Sunday: Fishers of Men
Simon and Andrew had toiled all night. Seasoned fishermen, they knew the art of fishing, and they knew when to quit. Nightlong work yielded nothing. In the midst of their disappointment came an unsolicited command: Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch
(Luke 5:4, NKJV).
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Simon’s response was one of hopelessness and anguish: We have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word . . .
(Luke 5:5, NKJV).
Who is this carpenter counseling a fisherman about fishing? Simon could have turned away, but is it possible that Jesus’ comforting and authentic preaching earlier had some effect? Hence, the response: nevertheless at Your word.
Thus, the first lesson of discipleship: obedience to Christ’s Word. Andrew, John, and James also soon learned that the long and fruitless night had given way to a bright and astonishing dawn, with a multitude of fish caught. At once, Peter fell to his knees and cried out: Depart from me, for I am a sinful man
(Luke 5:8, NKJV). Recognition of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of oneself is another essential step in the call to discipleship. As Isaiah had (Isaiah 6:5), Peter had taken that step.
Read Luke 5:1-11, Matthew 4:18-22, and Mark 1:16-20. Consider the miracle, the astonishment of the fishermen, the confession of Peter, and the authority of Jesus. What does each one of these accounts say about the path of discipleship?
Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men
(Luke 5:10, NKJV). The transition from being fishermen to becoming fishers of men is extraordinary: it requires absolute self-surrender to the Master, recognition of one’s inability and sinfulness, a reaching out to Christ in faith for the strength to walk the lonely and unknown path of discipleship, and continual reliance on Christ and Him alone. The life of a fisherman is uncertain and dangerous, battling ruthless waves, unsure of a steady income. The life of a fisher of men is no less so, but the Lord promises, Fear not.
Discipleship is not an easy road; it has its ups and downs, its joys and challenges, but a disciple is not called to walk alone. The One who said Fear not
is by the side of the faithful disciple.
Go back and read again Peter’s confession about being a sinful man. Notice how his sinfulness prompted him to want to be separated from Jesus. What is it about sin that does that to us, that pushes us away from God?
(28)
Satan new very well that God was the son of man .But he kept on testing God lyk "If you are the son of God convert these stones into bread and eat".
Brethren, let us not consider Discipleship as an uphill task though it has its challenges. Let us obey the Master "Luke5:5- ....at your word will I let down the net."
Let us absolutely surrender to the Master, more so recorgnize our inability and sinfulness, and reach out to Christ in faith for the strength to disciple and rely on Christ and Him alone. The comforting thing is that the one who said "Fear not " is by the side of the faithful disciple. Amen.
It's amazing to discover the principles for discipleship: Self surrender to Jesus and recognizing our sinful nature. This indicates that God works with contrite souls. He also works with willing souls. Suppose Peter refused to lower the nets because they had toiled for long? What would be the impact?
-I see a point here that Jesus first catches the fisherman before the fisherman goes to fish for men.
-Another point can be that when Jesus bids us "let down for a catch" there will always be fish (souls) which only Jesus can see even though the past efforts have been unrewarding.
-Last point i see is that if we labour while practicing some known sins- this neutralizes the power of the Gospel.
" One wrong trait of character, one sinful desire cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel" {Testimonies volume 5.page 53.2}
May we be faithful fishers of men... God bless
This lesson is one that if we are not careful we can easily get the wrong understanding of the call that Jesus made to those fishermen.
Each of the gospels are different covering certain aspects and views of the ministry of Jesus. Luke is the only one that details the early years of Jesus as a youth while John is the only one that goes into the Judean ministry in any depth which consumed most of the first year of our Lord's 3 1/2 year ministry and even at that there isn't a lot he said about it.
By the time we get to the formal call of Simon and Andrew by the Sea of Galilee, about a year into His ministry, those followers of Jesus would have been very familiar with Jesus. They would have seen or at least heard of the miracles and the teaching that Jesus did and would have looked into the possibility that He was the Messiah they were looking for. Even though they were only part time disciples at the time they certainly knew enough about Jesus that when the call was made they were in a position to accept it without question. This is not a matter of a stranger coming up to them, making a call, and having them blindly follow someone they didn't know - and that is a point we need to desperately keep in mind as we read that account.
Our faith is not a matter of blind faith but faith based on evidence and Jesus gave them a lot of it before calling them to full time ministry.
Well Jesus reproved Thomas for not believing except with evidence. Would it be the "true" Faith of Christ if there must be "evidence"?
Thomas had evidence enough before Jesus invited him to reach out and touch. That is why the rebuke was given. Even so Jesus, in mercy, gave him more evidence.
I thank God for the evidence which He has given me that I might also believe, evidence in nature (Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-6), providence (Luke 22:35; John 14:29), the prompting of His Spirit (Romans 8:15-16), and, above all, the Word of God (Romans 10:17; Psalm 19:7-8). Faith is always built on evidence which God has given, but doesn't require that all room for doubt be removed before the believer responds to God's command.
When We come to love and obey our Father as Jesus prayed that we might in John 17, our lives will be evidence for others to also trust in Him (John 17: 20-23).
I agree. However we still must testify of God's grace and mercy even though we may still be struggling with character flaws.If we wait until we have no flaws, we'll never finish the work!
I learn here on this lesson that discipleship is not a mere profession but also requires doing. Not only doing once, but as a way of life, a life that is fully given to the word of Christ. One of the most important lessons that I have learnt is that disciple means a "pupil" That means when we daily devote to be fishers of men like Simon, Andrew, James John etc, we shall always have something to learn. Firstly from Christ and from fellow men too. Last quarter`s lesson said that the wise are quicker to listen than to speak. God has so much to teach us when we give our all too Him.
Peter knew that jesus had healed the sick and driven out demons but he was amazed that jesus cared about his day to day routine as a fisherman and understand his needs..God is intrested not only in saving us but also in helping us in our daily activities.
I wonder if there isn't a lesson in the fish that were caught that night? I mean, they were called into the net of these fishermen to DIE. The same way that the disciples were called in Christ's net to die. But in doing so they would provide nourishment to others.
The fisher men showed obedience in a high level. Peter was able 2 recognize Christ and they never wasted a single time following him despite that they dosnt know were He (Christ) was taking them to. Some time we don't need to ask too much question when the holy spirit is talkin to us.
What is it about sin that does that to us tha pushes away from God? A good example is of Lot's wife. Much as this family had been redeemed, she "looked back with longing", & so do christians. As humans, sin is so sweet and appealing to the flesh that we would rather first lock up God in the cabinet, enjoy that sweet moment, then remember Him later and repent. The tendence to deliberately disobey by looking back with longing creates a gap.
What is it about sin... that pushes us away from God? Well we feel guilty.
Kids do this all the time. The get resentful of the "goody-two-shoes" kid that does everything right because that kid's perfection (and sometimes their snooty attitudes)... reminds the other kids of their own inadequacies or imperfections.
When we human beings look at a perfect God, we like Adam and Eve sometimes run away because we recognize the nakedness of spirits and we are ashamed.
But the thing is .... Jesus is the only one who can cover our nakedness. Revelations 3:18: "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see" (NIV).
When I read this passage about the fishermen, there's one thing that come to my mind is that, disciples before they became disciples they were fishers. That means God prepared them for the duty ahead that they must rehearse before Jesus come. So maybe whatsoever that we do in our daily basis we are preparing the duty ahead that we can do for our home( Heaven)
We need to take time to listen to the commands given by Jesus. Sometimes it takes something drastic before we obey. Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught (catch). Launch out into your neighborhood and fish for men. Launch out into the world and spread God's Word, help the poor, feed the hungry, Launch and obey God's Word. Do not be afraid. God will never send us out empty handed.
When I prayed to God for guidance in serving Him in my community He lead me to become a volunteer at the nursing home in my community. I did not know what I would be doing, but I was ready to be used by Him. Since that time, over two months later, I can see how God is strengthening my faith and increasing my love for Him. I love being used by God to share His word in action with people.
Praise the Lord J. Pierce... Thats a blessed thought you posted "Launch out into your neighborhood" i believe that this is a message to all of us who are blessed with the knowledge of the truth.. to launch out for a catch. This launching out is not only to share the knowledge but to show our neighbors the power that that knowledge can do in our lives. Sister White wrote "It is not the highest work of education to communicate knowledge merely, but to impart that vitalizing energy which is received through the contact of mind with mind, and soul with soul. It is only life that can beget life." {DA 250.2}
I am really blessed I am discovering my true self and what had been lost of me