John to become His inner circle among the rest. Peter becomes chief spokesman. James will become the first Apostle to die a martyr’s death. John will become the only to die of old age.
I probably would mention too, that Jesus told stories about fishing; that He fed a multitude with bread and fish, and His disciples with fish; that He sent Peter fishing to pay their temple tax; that the fish itself was adopted by the early church as a symbol for Jesus, and that’s why today you find it on the trunk lid of lots of peoples’ cars. (In fact, on Judgment Day, that’s going to be what makes or breaks you: “Did you have one of those fish things on the trunk lid of your car?”)
All that fish talk in the Bible is a good excuse for me to go fishing once in a while! I’m glad it’s there! Why, just this week, to help research for this sermon, I took Andy fishing! If I ever had a fishing boat, I’d name it “Visitation.” That way, if someone’s looking for me, the office can say, “He’s out on Visitation.” Ever notice how Bill Meyer seems to smile a lot? That’s because he fishes a lot. And just ask anyone who ever went fishing with a man named Dick Euchey if that time with him in a boat is what helped them to finally accept Jesus.
I’ve always enjoyed fishing! When I was a kid, I built lures, practiced casting in the front yard, and even knew the theme song to Bill Dance Outdoors. I enjoy getting away from the grind and setting my mind on just that one thing. I enjoy just getting outside and seeing some of the things that remind me of how awesome is the God we serve. I enjoy the contest of outsmarting a wily ol’ bass and then out-muscling him to the surface. I enjoy the adventure of never knowing exactly how the fishing’s going to turn out that day, and of pulling out of the dark water a fish that you’ve never before seen. And, like any fisherman worth his weight in worms, I enjoy having fishing stories to tell. Like…
• fishing in a rowboat in August in IN and hooking an 11lb catfish that towed me around for 15 minutes before got it into the boat with me. Then, one year later, same spot, same time of day, same lure, hooking a 12lb catfish and doing the same thing!
• fishing at 12,000’ in the mountains of CO where the snow came right down to the water and water so clear you could see it was full of trout.
• catching a bass that had a piece of one of my lures in his stomach because he had bitten it off earlier.
• taking my kids fishing and having still to listen to them tell how they each caught 5 fish and I only caught one.
Oh, yeah, then there’s the hazards that you non-enthusiasts probably remember: mosquitoes, deerflies, ticks, chiggers, poison ivy, bears, and snakes – at least in MO when you go fishing you always get a bite of some kind! Then there’s sunburn, lightning, downpours of rain, stalled boat motors, falling in, and the potential shame of coming home skunked – in more ways than one!
That’s the part of fishing that some of you remember, so reading about these 4 men leaving the fishing business to follow Jesus doesn’t seem so special. In fact, if it were you and Jesus said to you, “Hey, why don’t you give up fishing and follow Me?” you’d be saying, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Clearly, we need to see how we figure into this story today. And since we don’t live in a fishing town on the east coast, it’s a little tougher. It’s not just a fishing story – it’s about the call of Jesus to become committed disciples – the people who learn from Him, become like Him, and carry on His work.
We’re going to examine that call through the eyes of the gospel writers this morning.
John doesn’t have much to say about this event early in Jesus’ ministry. In fact, John records that these 4 fishermen, for the past 9-10 months have already been traveling around with Jesus. They’ve watched Him cleanse the temple, heal the sick, cast out demons, and turn water into wine. Mt, Mk, and Lk don’t detail that. But what these other 3 gospels do stress is the suddenness and determination with which 4 fishermen wholeheartedly become Jesus’ disciples.
(Matthew 4:20 and Mark 1:8) At once they left their nets and followed him.
(Matthew 4:22) and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
(Mark 1:20) Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
(Luke 5:11) So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
All 3 writers leave little room for doubt: Peter, Andrew, James and John all dropped everything to answer Jesus’ call to be His disciples.
Now, to look at this, we’ll focus on Luke first. He includes the most detail:
(Luke 5:1-3) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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.
It’s early morning. Jesus is near Capernaum. The crowds are pressing to hear Him. The fishermen have been out all night on the water. That’s the best time to go fishing. They got skunked. That’s not good news. After all, they’ve been gone for over 9 months. We know that at least Peter has a wife and a mother-in-law to support. So, they’re tired – maybe discouraged. Jesus needs a boat. So he climbs aboard the SS Simon Peter and away they go, just far enough into the water that Jesus can speak to the whole crowd. Finally, after Jesus is done speaking, He sends home the crowds.
(Luke 5:4-5) When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 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."
You have to admire Peter. Jesus isn’t a fisherman. Doesn’t He know that it’s the wrong time of day? Doesn’t He realize that you fish in the shallows, not the deep water? Of course not! Jesus didn’t do this for a living like Peter did! He’s a carpenter! But Peter has respect for Jesus, and that’s all that sends him back out with his boat. Here they were, ready to hang up their nets for the day and get some sleep, and Jesus has changed their plans – at least Peter and Andrew’s. For some reason, James and John are still hanging around on the shore with their boat. Let down your nets? OK, Jesus. If you say so.
(Luke 5:6-7) When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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.
Peter and Andrew’s hands are full. They’re working it the best they can. Then they hear the “Pop! Pop! Pop!” as the nets start to go. That’s when they call for James and John’s help. It would take a minute for them to get out there. I imagine that Peter and Andrew are pretty preoccupied with the work at hand. Finally, James and John arrive and they get the load of fish hoisted between the 2 boats – then they both start to sink!
(Luke 5:8-10a) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners.
In the middle of this pile of fish, after being with Jesus for the better part of a year, something is finally dawning on Peter: what does someone like Jesus have to do with a crusty Galilean fisherman? What does someone with His power have to do with a man who spends his nights in a boat on the lake? And what does someone of His perfect holiness and perfect heart have to do with someone who’s impulsive and inconsistent? It just doesn’t fit! “Lord, You don’t belong around me! I’m a sinful man!”
They’d watched Jesus’ power spread through other peoples’ lives, but when it lands smack in the middle of their own world, these men are scared. Now is when Mt and Mk take up the scene.
The boats have both made it safely back to the shore without sinking. The fishermen and their hired hands go to work on the huge pile of fish, and their nets. The moment is right:
(Mark 1:16-20) As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
All 3 writers, especially Mt and Mk, make one thing very clear: Peter, Andrew, James, and John dropped what they were doing and responded to the call to be disciples.
“Fishers of men? What’s that?” I don’t know where we got the word “fisher.” It’s the word for fisherman; “Fisherman of men…”
What does that mean? On the way into shore, Jesus has already told Peter, “You’ll be catching men.” So now He elaborates: “Follow Me, and I’ll make you fishermen who catch men. I’ll take you out of the business where a good day helps put perch on someone’s plate and put you into the business where a good day helps put souls in heaven forever.
Sounds promising. What would you do with a call like that?
These guys took it hook, line, and sinker! They didn’t hesitate for a second. They dropped everything and followed Jesus. I have to ask: what is it about this invitation that makes it so appealing? Why would they, or you, or anyone else be so willing to become a disciple of Jesus?
So, let’s look at that call for a minute…
I. It’s a Challenging Call
Jesus calls them to change
Change isn’t always easy. How many of you like to move? Like to change jobs? Enjoy losing a family member, either by death or divorce or sending them off to school?
There’s a test where, each of these kinds of life situation changes is given a certain number, you add up how many of them you experience in a year, and if your number is 30 or higher, you’re stress level means you’re a likely candidate for heart trouble. Lots of times, that number is 40 or better. Why are we in line to have a heart attack? Because change can be hard. The call to be a disciple of Jesus is a call to change.
Jesus calls them to sacrifice
Fishing nets, piled next to a deserted boat on the beach in Capernaum are a testimony to this. These guys were giving up security, stability, family – many of the things that many of us are working for. Jesus already had enemies in Jerusalem, and He was inviting these men to come be associated with Him. Not everyone is called to change their vocation or shed blood for Jesus, but one thing is sure: being a disciple means sacrifice. From kids being harassed at school right here at home to villages being burned by Christian haters around the world, accepting the call means sacrifice.
Jesus calls them to an uncertain future
Peter couldn’t have known at that time that he would one day be crucified upside down because of his testimony for Jesus. John couldn’t know that he’d be exiled to the island of Patmos. They didn’t know they’d be in the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested and they’d all run away into the night. But the future to which Jesus was calling them was actually more certain than the one they already had. They couldn’t see their future as Jesus’ disciples, so the call was challenging. Of course, you can’t see the future without Him either, so I’m not so sure that’s as challenging as some people claim it is. For every person who plowed ahead into an uncertain future by faith in Jesus, there have been 10 others who held back, but whose futures remained even less certain.
We won’t beat around the bush this morning. The call to be a disciple of Jesus is challenging. But…
II. It’s an Appealing Call
Jesus calls them to be with Him
“Follow Me.” Jesus didn’t say that to everyone. Some people were sent back home to tell others about Him. What a privilege! Only, now, that invitation to be a disciple of Jesus is extended to everyone. Jesus said,
• “If I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.”
• (Jn 14) “I will come again and receive you to myself so that where I am there you may be also.”
• "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
When Jesus said, “Follow Me…” these men didn’t whip out their Daytimers and say, “Well, just a minute, Jesus. Let me see if I’ve had any better offers.”
Ill – What if you received an invitation from George W. Bush to meet you for lunch? What if he said he’d just really like to meet you and would you please come visit him? Would you accept?
You’ve received other invitations to follow someone. Which one is more appealing than the Son of God expressing His interest to have you be with Him?
Jesus calls them to eternal significance
I can well imagine that Peter sometimes looked at a pile of fish and thought how he would like his life to have more to it.
There’s an appeal in simplicity, but God has created us as eternal beings and this relatively short stay on earth needs to be pointed to something bigger. Deep down inside, every person is longing for this. That’s why we long to be significant. If you haven’t pursued it yet, that’s the something more you often wonder about. God has made us for eternal life. Our hearts shouldn’t be stuck here. Our lives shouldn’t be poured into just things that are going to fade away. Jesus has invited us to be the reason that some people will be in heaven! What could be more significant?
Now look– the very things that make the call to be a disciple challenging are also what make it appealing.
• The call to change – from pettiness to significance
• The call to sacrifice – to give up what we have in this world to take hold of something greater.
• The call to a future – a future that becomes certain only when we become disciples.
That’s what makes it so appealing!
That’s what makes 4 fishermen drop everything and follow Jesus.
That’s what makes people like D.L. Moody leave being a shoe salesman to become a great evangelist.
That’s what makes people like Billy Sunday, who preached a revival here almost 100 years ago, leave professional baseball to become a revival preacher.
That’s why there are students entering OCC this fall who have left decent jobs and moved their families to Joplin, MO so that they might study for vocational Christian service.
• The call to become a disciple of Jesus is appealing.
III. It’s a Possible Call
Leaving everything and following Jesus. No place to live. No back up plan. It doesn’t sound like it can all work out. But…
Jesus knows what matters most
Do you think these 4 still had their needs met?; they were still able to live? Even though they were giving up their very present vocation, Jesus knew they’d be OK. They’d heard Him preach about trusting God to provide for them, and He did. Jesus knew, that in their case, following Him and being close to Him needed to be #1 on their list of things to do.
Jesus knows the future
I doubt Peter could picture Himself standing up to preach on the first day of the church, or welcoming the family and friends of Cornelius the Centurion – a Gentile – into the family of God. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told him, “from now on you’ll be catching men.” If Jesus says it, I believe it.
Jesus knows what to do
They needed to follow Him. He had what they needed. In their case, they needed to leave their jobs, their hometown, and travel with Jesus.
Maybe you don’t know what you should do. There’s a whole horde of freshman students at OCC who are there just to figure that out. There’s another group of senior students who are trying to figure that out too! I’ve learned that it’s not just college students who are trying to nail this down. The average person will go through 3 major vocational changes now before he retires. There’s a lot of people who don’t know what they should do. That’s not always easy to spell out.
So let me suggest that you begin by at least trusting Jesus. He knows what you need to do. And if He’s paving the way for you to serve Him on the mission field overseas, or by giving Him your vocational skills, or right in your living room at home, then drop your nets and go. Trust Him. He knows what He’s doing! No matter what, I’m sure that being His disciple is right. Being willing to go wherever He sends you, to get into any situation where He can use you, to become His learner and to become like Him – I’m sure that’s right, no matter where you’re at in life.
IV. It’s a Personal Call
Ill – in our van, on the sun visors, there’s a mirror on each side. On the driver’s side, there’s a little door that you slide over to cover the mirror. I wasn’t sure why that was there, until I used the sun visor once. With the mirror open, it was distracting to have the visor down. You couldn’t look out the windshield without looking at yourself, and it was annoying. At least, it was for me. I’m glad that little door is there so I don’t have to look at myself while I’m occupied with the business of driving.
Looking at Jesus is that way. It always involves a look at ourselves. Sometimes, we wish that we could close the little door and not have to see ourselves at the same time, but there isn’t one. Every time you look at Jesus, you necessarily have to look at yourself too.
• It happened to Peter. In the middle of a pile of fish, he looked at Jesus, really looked at Who He is, and it overwhelmed him.
• Isaiah, in ch 6, saw the Lord, high and lifted up, and His robe filled the temple and the whole earth was filled with His glory – and Isaiah fell on his face, just sure that he was done for, because of the way he looked to himself in comparison to the holiness of God.
When Jesus calls you, it’s a very personal thing. No one can decide it for you. No one can walk down to the front this morning for you. No one can follow Him for you. It’s a personal call.
And yet, at the same time, every person who ever chose or chooses discipleship is another reason for me and you to jump out of the boat and leave it. Peter, Andrew, James, and John are 4 reasons I have to be a disciple of Jesus. But I still have to choose that myself.
Conclusion:
If I were to compare this story today, to some modern setting, where might I be in it? And how might it read?
Jesus was familiar to Will. He’d heard about Jesus for a few years now. He knew some of the stories about Him. He’d seen the way some people seemed changed by Jesus, but Will had never really considered what Jesus wanted him to do. Will’s life was pretty well set up – good job, good home, consistency. But nothing that would last, and he knew it. Inside, Will had an emptiness that one day, he’d retire, he’d be gone, and that he had done would be over. Like some castle in the sand, it would be really neat while it lasted, but then the tide would come in and it would be over. Then there was the day they had a ministry fair at the church. There were booths – ministries at the church that he could do – things that he could contribute to that would have a lasting worth. Suddenly, Will realized that Jesus also wanted him as a follower. His life could be significant, not just for now, but in a way that would last forever. “Don’t worry. From now on, you’ll be catching men.”
Speaking of fishing stories, I’d love to tell you about
• Marsha Abbott, a school teacher in Schell City, MO. Marsha got real involved in the youth work at the church near there, and to this day there’s an active group of kids learning about Jesus and becoming His disciples too.
• The Laux families and the Snyders in St. Joe, IN – people who had never helped with church camp, and once they started, they’ve taken a week every year now for the sake of helping kids become disciples. The Snyders even took the time to go help build a church building in India a few years ago.
• The Kraffts. They weren’t involved in the church. But one cold winter night when the baptistry heater wasn’t working, Kris was baptized, and now they’re raising their little girl to follow Jesus too.
• The Fergusons in Hillsboro, OH. They didn’t have Jesus in their home, but they knew they needed something. They were reached through a preschool, a Friend Day, and a friend, and now they’re our friends forever.
It doesn’t matter what you’re doing this morning. Right in the middle of our world, Jesus calls us to become disciples committed to a work of eternal significance. What a great call! And it’s one that you can say yes to this morning.
