Fishing With Jesus
(Luke 5:1-11)
I always loved the Andy Griffith Show. The ending made me dream of going fishing with my dad. We did a few times on vacation, but never a "father/son" outing.
But Jesus’ disciples experienced a fishing trip that outweighed all others!
Question: What was Jesus’ main reason for working the miracle of filling two boats with fish?
TS--------------->Our text might provide us with some possible answers...
I. The Event Itself
1. Peter, Andrew, James & John were fishermen...had hired hands.....perhaps a loose company/middle classed...
2. Jesus is teaching the multitudes....asks Peter to set out a little so He can use the boat as a pulpit...
---A debated practice...leading Rabbis said it was not right to teach people in the street...
3. Afterward, Jesus tells him to cast the nets into a water for a catch of fish....
4. Fishing in that time...
(1) at night, when fish surfaced to feed.....hard to catch any during the day...
(2) threw in 6 foot nets.....pulled into boat....or 3 foot nets, pulled to shore...or 6/diver
(3) Peter did not expect to catch fish...he registered his comment to Christ (a good thing to do),
but (4) He obeyed anyway...
(5) that is the test of submission, to obey when you do not understand...
----Abraham and Isaac----
----General Steuben, Washington’s right hand man--trained
the troops.... "These Americans will not obey unless they know the reason why a command is given..."
----we often DO know why, but NOT ALWAYS....
5. They pull up so much fish that Peter signals one of his partners to come and help him...
----2 Boats are filled to the point that they begin to sink...
----an UNPRECEDENTED catch of fish...
6. Peter and the others are overwhelmed, and Peter falls on his knees and says, "Go away from me Lord, I am a sinful man!"
7. Christ responds, "Do not fear; from now on, you will catch men."
8. In response, they brought the boats to shore and left everything behind to follow Christ.
Question: What was Jesus’ main reason for working the miracle of filling two boats with fish?
II. Let’s Look At Some Possible Answers....
1. To feed the people He taught...
(1) When Christ taught the multitudes, He also provided hospitality for them....loaves and fishes...
(2) The fish which were caught were probably not wasted....partners sold, guests ate...
2. To leave an impression upon the disciples business partners and family so they would not resent Jesus taking away Peter and Andrew and James and John...
(1) Today, most employers are upset if you quit a job without at least two weeks notice...
(2) Certainly Jesus was concerned with their families and friends...this showed they were not irresponsible...
3. To provide the assurance that their families would be provided for during their absence...
4. But the most obvious purpose is this: so that the disciples would grasp their sinfulness, Christ’s holiness, and surrender their wills to Jesus...let’s focus on this purpose....
Question: What was Jesus’ main reason for working the miracle of filling two boats with fish?
III. What Disciples Need to Experience: Surrender (8-11)...
1. A conviction of unworthiness
(1) in vs. 8, Peter is speaking for the others as well...
(2) in a day of obsession with positive self-image, we have upgraded ourselves and downgraded God
2. A glimpse of Jesus Christ as HOLY
---Barna surveys... 44% of Americans, many of them Born-again Christians, believe Jesus sinned
3. Receiving God’s grace and blessing as something to be passed on, not kept under lock and key
(1) Isaiah 6:1-8--note the exact parallel
4. God does not bless us to merely make us happy---He blesses us so we can bless others...
5. Jesus wants His disciples to be catchers of men....to witness, disciple....be involved with people...
6. Interesting secular article...
---we disagree---all parts of the Body of Christ has a function...
----but no matter what our special gifts are, we are to be involved with PEOPLE!
IV. So We Need to Surrender to Christ...
1. We are to be His voluntary servants....not fair weather friends, not equals....not selective obeyers...
2. But if are stubborn wills are to be subdued, we must be overwhelmed with out sinfulness/unworthiness, we must be overwhelmed with His holiness, and we must not use Him to obtain blessings but receive His life in us so that we may give it away to others....
CONCLUSION
1. Are you surrendered to Jesus Christ? Are you willing to do what He says to do, willing to go where He says go?
2. Willing to obey without understanding? Are you overwhelmed into submission?
