Last week we began to look at and understand the process of transformation that Jesus cultivated in a strong healthy fisherman named Simon.
Simon was a business owner. He ran a fishing enterprise on the Lake called Gennesaret, the Sea of Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee are three names used for one of the most famous bodies of water in the world. Situated 680 feet below sea level, it is called Lake Kinneret by the Israelis today.
He had a home in Capernaum which was likely the site where Jesus forgave the sins of and healed a paralyzed man who what dropped through a hole made in the roof during a teaching session.
It was here that the people were amazed – not by the miracle of healing but by the mercy of forgiveness given.
It is this amazement that is the beginning of Simon’s transformation into Peter; from an ordinary man into an extraordinary servant.
I want to encourage you to pick up one of the booklets “from Ordinary to Extraordinary” that goes along with this series of messages in the foyer. It’s written so that you can read a chapter a week and get more information about the process of transformation in your life. The booklets are free and you can also download them by going to the church’s website – www.meridianchristian.org.
For today you’ll want to turn to look at Luke 5:1-11. Here we see an important and critical step in the process of transformation that only Luke tells us about.
It all began with another session of Jesus teaching – this time on the shoreline of the lake… Follow along with me as I read the account.
Simon’s Fabulous Fishing Trip
Luke 5:1-11
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, 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 Simon 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.
The Jesus Boat Picture
During the mid-eighties a severe drought drained the lake to its lowest level ever. During that time a boat dating back to the first century was discovered. After years of careful restoration, the boat is now on display at the Kibbutz. It is dubbed “the Jesus boat” because it dates to the time period of His ministry. Jesus could very well have sailed in a boat of similar size to the one pictured above.
When the Word of God is spoken with clarity, passion and conviction, it always draws a crowd. Jesus always drew a crowd.
When he came to the shore of the lake the people followed. Jesus noticed two boats along the seashore.
Luke used the word ploiarion, meaning “a little boat” which certainly fits the picture of this boat.
Here is where the fishermen would washing out and repair their nets after an excursion on the lake.
They would wash out the lake grass and an odd sandal or two that they had drug up while fishing!
So here was Simon after a tough night of fishing cleaning up his boat, setting up the nets to dry in the sun and along comes Jesus who picks his boat and asks for it to be pushed just off shore to serve as a floating platform. This would have been an ideal way for Jesus’ voice to carry across the water to the maximum amount of the people – and the water keep the crowds back so that more could hear.
As soon as Jesus sat down, a hush came over the crowd because that was the sign given by all rabbis before they began to teach. Jesus always had a compelling story to tell and the crowd pressed in to listen to Him.
When the teaching was over, Jesus turned to Simon and said, “Let’s go fishing!” What He actually said was, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch!”
Here is where the real lesson begins. When Simon was using his boat as a platform for Jesus – there was no problem. Simon was a nice guy and glad to help this amazing teacher.
But fishing? Simon had spent the entire night looking for fish and he knew all the sunken logs, weed beds and hiding places the fish should have been in – but weren’t and he was really tired.
It is here we get the first real glimpse into this simple and good man.
We worked hard all night…
“Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing.
Simon, Luke 5:5a
Simon had worked hard. He’d just finished an “all nighter” and he was simply exhausted.
Luke used the word kopiao, “to grow weary.” It means to toil with wearisome grief. This was more than simply a hard nights work. There was the burden of taking care of their family and coming home with nothing.
There is more here than physical exhaustion. It’s mental and emotional fatigue from failure that comes from doing all you could in your human strength and then discovering it’s not enough.
Simon had worked all night. Every time he put down his nets he did it with hope and every time he pulled them up he did with courage. And every time they were empty he grew a little more tired and spent a little more of his last reserves of strength.
Do you know this weariness? If you have ever lost a job, worked hard only to have the check you were given bounce, been over looked for a promotion you believe you deserved you know this weariness. Some of you have suffered financial reverses and seen it all go down the drain as the stocks lost value and the mutual funds went down.
Have you ever felt that way? After your best efforts, you have come up empty-handed. Not just after one day but after years of trying, you have still come up short, with not much to show for all the effort you have invested.
Jesus knew Simon was tired and still he said, let’s go fishing. To Simon’s everlasting credit he said something more than this first reaction to Jesus request.
But, because say…
But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will.”
Simon, Luke 5:5b
Literally, what Simon said was “At your word… I will try again.”
Luke uses the word Rhema. This word is a fresh, powerful, anointed word from God. At your utterance, at your command, at your word I will do what you say.
Here the very essence of submission and obedience. I don’t understand. I am exhausted. I’ve already tried this and it didn’t work. But at your word…
Years ago I had a conversation with a man about a decision of the church that this fellow didn’t like. During our lunch he must have said 6-7 times he didn’t understand the decision of the elders about a direction they had chosen to take the church in. Finally I made the observation that it really wasn’t a matter of understanding but of being willing to submit himself to the leadership of the elders.
That’s when he said that he only submits himself to another when he agrees with them. Whoa, do I feel sorry for his wife.
Here is a guy that doesn’t understand the first and primary requirement for obedience – submission to another – not because you agree with them but because you trust them. It is the first step of faith.
Jesus asked for Simon to submit to his word – and he did – not knowing what would happen. Suspecting it was useless, expecting nothing more than wearier muscles and sunburn on top of everything else.
Submission that costs nothing is without value and means little. Jesus asked Simon to go out into the deep water where his own strength failed him and to let down the nets one more time.
What is God’s Word to you? Has your own strength failed you? Even though you appear to have failed, try again, risk again, believe again, and work again. Listen! It will be according to his will!
It’s his will that all men be saved! Ten people were given $100 each this past Sunday and they have been challenged to do a work this summer that will benefit the Kingdom of God. I say to them – Don’t do it on your own strength – Listen to God and at his word – do what he says.
But let’s not stop here. What about the rest of us who didn’t come up to the front and receive a Kingdom Assignment? Are we spectators? Or are we partners?
I am really excited about what I see happening in the church this year. Home Groups planning ministry events to the community – like the Habitat VBS, the Single Mom’s day out, the picnic for the Rainbow Group Home, and the night of entertainment put on for the Great Lakes Christian Home.
He said keep trying, keep believing, keep hoping, because He will bring to pass the things about which He has spoken to me in the past few weeks. On our own strength we planned to build a ministry center on Willoughby Road but after 3 years of struggle and catching no fish at all I was tired. I’ve been praying and I’ve been listening to God and God is beginning to move and at his word I’m going to submit.
How about you? What dream are you about to let go of? God wants you to try one more time.
For too many people, the tragedy of their lives is that they gave up one effort to soon.
Go away from me…
“Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!”
Simon, Luke 5:8b
Simon went out one more time and the haul was amazing. His boat began to sink. He had to call the second boat to help pull in the fish and then suddenly he remembered where he was and who he was with.
Simon had a life-changing experience. He uttered an amazing sentence, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”
Have you ever said anything like that to Jesus? Now, why would Simon talk to Jesus that way? Most of us are so preoccupied with how valuable we are to Jesus that it would never cross our minds to make a statement like Simon’s.
Up until this point Simon has been focusing on what he could do for Jesus. He had offered Jesus his boat, his time, his nets, and so far it had cost him nothing more than just being a nice guy.
But with the load of fish in his boat everything changed - the tables were turned; the question is not “What do I have to offer Jesus?” but “Why would Jesus even want me around?” Jesus wanted Simon to come to grips with his need for Jesus rather than Jesus’ need for Simon.
Listen, it is the making of this great discovery that is the entry point for becoming a disciple of Jesus.
Simon was awestruck by the holiness of Jesus and the sinfulness of himself. When that happens, we are ready to follow Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
The miracle accomplished its goal – not fish but the heart of man who would be come a servant of God. And with this miracle of a captured heart comes a new reason for living…
Don’t be afraid…
“Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.”
Jesus, Luke 5:10b
Luke uses an interesting word for catching, zogreo. It means “to take alive.” Zogreo is from the word zoos, “alive!” It is used of captives taken alive. Jesus wants His followers to be living, loving, serving members of His Kingdom on earth.
Using the fishing vernacular, perhaps Jesus was saying to Simon, “You catch ’em and I’ll clean ’em!”
Here is the really interesting and challenging part – when the boats made it back to the shore, we read that Simon left everything and followed Jesus. Remember the boatload of fish that was the answer to all his financial pressures? He had a boat mortgage, a house mortgage, a business loan, and taxes (always) to pay. And he left the fish for his partners and walked away with Jesus.
When Jesus captures your heart and He invites you to do the same thing. You and I might not have to walk away from a boat, but there is plenty that we do need to walk away from.
Jesus is calling us to walk away from our old life, our old ideas and our treasured possessions in exchange for a new and exciting life of following Him.
Do you remember the old hymn Turn your Eyes Upon Jesus,
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion -
For more than conquerors we are!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.
His Word shall not fail you - He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His Glory and Grace.
Has Christ captured your heart the way He captured Simon’s? If the answer is yes, then like Simon, push out into the deep water and let the net of your life draw those around you into the boat with Jesus.
