The First Disciples
Notes
Transcript
As we come into Luke 5, we come upon a well known event. Jesus is teaching on the bank of Lake Gennesaret. Maybe you have heard of this lake by another name: The Sea of Galilee. Same place.
Let’s hear the Word of the Living God.
As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”
When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.
“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.
This is an amazing account. It captures some amazing life change. Let’s dive into this.
As Jesus was teaching, the crowds kept pushing, with people trying to get close enough to hear the teacher. So Jesus walks over to a fishing boat, one that belonged to Simon, and asked Simon to push out from shore just a little.
Now this is important: What was Simon doing?
Luke 5:2 (CSB)
He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.
Simon was listening to Jesus while washing his nets, but when Jesus asked Simon to push out from the shore so He could teach the people: Simon stopped what he was doing, got back into the boat, shoved off from shore, and then worked the boat so that it would stay exactly where it needed to be.
Are you willing to let your life be interrupted for Jesus?
Are you willing to let your life be interrupted for Jesus?
This is an important question to ask yourself. Are you willing to be stop what you are doing and answer the call when Jesus calls.
This is not the first encounter that Simon has had with Jesus. In Luke 4:38-44, and Mark 1:29-34 we read of Jesus going into Simon’s house and healing his mother in law who had been sick with fever. So Simon knows that there is something special about this man sitting in his boat.
Do you think it is coincidence that Jesus went to Simon’s house and healed his mother in law?
Now just a short time later, Jesus is walking along the Sea of Galilee, in the exact area where Simon docks his boat and cleans his nets?
Absolutely not: Jesus is preparing Simon. And this is an opportunity to be obedient.
Simon teaches us something powerful here:
All that we own, is for the glory of God!
I want you to stop right now and think about all the ways that Jesus has slowly shown up and worked in your life. That is not happen stance. It is purpose.
Now I want you to stop and think right now, what do you own? Seriously, make a mental list. ALL of that, every bit: it is for the glory of God. If you have, if God has blessed you with it: It is for the glory of God.
So HOW can you use it, or allow it to be used, for HIS glory?
For Simon it was simple: Push out a little from shore, and let Jesus shine.
Then Jesus sat down to taught from the boat, and started teaching. Talk about a front row seat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”
Simon had been fishing all night long and caught nothing. Not only that, but he had already cleaned his nets.
Simon is a professional fisherman. He knows fishing. And as a professional he has all the possible arguments.
It’s the wrong time for fishing.
We’ve cleaned the nets.
I’ve already been out all night.
OH, by the way: I’m TIRED!
I love the word that Simon uses:
Luke 5:5 (CSB)
“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”
I love that word here because what BUT means is that nothing before it matters. YES He knows fishing, YES he cleaned his nets, YES he was out all night, and YES he was probably exhausted: BUT NONE OF THAT MATTERS! Because this Jesus was able to heal my mother in law - there is something special about THIS JESUS - MASTER I WILL LET DOWN THE NETS!
When we let go of our own understanding, the Master shines.
No matter what Simon thought he knew, he knew Jesus was extraordinary!
Let me ask you a question:
Do you lean on your own understanding, or do you lean on Jesus?
When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.
Wait what:
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Simon gave just an ounce of obedience, just an ounce of trusting in the Lord, just a MUSTARD SEED! And Jesus showed the Lord’s favor in such a way that his nets began to tear from the number of fish. It was more than he could handle, and he called in for reinforcements!
But it still wasn’t enough: Both boats began to SINK!
Luke 5:7 (CSB)
So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Listen: When you are in the boat with Jesus, obedience will lead to your mind being blown! When God shows up and shows out with what He can do with just a little bit of your faith.
Can you think of a time in your life when Jesus showed up in such a way that you could not explain, and the overflow of His provision was more than you thought possible?
Because Simon got a first hand view of this miracle of fish, his life radically changed.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!”
There is no other response possible when you encounter Jesus. When you encounter Jesus, truly encounter Him, there is no response but to acknowledge your own sinfulness and admit you deserve no place in His presence.
For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.
“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.”
But it wasn’t just Simon who witnessed this: James and John were in the other boat, sinking from the overflow of the Favor of God!
Simon’s brother Andrew was also present according to Matt 4:18
No doubt there was fear, because Jesus always speaks into the fear:
DO NOT BE AFRAID! Listen, every time God speaks to the people God calls, He says: DO NOT BE AFRAID!
WHY? Because God has a purpose for you - from now on you will be catching people.
“Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.”
Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.
They didn’t know what the future held. They had no clue what they were getting into. But they knew the one who could heal the sick, and the one who could control the fish.
They didn’t have all the information, but they had enough. To leave their boats, the financial stability, their life’s work.
Are you willing to leave everything, and follow Jesus?
Or are you attached to being comfortable?
“Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus placed a call to the Disciples. It didn’t come out of the blue, there was some demonstration of HIs power first: healings.
Jesus is calling you as well. This week, I pray you will spend some time thinking about all the prep work. What has Jesus done in your life to prove who He is? I guarantee you there is a lot.
Maybe you don’t need time. Maybe you have been sitting there thinking about all the ways that God has shown up and shown off, and called you - and you are ready right now to come down and make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ - make Him your Saviour!
COME DOWN.
You do not have to have all the information, you have enough!
Maybe you have been sitting there, already a follower of the WAY. And missions have been on your heart, or ministry - Jesus say’s FOLLOW ME!
Are you willing to walk in front of the crowd and say that you are following Christ?
There was a crowd - they were pushing - they were present - but Simon didn’t look at them - JUST JESUS.
I’m asking - if today you need to be saved - come down.
If today you are ready to follow Jesus in ministry - come down
so we can pray with you!
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