Called By Christ
Notes
Transcript
Open your bible with me to Luke 5:1-11.
Luke has spent four chapters now, so that we might know of the things that have been made known among us. Helping us to see that Jesus is the Christ. He has declared that Jesus is the Christ, the son of David, the promised one. Though he is the son of Joseph in some earthly sense, He is truly the Son of God. He has come to announce the kingdom through preaching and bring the kingdom through His ministry. He is the Messiah, the Savior of the World.
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
This is God’s word, let’s pray.
And the response has been disappointing, to say the least. People have been captivated by Jesus and the word of God, but we’ve seen very few believe in faith. And now, we get a glimpse into Jesus calling His disciples. But more than calling, Peter and the disciples have a moment of Theophany, in which they get just a glimpse of the Holiness and righteousness of God. See God for who He is, and see Him in the face of Jesus. The same is true for all who look to Christ in faith when he extends His gracious call to follow him. Our lives change. And they change in the most profound way.
Sermon Summary: When the Lord calls us to follow Him, everything about our lives changes.
-------------------------------------------------
I. The Word of Christ Compels Us (vv. 1–3)
I. The Word of Christ Compels Us (vv. 1–3)
Luke 5:1-3
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
The scene is set for us. Jesus has been in Capernaum. We aren’t entirely sure how long he stayed there. Luke has just told us of Jesus’ intention to leave there to proclaim the gospel of the Kingdom of God. But while Jesus is there, Luke wants us to see a few things Jesus did while in Capernaum. And of significance, one of those was the calling of His disciples.
Here we have the crowd pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God. We know, because of the context, that the word he was preaching was the Gospel of the Kingdom! He was proclaiming of God’s fulfillment of His covenant promises to His people, and sending them the Messiah. Who was fulfilled in Him. God was bringing the Kingdom of God through His son. This word was captivating and compelling to the crowds. They can’t get enough, but in their hardness of hearts, they only want to listen; they don’t want to believe in faith. And that reality will be contrasted now, as Jesus calls to Himself his disciples to follow Him.
So there is Jesus, standing by the Lake, which is another term used for the Sea of Galilee, which Capernaum sat next to. And while teaching, Jesus notices two boats; he sees the fishermen, to whom the boats belong, cleaning their nets. And Jesus takes it upon Himself to get into one of the boats. He knows this boat belongs to Peter. Peter and Jesus clearlyhave some type of relationship. It is likely that Peter had too heard of Jesus’ teaching. He’s certainly curious of this Messiah. Yet, Jesus’ miracles, if you recall, hit a little closer to home for him; even last week, we saw Jesus healing his mother-in-law of a high fever. So, he asked Peter to use his boat.
He asked Peter to push out a little way so that Jesus could teach the people. It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t limit his preaching of the kingdom only to the synagogue. He was willing to proclaim the kingdom, wherever the people were gathering. He does this more famously on the Sermon on the Mount, as well as the Sermon of the Plain. And here, preaching from the water, this would have created something similar to a natural acoustic or amphitheater, in which all the people could sit and listen. So, He does this, and He teaches them from the boat. And the people listen. But this also introduces us to subtlety, that Luke seems to be pointing us to in this text.
To this point in Luke. There hasn’t been anyone who isn’t willing to listen to Jesus. Even in His hometown, they rejoiced and were amazed at his teaching. They were willing to listen to Jesus, they just didn’t like what He had to say, and then wanted to kill him. The same has happened thus far in Capernaum. Willing to listen to Jesus, and in some ways, believe in him. We appreciate the miracles and healings. We rejoice in that and want Himto stay, but when the truth of Jesus affects us or requiresmore of us, well, things begin to change.
So here is a crowd gathering pressing in to Jesus, and his teaching. They are close. Interested, curious, but they aren’t fully buying in. They are hearing the word, as disciples do, but in the Lord’s providence and sovereignty, the Lord comes to Peter, gets into Peter’s boat, and says to Peter, push out a little from the land. And it’s Peter, among the individuals in the crowds, who is called to respond with more than intellect, but to trust Jesus in obedience and followship. Push out, and listen to me, Peter, in obedience!
And in the subtle, Peter listens not just as a hearer of the word, but a doer. One who is willing to trust Jesus in faith. Whereas the crowd was pressing in on Jesus. And everyone has been willing to listen to Jesus. They are curious about Jesus, amazed by Jesus, astonished by Him. Even willing to be taught by Him. But most are content there, and though taught, never really learn from him. To draw near to Him in faith, and trust him! Yet, when the Lord steps into Peter’s boat and extends an invitation to respond, Peter listens and is compelled by Him. It’s subtle at first, but that initial willingness to say “Yes, Lord!” made all the difference.
There is a danger in only listening to Jesus but not following Him. Later, Jesus will rebuke this same crowd at Capernaum.
23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
The Lord will hold us accountable for that which we hear, and expects us to follow in faith, and the hear and then walk away is disobedience and adds to judgment!
I pray that Jesus is not just an intellectual interest to you. Just someone you are curious about. That’s ok for a season, but at some point, we must be willing to trust Him in faith. That we must come to his word, but this is how faith comes to us, through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). But ultimately that we would have faith. That the things we learn here at church and in the Word might be applied to our lives. Moreover, Christ would pierce the heart. That’s the mark of a true disciple. And here we begin to see that Peter is displaying the mark of true discipleship. That the word of God wasn’t just interesting to him, but also compelling for him!
---------------------------------------------------
II. The Power of Christ Exposes Us (vv. 4–7)
II. The Power of Christ Exposes Us (vv. 4–7)
I could just as easily have said the Power of Christ humblesus. Beyond compelling us, the Lord also humbles us, but more than humbles us shows us our weakness and inability. In that way, there is more than humbling, and more of exposing our weakness and frailty. You notice that here in this text. Jesus wraps up his sermon and is about to perform another miracle.
4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Now, this is the moment, in the flesh Peter, might not know whether to laugh or cry. Think about it. Peter and his boys have been fishing all night. We know that because we are told later. But we are also told that they were washing their nets. They had finished up fishing, cleaning their nets. It’s pretty obvious Peter is a successful fisherman. He has a boat, He has a crew. He graduated from dock fishing a long time ago. This is his livelihood. And here comes the Carpenter from Nazareth. Peter, you know what your problem is, you were fishing on the wrong side of the bow. He need to put out into deeper water.
Now, I’m no fishing expert. I’m a novice and honestly slightly scared of fish. I ain’t trying to get finned! Papercuts, hurt! But I always had the strangest thoughts when fishing. Like, surely the fish can see the line in the water. Or, I mean, there is a shiny hook in there, you know. Surely, they only get caught once. But these fishermen were fishing not with bait and tackle, but with nets. They were large nets that required a team, and they had two layers, one broad layer, then a finer fishnet layer. They would entrap the fish, enclose them, and that’s how they would catch them, but it required a couple of things. A clean net, hence why they were cleaning the nets, so the fish don’t see them. And nighttime fishing, again to make visibility for the fish low.
So, Peter could have simply said, yeah, they’ll seethe net. Hey buddy, we’ve tried all night, no avail!... Well, how’s the carpentry business going? OR, Can we leave the fishing to me?
Don’t you love it when Jesus invades your space? You know what I mean by that. That’s the thing, Jesus always seems to invade the things most precious to us. Most dear to us, it helps us to see a bigger purpose for our lives and way to live. Breaks us of our pride and selfishness. And here is Jesus, on Peter’s boat, telling him how he ought to be fishing, but it’s more than fishing right. We know that. Peter is willing to let go of his pride and admit his inability.
5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
You know what….We’ve been doing this all night. It hasn’t worked. We’ve labored, toiled, all night, you know when the fish are active. But MASTER! Something is happening in Peter’s heart! The humility to submit to Jesus. To listen and obey. To Humble himself. BUT at your WORD! NEVERTHELESS, AT YOUR WORD!
You say it, and I’ll do it. I put down my defenses. My human reasoning and intellect, and carnality that wants to say, I’ve got this! And SUBMIT himself to the Christ! At your word, men, let the nets down!
6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
Signal the boys, we’ve found the fish. It’s clear they were experienced fishermen. They had hand codes and signals. The nets are breaking, they might not haul in this record catch. What a shame to get the catch to boat, only to have them get away. They need help. The 2nd boat arrives. They fill both boats with fish! We aren’t told how many fish, but both boats would have been large enough to contain a crew and equipment. And both of them, likely in excess of 20 ft, begin to sink!
I mean, man, you talk about an I told you so moment! But this isn’t about belittling Peter. Nor is it meaningless. Nor is this about an exciting fishing trip. The Lord is revealing His power to Peter. That He might believe! Jesus is showing Peter how dependent he truly is on Christ. How weak and frailHe is. Even the things he is most confident in, He is truly powerless without Christ for help. And the Lord humbled him in this way. Listen to me! And Peter obeyed. He exposes Peter in this way– not to lead him to despair, but to point him to hope in the Lord. And the Lord’s power is displayed, in spite of Peter’s own weakness!
This is how the Lord is at work in all those he calls to Himself. Bring us to see the end of our strength. Exposes our weaknesses, to point us to our need for a Savior. I remember the moment well, when the Gospel came in power, when I felt the greatest despair because of sin, MY SIN, but the greatest hope because of Jesus! That when our futile attempts to govern and display might in our own strength failed. It was the Lord who revealed our frailty, invaded our space, broke us down, humbled us, that we might trust in obedience. Nevertheless, I will let down the net and trust in you!
-------------------------------------
III. The Holiness of Christ Convicts Us (v. 8)
III. The Holiness of Christ Convicts Us (v. 8)
I don’t want you to miss the excitement of this scene. This was a tense moment. I don’t know if you’ve ever had the catch of a lifetime, but this was it. You know, I think every guy has a big fish story. Well, if there is ever a time, this is it, let me tell you mine. It was the time I caught a record speckled trout. Apparently, speckle trout get anywhere from 8 inches to 34 inches. But anything over 20 inches is considered a large trout. Anything over 24 inches is considered trophy size and in the 30, record-worthy. Well, yours truly caught a 28-inch speckled trout. I mean I was with a guide, who did virtually everything, but reeled him in. But I reeled him in, that what counts. But the moment we saw what was on the other side, the guide yelled, That’s the biggest TROUT I’ve seen in my life, hold the line, don’t let any slack in the line, reel down, reel down, reel down…We’re getting that fish in the boat. He grabs his neat, drop the trolling motor to steer clear of stumps, and reaches with the neat, almost falling into secure the fish. And he’s pumped! He can’t believe it! He said, I’ve been fishing for 20 years and I’ve never seen a trout that big in my life. You need to put that on the wall. I’m thinking a couple of things, well I’ve only been fishing 5 times and I’m about to be in the trout fishing record books, and 2nd – you never met my wife. No fish is going on a wall in our home!
But it was the talk of the day. Man, how great the catch was. The catch of the day. We get back to the deck, are you the guy who caught the 28 in trout….I’m that guy!! The excitement of the moment. The trill of the catch. And that’s what’s happening in this moment! The 2nd boat rushes in from the shore. You’ve got a net breaking. You’ve got fish piling in the boat. On both boats. Hold the net! Don’t let ‘em get away! The boats are sinking! This was no doubt the catch of a lifetime. Without question, it was the best fishing day of their lives. Everyone is caught in the moment. Can you believe this! Except one guy – Simon Peter
8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
Here is everyone on both boats, you see it even in v. 9 – They are astonished, amazed! Trilled! But for Simon Peter, He falls down in worship. It’s almost like Peter’s heart is being melted before our eyes. Here is his boat, his profession, his livelihood, and the greatest thrill of his professional career. Man, he’ll go down in history as the captain who sank his boat with so many fish. And Peter says essentially, just let the boats sink. What’s a boat? What's some fish? My eyes have seen the Lord! And you see this progression of Peter, the man whose mother’s Law was healed. To the guy whose boat Jesus entered. To the guy who is obedient to Jesus among the crowd, calls him Master in v. 5. And NOW, Says YOU, JESUS, ARE LORD!
Peter will make a similar confession later in Matthew 16. When the crowds speculated about who Jesus was, But Who do you say that I am? Peter says, You are the Christ, Son of the Living God!
Peter’s learned in real time. To take Jesus at His word, to believe Him. To submit to his power, be humble before Him. And now, He recognizes His holiness. And It rocks him to His core. He sees Christ. Recognizes him as the Messiah and is broken by His own sin. He’s not worried about fish. He’s not worried about a boat. He’s broken by his own sinful flesh and unworthiness to be standing with and called into fellowship with a Holy God!
And he falls down – the word means to prostrate oneself, in humility. And Peter responded in worship and brokenness over his sinfulness. And where the crowd saw Jesus perform these great miracles, they wanted him to stay. They wanted Jesus to do for them, their desire. What they wanted. To benefit them. And here, the contrast of Peter, who says, Lord, I’m not worthy. Depart from me. I’m a sinful man. And he’s broken before God. Convicted by the Holiness of Christ.
He’s doing what Isaiah did, when the Lord called him.
Isaiah 6:5
5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
And He’s doing what Job did, who saw God’s glory over all creation and repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:6). It’s the right response of a sinful man before the Lord. Recognize their unworthiness. Their sinfulness. Their depravity. And the grace of God to call them out, to follow Him.
And that’s the response of every disciple. To be broken over their sin. To see God for who he is. As Holy! As Lord! And to see ourselves rightly in light of him. Sinful, rebel, deserving of nothing but condemnation from Him. But in utter grace, the recipient of the Lord’s kindness, compassion, and redemption. Your only response when you see that reality, truly…you’ll be broken!
We have such a distorted view of the gospel. We often recoil at the idea of sin and judgment. We usually associate it with condemnation and rejection. But really. It’s a mark of grace. It's a grace of God that He opens our eyes to see sin for what it is. To see our sin for what it is. And to Him in light of who He is. That we might repent and cry out in worship.
And this is a work that is done in grace, by the Spirit. This isn’t Peter's novelty. This isn’t some clever or eccentric human response. This is the gracious work of God revealing Peter’s sin and need for Christ. Calling him to Himself and transforming Him by his grace and for his glory!
Do you remember this moment, Christian? When God openedyour eyes to see the horror of your sin as well as the beauty of the gospel? When God revealed to you what you deserved apart from Him, in order to drive you toward Him! When the Lord graciously exposed your sin and revealed His holiness, that He might break us, convict us. Cause us to cry out to Him in repentance and faith for mercy. This is God’s grace for those whomHe calls to Himself.
That we might rejoice in this gospel call of the Lord, to come to us, and save us! And for the non-Christian here this morning. That you, too, might recognize what is happening even now. That your sin is also in view. Through the preaching of the gospel, your sin is being exposed. That you might see it and consider your standing before the Lord. That you might consider your sinfulness before a HOLY GOD! And cry out to him in repentance and faith. And be saved!
-------------------------------------
IV. The Call of Christ Transforms Us (vv. 9–11)
IV. The Call of Christ Transforms Us (vv. 9–11)
We’ve seen the word of Christ compel, we’ve seen the power of Christ humble and expose. We’ve seen the Holiness of Christ Convict. Now, we see the transformation that Christ brings.
9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
We now meet some of Peter’s partners, and who helped Peter bring in the catch. James and John. Andrew, Peter’s brother, is not mentioned here, but is mentioned in Matthew’s account. It’s likely that Luke is highlighting Peter, James, and John, who will be the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples. They too were astonished at the catch, but it was clear they too believed in faith, for they too are being called to follow Jesus. You notice that in v. 11, the plural verbs – they brought, they left, and they followed him.
But I want to zoom in just a second to Jesus’ words to the disciples who are astonished. Which is a different word than Luke has used before. This word carries more than amazement, but to be seized, or to come up. It’s more than intellectual stimulation, but the whole body, to be emotionally overwhelmed. Hence why Jesus says to them do not be afraid, or do not fear! They’ve gotten a glimpse of weightiness and the glory of God. Then the place where everything turns on a dime. From now on you will be catching men. As I studied this sermon, my eyes were continually drawn to that one little phrase. From now on. From now on! Peter….From now on.
We aren’t entirely sure how old Peter was when this happened. He was likely a young man, but he experienced in life. Enough to have developed a trade and have a family, earning a living as a fisherman. Peter had known a former life that consisted of normal rhythm, rise in the morning, prepare for the day, take to the sea in the evening, cast the nets all night, go home, rinse and repeat. He lived in the little town of Capernaum. He’d only known this life.
As a devoutJew, Peter would have observed Sabbath rest, attended synagogue, followed dietary and purity laws, and participated in the festivals and prayers that shaped Jewish religious life. Though not formally trained in religious scholarship, he would have had a functional knowledge of Scripture and lived with the widespread expectation of a coming Messiah who would deliver Israel. His life was ordinary but rooted in covenant faithfulness, shaped by duty to family, toil for daily provision, and a quiet hope in God's promises—a life Jesus is now interrupting with a call that would both honor Peter’s past and transform his future.
FROM NOW ON - A redefinition of identity and purpose: In that brief phrase, Jesus shifts Peter from being a fisherman concerned with daily survival to a disciple entrusted with the mission of drawing people into the kingdom of God. Before he fished to eat, now Jesus says, “you will be catching men – literally to capture alive. To release them from danger. The danger of their sins and to point them to Christ. Once Peter had a job, now Peter has a mission, and a commission from the Lord to preach the gospel and see men come to faith in Christ!
He says to Peter, a man who has just been overcome by his own sin and guilt. Peter than doesn’t define you anymore. My grace defines you! From now on, Peter. Your life has been changed! And where our sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. That you have now been called into the kingdom to be an ambassador in the Kingdom to go and expand the kingdom borders by calling all men everywhere to repent. And such, we will see Peter do in the book of Acts. Peter, I’m calling you to leave your life of fishing, to come catch men! I’m calling to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ. A task that he would stumble and fall, and you’ll see him even fail. But in the grace of God, repent, and continue pursuing forward in obedience to Christ. Christ isn’t calling a perfect man, but a flawed man, who continually need the Lord strength and grace. And calling him to a life of purpose, mission, and discipleship.
They all respond in obedience to Christ. As they bring their boats to land, and they are willing to leave everything and follow Jesus. It’s interesting this story begins with what seems like two random boats by the lake, boats they were getting out of. It continues with boats filled and fulfilling their purpose and begin to sink, and ends with these former fishermen, on the best day of their careers, returning their boats, and then leaving them behind to follow Jesus as disciples. But they left more than their boats didn’t they. They left everything. They left the boats. They left the nets. They left the day catch, and even left their families. They left everything to follow Jesus. Because the call of Christ transforms us.
From now on….From now on, Christian. My goodness, do you remember that moment for you? From now on. When your life changed. When Christ called you away from your pursuit and to life with him. From now on! We all share this story, don’t we?
Listen to the Apostle Paul in 1 Co 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
This is the transforming power of Christ and His gospel. That we who were once slaves to sin. And slaves to the flesh and livingin sin and against God, have now by grace been redeemed by God unto God, to live for the glory of God. This is the power of Christ to change hearts and save sinners. Romans 1:16 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
For such were some of you….But from now on….from now on!! For me it was leaving behind bitterness, resentment, frustration, and anger at God, and embracing Christ in His gospel. It was leaving behind a life of sin to follow Christ and live according to His word. And continually seeing the Lord grow me and sanctify me. And call me to take this gospel and share it with others.
That’s the invitation and commission. From now on….from who you once were, to a life of mission and purpose to follow Christ and advance His kingdom. This calling isn’t just for Peter. And it’s why James and John responded as well. Beloved, this calling to be fishers of men is for all who have been transformed by Christ. That we would take this gospel out into a lost and dying world and proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God. Who has come to save them from their sin! It means not staying silent. But speaking the gospel. It means not living in fear, but engaging in evangelism. It means going, praying, and following Christ into His mission in the world to advance the gospel for the glory of God. It’s a new vocation. New purpose, New Mission. “From now on you will be catching men.”
We are so shortsighted and foolish. Wanting to keepour lives intact, while also following Christ in His mission. I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again - It’s going to be really hard, so hard that it’s impossible, to build Christ’s kingdom when we are busy trying to build our own as well. This passage shows us that Jesus isn’t just wanting a part of our lives. He wants all of it. He desires that we follow him! He invades our space. He opens up His word to us. Illumines our hearts to the truth of Christ. Convicts Us. CallsUs. Transforms us. And bids us to come and die, to take up our Cross and follow Him - in everything. That is the cost of discipleship. That’s the cost of following Jesus. Surrendering our lives for what God desires instead. This is what surrender to Christ looks like. This is what transformation looks like. This is what discipleship looks like. Our lives are different. “From now on…”
Sermon Summary: When the Lord calls us to follow Him, everything about our lives changes.
