![]()
Week 2 - The Fishermen
One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.
! Picture a professor giving a lecture in a university auditorium. Jesus gave larger than auditorium size lectures to whatever crowds would come to here him usually outdoors. On this occasion his podium was a borrowed fishing boat. He also began to gather a closer group of disciples around him for the more advanced seminars. Teachers gathering small groups of students around them was common in Jesus' day, but fisherman and tax collectors and others whom Jesus called to his teachings were not typical students even then.
? Picture yourself onshore in the midst of the multitude. Jesus is still a fairly new teacher on the scene. What is the mood of the crowd? What are you thinking and feeling? What are your expectations? And what if you were Simon, would you feel privileged or be annoyed that this person commandiered your boat and your services when you had already put in a long and frustrating day at sea?
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish."
"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, we'll try again."
! Remember Simon and his partners have worked hard all day and caught little. When I get to the end of the long, hard and frustrating day, the last thing I want to hear is go try again. I just want to go home, put my feet up and watch TV!
? So what do you do at the end of a frustrating day? And what would you say if Jesus told you to go try one more time? Notice that Simon stated his argument against going, but even though he didn't know Jesus yet, he agreed to go in spite of his reasons for NOT going. What do you suppose there was about Jesus that caused him to go anyway? Does Jesus have that affect on you? Does Jesus inspire your faith and confidence in His Word in spite of whatever you are going through?
And this time their nets were so full they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.
! Surprise! Jesus knew exactly what he was talking about and exactly where the fish were. It's easy for us to say, well of course he did! But what a wonderful surprise it was for Peter and his friends.
! Has Jesus ever taken you by surprise? When you were discouraged or worried or just exhausted, has God ever amazed you by how well something goes or some blessing that just catches you with a sense of joy or well being?
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me--I'm too much of a sinner to be around you." For he was awestruck by the size of their catch, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
! I think this is the first of many times that Simon Peter has this intuitive glimpse of the truth about Jesus. In this amazing catch of fish he senses not just Jesus' power, but Jesus holiness. Why else would he be so aware of himself as a sinner standing next to Jesus!
? When are you most aware of your own sinful nature? When and how do you confess your unworthiness to Jesus?
Jesus replied to Simon, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for people!" 11And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.
! It is in the very midst of our unworthiness that Jesus calls us to follow him. When we are so full of ourselves and our abilities, Jesus can't accomplish as much in and through us as when we recognize His greatness. Then Jesus extends the invitation, "Come and follow me!" But we are to do more than follow...
Jesus invites us to fish for people, to become His proteges in the fishing industry of the kingdom. That might intimidate you. You might want to ask, but who do I talk to and what do I say? Just remember that the one who guided Simon Peter's net to that great catch of fish will also guide you to those who need to hear His message of forgiveness and love.
? Who has Jesus put in your path that needs to know of Jesus and his love?
Need help learning how to share your faith with others?
Give this website a try
http://www.greatcom.org/5clicks/index.php
Puzzle link - Fishers of Men