The Best Fish Story

Among those who fish, exaggeration seems to be common. For some, the big fish gets a little longer each time the story is told.

Some fishermen seem to compete for the greatest stories, 1 uping each other.

In a context like this, the temptation to make the story a little more exciting is often too hard to ignore.

It would be easy for skeptics to write of these stories as purely exaggeration of fishermen but we will see this is not your typical fish story.

Jesus met his disciples

at the lake

time and again.

Each time

profound meaning

Call of God.

We imagine

Jesus called

disciples once.

Not Biblical Story...

Some,

like Peter

called more than once.

Peter

at least 4 times!!!

John the Baptist

Follow me

Great catch

Taxes

Second Great Catch.

The First Invitation

First one

came at river

near John Baptist.

John 1:35–42 (ESV)

The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

--

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.”

--

So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

--

He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Two disciples

Andrew

John

Did Jesus call them

Did they call themselves?

He called them?

How?

“Come and See”

Once they saw

they believed.

Left to

call others.

Each first called

their own brother.

Andrew -> Simon

John -> James

John 1:40–42 ESV

One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Brought him to Jesus....

Jesus renames him

Peter

rock

stone

The Second Invitation

Matthew 4:18–22 (HCSB)

As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I will make you fish for people!” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

--

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

Long night

cleaning up

Almost off shift

Jesus comes,

two words:

“Follow Me”

Respond Immediately

not first introduction

leave nets and go.

Not yet,

living with Jesus

full-time.

Because,

next story,

back at lake...

The Third Call

Luke 5:1–3 (ESV)

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, and he saw two boats by the lake,

--

but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 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.

Where is Peter?

what is he doing?

Hadn’t Jesus already said:

“Follow Me”?

“Fish for Men”?

Why was he fishing?

Peter had family

Mother-in-law

wife

kids?

Working with Jesus

didn’t pay well.

Not complete confidence

to follow completely.

How will I

provide for family…?

Luke 5:4–5 ESV

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Sermon over,

(for people)

New sermon

(for peter)

Let’s go fishing

Jesus not fisher

carpenter.

Fishing with nets

nightime

daytime...

bad idea

tired

nets clean...

“But at your word”

Word of God

often hard

often odd

often unique

DO IT!

“at your word”

Luke 5:6–7 ESV

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 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.

Luke 5:9–10 (ESV)

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon...

Fishermen

astonished....

Life work

see it all...

This was

no typical fish story

impossible!!!!

miracle!!!!

Peter convicted:

Luke 5:8 ESV

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Peter knew

struggling with faith

struggling with trust

struggling with self

why you calling me???

Some here today

don’t feel worthy.

Listen,

Peter wasn’t

You aren’t

He wants you anyway!!!

Luke 5:10 (ESV)

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”

Do not be afraid.

Afraid of what?

No money

Provide for family

Not good enough

Don’t be afraid.

Some here today,

want to follow

scared to

“part-time”

trust God

fear self.

He called you.

You Job:

Follow...

Fish for Men!

Luke 5:11 ESV

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Followed full-time

Another Wake Up Call

Matthew 17:24–27 (ESV)

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house,

--

Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him,

--

“Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Jesus says

I’m God

I don’t pay taxes...

But,

stumbling block

pay taxes?

How???

Go fishing.

Jesus called him

from fishing...

Go back to lake

for another lesson.

Last lesson?

God provides...

This lesson?

same.

Crazy Fish Story...

In mouth

What coin?

Shekel...

What is it worth?

4 drachmas!!!

exact amount

not too much

not too little

exact tax!

Lesson

Just follow

I’ll provide

last minute

in difficult times

hardship

looks to fail

trust me....

The Final Call

Peter followed

pride

passion

zeal

sometimes too much

Mark 14:27–31 (ESV)

And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away,

--

I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

Peter rejects prophecy

I will not deny you!

Everyone but me!

It happens as Jesus says:

Luke 22:58–62 (ESV)

And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”

--

But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter.

--

And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Peter proud

now broken.

Faith in self

faith is broken.

Did not trust

words of Jesus

Trusted in

self will.

Bitterly Disappointed.

Lesson for us,

trust Jesus

not self.

We will fail

He will Not!

Peter see

Jesus die

Failure

Gives up.

John 21:3 ESV

Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Key Idea

Jesus had called

Peter away from

Fishing Boat.

Peter fishes

because he

gave up and

has nothing else.

Resort to old lifestyle.

Today,

people fish

have fun

relax

clear head

get nature.

Fishermen

don’t fish

for those reasons.

Carpenter

does not do work

for fun.

Floor installer

does not do floors

to clear mind.

Paramedic

doesn’t save people

when bored.

Dentist has

other interests

than dental work.

Peter is fishing

because

he gave up!

Gave up on

Jesus

Gospel

Fishing for Men.

Failure.

Goes fishing

even worse...

failure at that too...

John 21:4–6 (ESV)

Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?”

--

They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

Should have know

who it was...

(Same Words)

John 21:7 ESV

That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

Previously said

“Depart from me”

Probably says

same thing again...

John 21:10–11 ESV

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.

None go to waste

(feeding of 5000)

Eat Breakfast

Talks to Peter:

John 21:15 ESV

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

Peter said

“all other will

deny you

but not me!”

Jesus says:

“do you love me more than all the others?”

Ouch,

rub it in...

Humility Peter says,

“you know...”

Jesus responds

“Feed my lambs”

3 denials

3 Feed my lambs

3 Calls by the lake

Peter had

given up.

Jesus says

just started

“go back”

"Fish For Men”

Some here today

given up.

At church

in body but

not in spirit.

Jesus says

Follow Me

Feed my Sheep

Fish for Men

Appeal

Follow Me

Feed my Sheep

Fish for Men