The tale of two fishermen
A preacher who has spent a fruitless day fishing picked out three fat fish in the market. "Before you wrap them," he said to the store manager," toss them to me, one by one. That way I'll be able to tell the congregation I caught them and I'll be speaking the truth.
You are being sought – and called!
Jesus used the physical world to explain the spiritual.
John 1:14 - 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Luke 13: 18-19 -18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
Jesus met people where they worked and lived. He did not wait for them to come to him. Synagogue – Moses seat
Jesus sought – Luke 19:10 - 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Matthew 18:12-14 -12 “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13 And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.
Let’s look at one example of Jesus calling someone to follow him.
Luke 5: 1-11
Luke 5:1 Jesus was teaching the crowds
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
Luke 5: 2-3 Jesus got into Simon’s boat!
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.
- He didn’t ask, he just got in
- Simon owed him - Mother-in-law Luke 4
- Needed not only the boat, but experienced rowers to keep the boat steady
- He sat down and taught
- He used the world that Simon knew, and was master of, a boat.
- Sound travels over water 7x as strong as land – more heard the message
Luke 5:4 - 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
-strange request, no one fished in deep water
-Simon’s world, not Jesus’
-fishing always done near shore, at night when fish were feeding
-fresh water
- men were tired, not only fished all night, but just held the boat for Jesus
Simon’s response:
Luke 5:5 - 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.”
- Master – Epistates – Chief or Boss
- A little sarcastic
- Sure, boss, if you say so
- You rabbis think you know it all, hopeless to catch fish, we’ll show you. What do you know?
The miraculous catch
Luke 5: 6-7 - 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.
- The catch of a lifetime – hitting the lottery
- Why did Jesus just give this knowledge away – business secret, riches – giving away the fishing hole
- Jesus wasn’t concerned with the money, the fish, he wanted people!
Luke 5:8-10 - 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 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.
-They had just heard Jesus preaching
- Simon acknowledges his sin – doubt
- understands that God is at work here, Jesus met him where he worked
-Kyrios “Lord”
-first time “sinner” is used in the gospel of Luke
Jesus makes the call.
Luke 5: 10-11 - Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him
- Don’t be afraid – follow me!
- Fishing skills needed
- Fisher of men
- Catching for the Kingdom
- Seek and save – find the fishing holes
Application
Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Luke 19:10 - 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Eziekel 34:16 - 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice
_- all Simon needed was to acknowledge his need – he was lost!
Peter, the Rock
- First to verbally proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah
- Impulsive – cuts off the ear of the servant with a sword
- sometimes wavering – denies Jesus suffering
- Denies knowing Jesus three times
- One of the first to see resurrected Jesus
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The 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.
We are all being called
John 15: 18-19 - 18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you
Paul acknowledges his need of Jesus – and Jesus call to him.
1 Tim 1:13-16 - 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Fishers of men- builders, wranglers, farmer, peacemakers, teachers …
Matthew 28:19-20 - 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
John 8:12 - 12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
We are called to carry on the calling
2 Timothy 2:2-3 - 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
John 12:26 - 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
We called to worship
John 4: 23 - 23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
God is seeking each and every one of us, to worship in Spirit and in truth – that means you!
Grace is this, that God loved us first. He didn’t wait for us to acknowledge Jesus to save us. He didn’t wait for us to find him, He sent his son to die for us so that we might be found. He is still seeking.
Romans 5:8 - 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You have been paid for, ransomed, made free to choose. You are sought. Are you willing to answer the call?