Video Transition: Jesus and Peter changing the world video!
“A Fisherman’s Tale” - Peter
Thesis: What would be your greatest catch of a lifetime? Is it 153 large fish or is it catching a vision of your divine purpose and landing insight into your eternal purpose for God? In other words doing the “Will of God” with your life? Let me phrase it another way getting onto “God’s agenda and off your agenda.”
Introduction:
I sat on a deck in Tn – sipping coffee, sitting by a warm fire, looking at the sunrise and mountains and asking the Lord to guide me in what to say to you this morning. I was guided to two experiences of Peter and Jesus! In each scenario their were two miracle catches of fish – 2 greatest catches of a lifetime!
Note: Whenever Jesus is around – you will will discover the greatest catches of a lifetime!
Summary of our main texts today:
I read my two main Scripture texts for this sermon – 1st one’s found in Mark 1:16-20 then it’s parallel in Luke 5:1-11 we’re Jesus calls Peter to be His disciple and Peter experiences a catch of a lifetime. It convinces him to say “yes” to follow Jesus! Then I read John 21:1-14 which is about 3 ½ years later and Peter has just seen Jesus die and He is dealing with his failures, his denials of being associated with Jesus. He feels like a failure – he sinned – he failed Jesus and the others - he decides to go fishing – to return to his old trade – 6 other disciples say I am going with you Peter – they fish all night and catch nothing – they are 7 frustrated, frenzied, fried fisherman. Then a question echoes across the water – have you caught anything – they all yell in unison – No! The voice responds back echoing - throw your net on the other side of the boat – throw your net on the other side of the net. They all look at each other – De-ja-voo? This sounds way to framiliar – they do what he says to do and have another catch of a lifetime!
I must admit I am not an avid, enthusiastic fisherman. To be honest with you I am not a very good fisherman. However, I do have flashbacks of a few family vacations were we would go fishing to Canada. We would go up by Thunder Bay for a week’s time frame and fish frantically. My dad and my uncle would fish all week from sun up to sun down and mostly catch Northern Pike. I recall how I tagged along fished and even caught a few of these fish myself. I must admit in all my trips to Canada I never caught the big one – I mostly caught small or average size fish.
One of the most memorable moments in my life of fishing in Canada was when we went out to fish on the other side of Thunder Bay Lake and a storm blew in. The waves coming back across the lake were 10-20 feet high – well maybe 3-5 feet high! But needless to say it was frightening and I was scared and thinking, “I am going to drown.” The waves were huge coming over the front of the boat and my uncle was standing in the bow holding onto a rope screaming and laughing like a mad man. When the picture of that day floods my mind it reminds me of the scene from Forest Gump were his Lieutenant is on the mask of the ship acting like a mad man in a hurricane. As the movie flips scenes through my mind I recall a huge wave crashing over the front of boat and it hits my uncle and knocks him down into the boat and he loses his hat into the water. My mind frantically thinks, “I am going to die!” My dad was driving the boat and I was huddled in the back waiting to drown in Thunder Bay. But we persevered through the storm and we made it into the mouth of river when our propeller breaks. Yes, we had just got out of the waves when our motor died. We were all astounded at the timing and we were all thinking, “It would have been fatal for us if it broke out on the lake in the storm”. The boat motor was broke and we broke out the oars to get to our cabins. I am still glad to this day it waited to break until after we made it into calmer water.
So my fishing tales are filled with fish, lots of fish some large ones and also some danger. We with in my family reminisce about those fishing adventures to Canada filled with fish and fishy tales of survival.
The Milac’s Lake fishing trip two summers ago on my Sabbatical “Was called a miracle catch” by our professional fishing guide.”He said you must know someone up stairs because this is an amazing catch of walleye!”
I have many other fishing tales and adventures even one involving being pulled over by the police after fishing all day because they thought my friend and I were bank robbers. I have fished and fished over my life but I have never caught a big trophy fish.
I have never had a catch of a lifetime in regards to fish – but I have had catches of a lifetime!
My dad caught a big huge fish onetime while fishing. It was so huge and he brought it home to show us. I could not believe how big it was! He caught it in the Allegheny River off the point in Pittsburg Penna. After taking hours to land and to reel it in he brought it home took pictures of it and then felt sorry for it. So he decided to try to revive it in our bath tub and amazingly it came back to life and started moving around in the tub. My mom was not real happy with the mega fish in her bathtub so my dad and I took it back to the river. He released it back into the river and it swam away in joy. But as he released the fish a bunch of other fisherman looked on in dismay and shock. One man even ran over to my dad and said, “Give me the fish I will eat it.” But his words were, “I feel sorry for the fish and I am letting him go!”
If the truth be told, my kids have actually caught bigger fish than I have. We had at different times gone to visit my dad at his cabin on his Lake in Iron River, Wisconsin. My oldest daughter was catching sunny’s off their dock at the cabin when all of a sudden a musky hits the sunny and bites into it. She along with my dad pull in both fish and this fish is flopping all over the dock and it is gigantic. I was amazed that this musky would not let go of this sunny even when it was pulled onto the dock. So we took pictures of it and then released the LARGE fish back into the water again. My daughter was spoiled from this incident because she feels every time she goes fishing she should catch a huge fish. So I am not a great fisherman of any sort but I do know a little about fishing tales.
When I started thinking about fishing and fisherman’s tales a bunch of words and thoughts began flooding into my mind and they all began with the letter, “F”. So I let the word association take a run at my mind and I want to share a few of those words and thoughts with you tonight. Please note I do believe these words all associate with fishing and catching fish – both fish and men and women.
Fish story
Fibbing
Fantasy
Fable
Fanatical
Flashback
Failure
Frustration
Foul weather
Frantic
Fishy
Fragrance
Frame of mind
Focused
Freedom
Foresight
Finding
Flexibility
Fellowship
Friendship
Fraternity
Fresh
Fried
Feed
Feast
Faith
Fan
Frontiersman
Full speed ahead
Famous
Float
Flood
Flop
Now many of you may be thinking – So what do all those words have to do with Fishing? My answer – think about the words– they do have a lot to do with fishing for fish and fishing for men!
Reflection on meaning in life:
But I do want you to focus with me for a reflective exercise for a second:
I want you to sit back and think for a moment. What would be your catch of a lifetime? How big of a fish? How many fish is a catch of a lifetime? What type of fish would it be? Would it matter who you caught the fish with? How you caught the fish? How much you won in cash catching this fish or fishes? So let me ask again, “What would be your personal catch of a lifetime?” Maybe it’s not fish – then what would it be?
Picture it in your mind and take a snap shot of it! Do you have it? Now hold onto it for a few minutes.
This week I have been reading the book “Hearing God’s voice.” Henry and Richard Blackaby.The book was written in response to their book “Experiencing God” and “Spiritual leadership” two amazing books – but it seems many people wrote them to tell them their books have a faulty premise and that premise was “God does not talk to people today like he diid in the New Testament.”
They were shocked even surprised to hear these people tell them, “God does not speak today!”
They stated back to these critics, “God is speaking. The problem is people have become disorientated to his voice.”
They stick to their premise “God is still speaking to people and they write this 3rd book to encourage people that they can hear God’s voice and experience Him.
Peter heard the call to follow Jesus in the middle of a miracle catch of fish and Jesus standing in his boat. But we too can experience the the Lord today and hear His voice if we believe!
Blackaby’s state, “Normal Christians” will experience Jesus and hear His voice: Here are the ways He speaks:
1. God Speaks through His written Word.
2. God speaks through prayer.
3. God speaks through circumstances of life.
4. God speaks to people thru other people.
Blackaby staes, “The Scriptures tells us that God wants to be involved in the lives of his people. That is why he created us – for an intimate relationship with him.” He adds we can experience God if we respond to him and do His will – did you hear it His will! See Matthew 7:21-23; Mark 3:35
He then refers us back to the 7 Realities of Experiencing God!
T.S. - So if you can continue to hang with me for a little bit of time I would like to talk about a few fishermen and their catch of a lifetime. How they experienced God’s call and even how they experienced God in their failures.
I. The first fisherman’s tale of a great catch of a lifetime for Peter.
a. Mark 1:16-20:
i. “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 send you out to fish for people.” 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.”
1. Mark? ?1?:?16?-?20? ?NIV?? https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.1.16-20.NIV????????
ii. Luke 5:1-11: “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were 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. 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.” 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. 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. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
1. Luke? ?5?:?1?-?11? ?NIV? https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.5.1-11.NIV????????
a. Notice the catch of a lifetime for Peter and the others – important point to note - when Jesus is around – he sets us up for catches of a lifetime!
2. He had called them to follow him in Luke 5 and they did it after he had helped them bring in a great catch of fish after having no luck all night.
a. When Jesus is around catches of a lifetime always happen!
iii. This miracle event helped them to decide to leave their jobs and to follow this amazing fabulous fisher man.
b. The question in the clip from Peter to Jesus “Is what are we going to do?” Jesus responds change the world.
i. Question: Do you want to change the world?
1. To do so requires us to get on God’s agenda! Doing God’s will is solely focused on us getting on God’s agenda and off our own personal agenda.
a. See Blackaby’s book “Spiritual leadership”
2. Blackaby’s book Experiencing God reveals to us how to know God’s will and How to get onto His agenda for our lives.
3. The Seven Realities – see diagram from “Experiencing God.”
T.S. – The second catch of a lifetime happens to Peter when they experience God after a huge failure in his life with Jesus!
II. The second fishersmans tale reveals 7 frustrated, frenzied, fainthearted fishermen.
a. The Setting of our fisherman’s tale 2: I want you to allow me to introduce to you to a few frustrated – frenzied- fainthearted – fisherman and their tale about their great catch of fish. We are going to hear a fisherman’s tale which included 7 men – a dead man who came back to life - a whole net of fish – to be exact 153 LARGE fish and a long night of fishing with a miracle twist in the morning.
i. The story tells us about a catch of a lifetime and about how this event change their lives for eternity.
ii. This seemingly fishy tale freed these 7 men from their frustration and hopelessness and it pointed them to their eternal purpose in life.
iii. It was a fishing adventure that these seven men would never forget!
b. We find our fishing tale in the Gospel of John – the last chapter of his book. We catch up to our Fisherman’s Tale and the scenario of 7 frustrated fishermen.
i. In our story today we will learn about 7 frustrated, frenzied, fed-up, fainthearted fishy fishermen. These 7 adventurers had left their nets and careers 3 ½ years earlier to follow a Great Fisher of Men- his name was Jesus.
ii. He had called them to follow him in Luke 5 and they did it after he had helped them bring in a great catch of fish after having no luck all night.
iii. This miracle event helped them to decide to leave their jobs and to follow this amazing fabulous fisher man.
iv. They had watched him heal the sick, deliver people from the bondages of life, they saw him do miracles and listen to Him teach with unbelievable wisdom and insight. They listened to his teachings and insightful thoughts which implanted footprints of eternity into their minds and their hearts.
1. They learned about the meaning of life - purpose in life - faith in something greater than fishing – foolishness of religion without God - freedom in the Spirit and friendship with God. It was an adventure of a lifetime and it all started with a great catch of fish.
2. Jesus’ – and His fisher man’s words of fire were etched into their lives. His fearless teaching astonished all who followed and his fervent love of the Father captured their hearts. They were fastened to this miracle worker for 3 ½ years, but it all changed as He said it would. The three and half years of miracles and unveiled mysteries seemed like a blur in light of their current situation. He had been arrested-tried-condemned. They had watched in horror at His horrible death and they were frantic and frazzled that they could not do anything to stop it. He had risen from the dead but where was He now? And why was He not spending time with them again? What was He doing? They were alone and afraid and people wanted them dead.
v. So here they are distraught, frantic, frustrated, and their faith is fading in an out like a Yo - Yo.
1. Jesus had appeared to them and revealed that He was alive but what now. He still only popped in and out of their lives. So they decided to go back to fishing – not for men- but for real fishy fish and they choose to forsake the fish which were finicky and ferocious this being men.
vi. Peter comes up with the fishing idea after reflecting on his long hard night of seeing his beloved Savior and teacher killed, tortured and murdered. He also comes up with the fishing escape idea after suffering from the agony of deceit and fear which had gripped him the night he had denied Jesus.
1. He is still replaying the incident in his mind – it’s like an old movie set in the scene of a nightmare and it plays over and over. He sees himself from the outside looking in as he denies Jesus over and over and he hears the crows cry. It’s still ripping at his heart and his mind and the others are as fried and frenzied as he is and they all decide to go fishing. Peter thinks am I forgiven or not?
a. Thomas another one of the seven is beating himself up because he said, “I will not believe unless I touch His wounds.” He still can’t believe he said it. He is still in shock that Jesus came back again just to prove to him that he is to believe in spite of not seeing!
c. Reflection point: Let’s pause for a moment in time and let me ask you a couple questions: “Is fishing a means of escape for you? Does it help you to deal with hurt, rejection, disappointment, dissension, marriage issues, frustration at life, hopelessness, depression, and the lack of purpose in your life? It did for these 7 ordinary guys.
i. The scenario before casting off: I am sure as they were getting their gear ready and shoving off from shore the mood was eerie – depressed and loudly quiet. Jesus had appeared to them but He was gone again and they had no idea were He went. No jokes-no laughter-no joy-no we are going to catch the catch of a lifetime boasting. There was no slapping each other on the back and kidding of one another. I believe it was solemn and even funeral like because the Great Fisherman was dead-risen and gone again. Who knows were?
ii. The man who had helped them catch the miracle catches of fish earlier was risen from the dead but he disappeared again and the air was frosty and frigid with His death and disappearance. Yes, he had appeared a few times and revealed himself to them but he had disappeared again and no one knew where He was or what He was doing. So they shove off in the dampness of the night air for a fishing adventure hoping for a catch of fresh fish.
iii. Fishing gave these fishermen time to think and reflect on the last 3 1/2 years and about Jesus death and Jesus amazing appearances.
d. Turn with me to John 21:1-14 to hear his fishing tale (We will first be looking at verses 1-6):
i. 1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. 5He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. 6He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
1. It’s been a hard night with so many memories and regrets racing in and out of their minds. They are frustrated and feeling foolish about their fading faith. They are back where they were 3 1/2 years earlier.
2. They have returned to fishing and they are unable to catch a thing. Maybe they are thinking to themselves, “I have been out of this for too long and I am no good at it any more!” Fear is gripping at their tattered egos and their failures are eating at their minds like cancer.
3. Maybe Jesus’ teachings and words are echoing through the films in their minds. They see him feed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish. They see him send one of them to the sea to catch a fish and pay their taxes as they find money in the belly of a fish just like He said they would. So morning is rising above the lake, the sun is coming up and the warmth of the sun hits them because they are chilled to the bone from the long frigid night.
4. In the midst of the sun rising up there is a voice calling from shore, “Friends, have you caught any fish?” The Message words it this way, “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?” In their unison answer, the 7 frustrated fishermen say, “No!” It echoes across the water and toward shore filled with the tone of frustration and even some hint of depression. Jesus then calls back out, “Throw your net on the other side of the boat!” I am sure the 7 fisherman said, “This sounds way too familiar – De-ja-voo! So they do it and the catch is another catch of a lifetime!” So John helps with the catch and He has a flashback and says, “There is only one person who can do miracles like this – it’s Jesus - He’s back!”
T.S. – Seven frustrated fisherman receive a 2nd catch of a lifetime from Jesus who is back again from the dead. I wonder if they thought. “Man whenever Jesus is around we always get the catches of a lifetime!”
III. He is back! – Jesus – He brings another catch of a lifetime with Him!
a. Let’s read on in our Fisherman’s tale - John 21: 7- 14: 7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” 11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
i. Our section opens with Peter being filled with fervor as he dresses and dives into the water to go meet with Jesus. The solemn mood changes from eerie dull drum to exuberance and joy. He’s back – He’s doing miracles again. Peter’s thinking I want to go be with Him right now- no waiting! Splash!
ii. Peter still suffering from his nightmare of denial heads for the voice he knows can set Him free.
1. They all arrive at shore Peter swimming-the others rowing and they come racing in. They arrive on shore to see breakfast cooking - fresh fish – and bread. The Savior of the world back from the dead has cooked them breakfast. Jesus tells them bring more fish over here! Peter still charged by the adrenalin rushing through his veins and his heart. He Grabs the large catch and drags it over toward his Lord and Savior. The Apostle John even tells us there were 153 LARGE fish in the net and it did not tear! So they sit down for a feast with their Lord.
2. It’s time to reminisce and catch up on what’s been happening.
3. So where have you been? What happened? How come you left us again?
4. The fishermen have experienced another catch of a lifetime and they sit down to enjoy a meal made by the Great Fisherman. They are most likely laughing eating and looking at all the fish in the net. They finish the meal and then after breakfast Jesus addresses Peter with some after meal thoughts and questions.
b. Jesus’ after breakfast thoughts and questions and the reaffirmed calling of Peter (a fisher of men not of fishy fish).
i. Let’s get back to our fisherman’s tale in John 21:15-19: 15When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” (Do you love me more than these 153 LARGE FISH?) “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” (Don’t fish instead feed my followers the Bread of Life!) 16Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” (Peter care for the church not the fish!) 17The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (Peter follow after my call and go fishing for men and forget these fishy fish!)
1. The disciples and Jesus eat breakfast –prepared by the King of Kings, by the Alpha and the Omega, by the Creator of the Universe, by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Yes, He made them breakfast.
2. Do not miss this point my friend it tells us how the Lord desires to have breakfast with us each morning. We need to eat with Him and then dialogue with Him after we eat about our purpose for the day and what really matters in life.
c. Spiritual lesson: The main lesson I learn from this true story is the disciples had returned to their old trade of fishing maybe signifying they no longer wanted to fish for men. Remember what Jesus told them in the beginning of their journey – “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus meant that and He was not about to let them give up on the call that was on their lives. Their failures would not keep them down but help them to learn and rise up. He called them and they needed to know that He would see to it that they fished for men!
i. This is why Jesus – addresses Peter – The man who denied him three times. He asks Him Do you love me? He asks three times and each time Peter says. “Yes” and each time the Lord tells Him to fulfill his call “Feed my lambs” – “Shepherd my sheep” and “Feed my sheep” In essence He is saying, “You are called to do what I have called you to do and that is to be a fisher of men not fish!” ‘Your fishing days for fish are over Peter!” “You are forgiven and I will enable you to go where I send you! You will have to follow me with your whole heart, mind and soul.” He even told Peter, “You will die for my name and the next time you will not deny me but suffer for the Kingdom.” “Peter you will not fail because I will be with you and I will empower you to be my witness to the ends of the earth.” And so the Fisherman’s tale is verified and played out in the History of the Church.
1. Peter becomes transformed on the Day of Pentecost and he becomes a great fisherman for the Kingdom of God. So do all the other disciples in the story.
d. Key Point: The truth is the greatest catch of their lifetime was not the 153 Large fish but was their relationship with Jesus and their willingness to fulfill the call and purpose God had for their lives. In other words for Peter and the others they needed to get off their own agenda and get on to God’s agenda – but this required a decision on their part. Jesus was asking them to make it!
Conclusion:
Application Point: The catch of the lifetime my friends was not the 153 LARGE fish but was actually the realization by the Disciples that they were called by Jesus to follow Him and become fishers of men. This means they discovered that the greatest catch of a lifetime is not fish –even large fish- but it’s a meaningful personal relationship with Jesus – The Alpha and Omega-The Beginning and the End, The Creator of the Universe. It’s having a personal relationship with Jesus that is intimate and personal so personal that you sit down and have breakfast together and talk about life every morning. It is so real that you truly understand that your life has a divine purpose. It’s knowing that each of us is called by God to do a work for Him that will make a difference in other people’s lives. It’s realizing that the greatest adventure in life is living life with Jesus by your side and doing things you never thought you could do. It’s taking your life and saying, “Lord what do you want me to do for you?” “Where do you want me to fish?”
Altar Call:
Share your story the night you asked God if there was anything you could do for Him! He answered me and showed me in a vision that there was a divine call and a divine purpose for my life. It has changed my life and I can honestly say – God has used my life to influence and help out others in need. I have witnessed people set free and healed from drugs, alcohol, hopelessness, broken marriages, broken lives, and the like. I have seen people find freedom and love. I have prayed with people before they died and seen the joy on their face as they were going home to be with Jesus.
I have learned in my life about the “Greatest Catch of a Lifetime” - Whenever Jesus is around they always happen! I have received these great catches from the Lord – in my calling – in my failures – But the greatest catch of my life was and is Jesus!
But there is something important – I have learned – I must accept Jesus make Him Lord of my life and then go one step further – I must get on His agenda and do His will for my life!
Jesus: Is the greatest catch of a lifetime and it includes me getting onto God’s Agenda and off my agenda to see some of the greatest catches of a lifetime.
