Jesus and Calls in His Ministry
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Introduction: The Power of Children’s Songs
Introduction: The Power of Children’s Songs
Putting words to music or a rhythm helps people to remember or memorize. The author of this lesson said that one of the first songs that he learned in Sunday School was, “I Will Make You Fishers of Men.” He says, even though I have not sung or done the motions to this song that they are still rooted in my memory.
Many of us have learned songs that have helped us remember things. “ABC” song, multiplication tables, and other rhymes set to a rhythm.
The author of the lesson said, “I’m sure my understanding of becoming a fisher of men was quite limited when I memorized the song. But I believe the lyrics made a positive and permanent impact on my developing heart and mind. Looking back, I feel certain that I realized Jesus was extending to me a personal invitation to follow him. And I grasped that he was offering me an opportunity for fulfilling service: he would make me a fisher of men.”
Tonight we are studying one of the passages that in which Jesus called men to follow Him when they didn’t exactly what that meant.
I want us as we look at this scripture let it renew and re-inspire your sense that Jesus has called you to something externally significant.
In this section we are still in His ministry of Galilee. (4:14-9:50) In this third section it tells us of the time and energy that Jesus spent teaching, preaching, and performing miracles. All of the things that Jesus demonstrated while declaring the good news were all essential to Jesus’ mission, and all called for a response. As we look at today’s text, Luke 5:1-11 it is cerainly the case.
Shallow Water Teaching
Shallow Water Teaching
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
Last week in chapter 4 we saw that Jesus was teaching and preaching in the synagogue now we see Him ministering out in the open for the first time in this gospel.
Lake Gennesaret : was named for the fertile region on the northwest side of the lake. The word Gennesaret means “garden of riches. It also has been referred to as the Sea of Galilee, the sea of Tiberias, and in the Old Testament it was called the sea of Kinnereth.
It was 13 miles long and 7 miles wide. And it served as the backdrop for much of Jesus’ Ministry.
The reason for such great crowds were because people had witnessed Him healing and all the things that He had done was spreading. And people wanted hear the word of God.
and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
The boat was constructed of mostly cedar and oak, the boat measured 27 feet long, 7 feet wide and 4 feet deep.
The fishermen used dragnets which required two or more men to deploy or a smaller circular casting net. After returning from fishing they had to clean and stretch their nets for the next outing.
He got into the boat. This was not the first time that He had met Simon. Jesus healed Simon’s mother in law.
Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.
Boarding the boat solved the problem of the crowd’s pressing up against Jesus, and also allowing Him to be heard. He sat down and taught.
Deep Water Miracle
Deep Water Miracle
When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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.
Jesus told Simon to launch out into the deep. That was directed at Simon. The phrase “let down” is plural. And it was directed at Simon’s partners (James and John.) Simon had already witnessed the miracle of Jesus healing his mother in law. These men had worked hard all night and were tired.
And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
After working all night and catching nothing they caught a large number of fish.
Instead of following conventional wisdom they followed the direction Jesus.
They didn’t catch a typical catch of fish, they caught an abundance.
Sometimes the blessings we receive from God are not exactly what we expected, Our God is a God who delights in giving generously to His people.
So 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.
James and John saw the blessing of the fish that was so overwhelming that both boats could barely hold all of the fish.
Simon’s Epiphany
Simon’s Epiphany
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”
Luke 5:8 says “Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man. “
What kind of crisis would have to happen to us for us to react to Jesus as Simon Peter did?
Did you answer that question in the terms of an unexpected blessing or in terms of an unexpected loss?
While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”
Do we worship Jesus in the good and bad times?
All of them were astonished at the catch. And later they would all be counted as part of the
12 disciples.
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
Jesus’ Call
Jesus’ Call
and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid.”
Simon heard these words just as James and John had heard.
This phrase was previously heard by Zechariah, Mary, and the Shepherds.
This suggests that things that they had witnessed were amazingly terrifying.
From now on you will catch men.
This was a dramatic turning point in the life of Simon Peter.
What can we do to help our church evaluate and improve the effectiveness of its evangelistic methods?
How would you word a prayer for the Lord’s help in this regard?
So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
All three men left their boats and followed Jesus that day.
This brought financial and social consequences to these men.
Everything about their life was about to change.
They had entered into a relationship with Jesus.
What life changes have you made and will you make to “leave everything” in following Jesus?