Let Down Your Nets For A Draught

Luke 5:4 KJV 1900

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Let Down Your Nets For A Draught

The boats were drawn up on the shore. The fishermen … were washing their nets.

They had finished their fishing for this time and were cleaning their nets.

This is the first time that Luke introduces any of the disciples of Jesus into His narrative.

The substance of Jesus’ teaching on this occasion is not given. Luke is interested here only in what influenced these four men to become disciples of Jesus.

He said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your net for a draught

The word translated draught means a “haul”

Jesus was instructing experienced fishermen but His authority and knowledge rested on His divinity, not on his experience as a fisherman.

This has become not just their problems, but the church today problem in trusting in their knowledge and wisdom and skill. Rather Gods words.

Jesus had superhuman knowledge of where the fish were. Jesus’ advice that they launch out into the deep would imply that these fishermen had been engaging in shore fishing.

This is the place most christian or church goers experience.

Jesus commanded them to launch out into the deep...

Matthew 4:18 KJV 1900

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

Mark 1:16 KJV 1900

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

In this kind of fishing one end of the long net was attached to the shore while the other end was fastened to the boat.

Many believers have one foot in the world and one foot of the boat.

The fishermen would then row the boat in semicircles beginning and ending at the shore, keeping the net stretched tight between the boat and the shore.

People never get anywhere in life. Ashes to ashes dust to dust, dust we are and dust we shall return...

The words Launch out into the deep have an obvious spiritual application.

How many of you this morning want a change in your life, a real change? Then it time to launch out into the deep.

Master, we have toiled all the night, … nevertheless at thy word.

Luke 5:5 KJV 1900

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Here we see mixed emotions and reactions.

Peter’s experience as a fisherman told him that, having fished all night without success, it would be useless to try again now.

But he seems already to have known Jesus well enough that the Lord’s command made a major difference in the circumstances.

Faith said that if Jesus commanded or requested action it would be successful. Such faith begets obedience.

Luke 5:6 KJV 1900

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

Their net brake is literally “Their net was breaking.” The “breaking” or tearing did not prevent them from landing the fish.

They beckoned unto their partners .

These were James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

We see that James and John were more than just fellow fishermen or neighbors.

The fact that there were two boats and four fishermen working as partners would enable them to fish farther from the shore—the net could be attached to both boats.

Peter a twofold vision

He saw the Lord—His power, His wisdom and knowledge, His sinlessness

Peter also saw himself, a sinful creature.

This experience produced a conviction of sin which made him uncomfortable in Christ’s presence, and the first impulse was to ask Jesus to depart.

Peter always spoke his first impulse. But Jesus knew that his deeper wish was salvation from sin and likeness to himself.

Luke 5:9 KJV 1900

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

Luke 5:10 KJV 1900

And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

“Nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (v. 5). Peter had caught the fish, and as a result Jesus caught Peter and put him to work catching men for the Kingdom.

They forsook all, and followed him

As soon as they reached the shore they forsook the fishing trade and followed Jesus to become fishers of men.

All four fishermen were of the same mind.