Audio - Peter's Great Catch of Fish

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The Sixth Sunday in Trinity
Peter's Great Catch of Fish
July 12, 2009

TEXT:  (Luke 5:1-11 NKJ) So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 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. 4  When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 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." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 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." 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
The calling of the fishermen into God’s service is recorded in all four Gospels—but Luke gives us the greatest detail of the circumstances surrounding the actual call—Mark’s record gives us some additional insight into the background of the calling
 
(Mark 1:14-22 NKJ) Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18  They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
 
Considering these two passages of Scripture gives us some insight into the call of the fishermen—Zebedee was a wealthy fisherman who was married to Salome—a faithful follower of Jesus who accompanied her sister Mary all the way to the cross—and to the grave on Easter morning—historians and commentators consider her to be the sister of the Virgin Mary—that would mean that John and James cousins of Jesus
 
Luke gives us details not recorded in the other Gospels—this is because Luke is writing to a more general audience—Luke is writing to Theophilus and others like him—Luke is not writing specifically to the Jews or the Gentiles—Luke’s Gospel is intended to show that Jesus died for all mankind
 
As for this lesson, it is a teaching of faith—both spiritual faith and faith in God to provide all things that we need to survive this world—as we begin to examine God’s Word—we find Jesus teaching a multitude of people along the shore of a lake—Jesus has just recently been baptized and tempted for 40 days in the wilderness—the crowd surrounding Him are intent on hearing more of His teaching—they want to get closer to Jesus so they can hear—the crowd is pressing forward to try to be near Jesus—He will soon be pushed into the lake if He doesn’t take some action—Jesus calls to the fishermen for help—Jesus would make a fishing boat His pulpit—and now we consider the lesson of faith Jesus is teaching His disciples—and us Christians today
 
First Jesus is teaching us about faith—and lack of faith by unbelievers—those of the world who place their trust in their own skills and abilities instead of trusting the Lord to provide—they spend their lives trying to accumulate enough so they don’t have to work—Paul spoke of such people in his letter to Timothy
 
(1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJ) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
 
Those that wish to become “independently wealthy”, that is, wealthy and independent of God or anyone else—they spend their time scheming on how to accumulate more wealth—they are never satisfied—they place themselves in the devil’s snare—they spend their lives trying to “succeed” and gain great wealth—Luther says even the monks in his day were motivated by a life without work, not by their love for God—they were looking for an easy life and a guarantee of success—it is much the same today—churches become businesses—preaching about the need to contribute to the church—their decisions are based on economic considerations—not the needs of the Church—nothing ever really changes because the faith grows weaker as the pockets grow deeper—Jesus uses these fishermen for His lesson because they were on a path of great wealth—they were following in the footsteps of their wealthy father—and Jesus would ask them to give that up for a life of austerity and eventually persecution and eventual death at the hands of unbelievers
 
TEXT:  (Luke 5:4-7 NKJ) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 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." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 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.
 
God doesn’t like us to be confused about giving Him the glory—here when Jesus asks Peter to let down the net—Peter says Lord we worked hard all night and caught nothing—Peter was a professional fisherman—he knew that you catch fish at night—not during the day—and you go to where the fish are—not right off the shore line—there would be little or no chance of catching any fish in these waters at this time—that’s why Jesus instructed Peter to lower the net at this time and at this place—because everyone knew there would be no fish there
 
When the net was so full that the fish almost sank two boats—there was no doubt that this was a miracle of God—Peter had faith in His Lord—Peter followed the Word of the Lord—even though it seemed foolish to the world—especially all of those on the shore who understood fishing—this would be a foolish thing to them—you don’t cast a net into the sea so near shore and expect to catch fish—you certainly would not expect these results—our lesson as it applies today is fish where the Lord sends you—we are sometimes hesitant to approach certain people with the message that Jesus died for their sins and that He is the only way to heaven—we fear ridicule or rejection—these are worldly fears—and we must remember that we are not of this world—we are just in this world—and by the grace of God we are His to do the work of the Church in this world
 
(Ephesians 2:1-9 NKJ) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
 
Peter’s faith yielded this worldly blessing—a catch of fish so huge that the men couldn’t pull it into the boat—does that mean that if we have faith we can sit back and the Lord will give us all we need—well let’s look at the rest of Scripture—first we consider whether we should work?—listen to what God told Adam after he and Eve fell into sin
 
(Genesis 3:19 NKJ) In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."
 
I’d say that is pretty clear—man is intended to work—and he shall work until the day he dies—doing whatever he is able to do—but we must consider all of Scripture—not just this verse—God promises to care for His people—Jesus spoke these words for our consideration and comfort—God will always provide for us—we are not to worry
 
(Matthew 6:25-33 NKJ) "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27  "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying,`What shall we eat?' or`What shall we drink?' or`What shall we wear?' 32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
 
Now consider once again Peter’s catch of fish—Peter obeyed Jesus’ words—Peter did what Jesus told him to do—Peter went where the Lord told him to go—and the Lord provided the bounty—that is the purpose of the miracle—we are to work in accordance with God’s Word—and God will provide the harvest—Peter knew this type of catch in this type of place at this time of day was not possible unless it was a miracle of the Lord—and therefore he fell at the feet of Jesus
 
Peter could have satisfied his natural hunger with just a few fish—but the Lord is making a point—you Peter have been obedient to My Word—and you caught these fish—that same obedience will now be applied to catching the souls of men—Jesus would guide him just like He guided him at the lake—and Jesus would provide the harvest—just like He did at the lake—and we have that same promise of a harvest given to us by God
 
(1 Corinthians 3:6 NKJ) I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
 
As this account of Jesus’ lesson comes to a close—we consider that on Pentecost Day—at the giving of the Holy Spirit—Peter preached a sermon which “caught” over 3,000 men—and brought them into the Church—today we are gathered in the name of Christ—and just as the many fish were in the net at the hand of God—we are Christians at the hand of God—we are Christians by the power of God the Holy Spirit—our salvation is a gift of God
 
(1 Corinthians 12:3 NKJ) … no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
 
(Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJ) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
 
ALL GLORY BE TO GOD!