Fishing For Men

Taking advice from a stranger.

What is the best peice of advice you got from someone you hardly know, or even better did not know when you recceive this advice?

When I read the calling of the first disciples in the gosepel I think of it alot like that.

This idea that a man who is on the shore gives advice to some fishermen and it to their suprise works.

Luke 5:1–11 NIV

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 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.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

There is a few things to point out before jumping to the centre.

Jesus already has a following this time.

Jesus, who is sitting in a boat went out to reach them but stayed in for his people.

What is the importance of Jesus in a boat rather then on the shore?

Jesus finishes his message and asks Simon to put his net into the deep waters and there is where he catches his fish.

What purpose does this serve?

Why do you think Matthew leaves this out in his gospel?

Matthew 4:18–22 NIV

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

What is the response to the catch?

Would you have the same response?

what is the response to Jesus?

Would you have responsed the same way?

What does it mean to be fisher of men?

next sunday I am talking about the parable of the drag net, a story that in essence bumps heads with this narrative.

The parable of the dragnet being the net that catches the fish. It is so closely linked to the disciples and how they met Jesus, and through that sunday I hope you see why the disciples just got a fire in their heart for Christs mission.