You Will Fish for People
Luke 5:1-11
Key verse 10b
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
Introduction
Today’s passage shows Jesus’ good example in terms of calling a person named Simon Peter. Simon is a person who has his own strong will as the son of John(John 21). However Jesus helps him out with the absolute command of God. Peter curved his pride as a fisherman and obeyed the word of Jesus. He then opened his eyes. Thank God! May the Lord help us to have the same vision in serving campus students and obedient disciples may be established for God’s glory.
1. Read verses 1-3. What is Jesus doing at the lake of Gennesaret? (1) What does he see in spite of the people crowding around him? (2) How does Jesus begin his interaction with Simon that day? (3) What can we learn from Jesus in this situation?
1-1. Read verses 1-3.
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 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.
1-2. What is Jesus doing at the lake of Gennesaret? (1)
“Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. “
Jesus taught the word of God to the people.
Jesus shared the word of God continually.
No matter where he goes, he wanted to share the word of God regarding the kingdom of God.
1-3. What does he see in spite of the people crowding around him? (2)
He saw the fishermen who were washing their nets.
Mark 1:35 shows that Jesus prayed early in the morning.
Jesus taught them the word of God, believing that any kind of people could be healed and rejuvenated as long as the word of God is being planted in their hearts.
Also Jesus had in mind to call his co-worker to work together for God’s flocks.
Jesus had a clear direction to make disciples despite the crowds.
1-4. How does Jesus begin his interaction with Simon that day? (3)
“He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.”
Jesus took notice of one of the boats, which was Simon's.
Jesus asked Simon to put his boat out a little from shore.
Although he shared the word of God with the crowd, he had in mind in calling his disciples.
1-5. What can we learn from Jesus in this situation?
Jesus paid his attention to one person, Simon.
Jesus approached Simon first. It is like God who had come to Adam by saying, “where are you?”
2. Read verses 4 - 7. What does Jesus say to Simon? (4) What is Simon’s answer to Jesus? (5) What can we learn from Simon? What happens when he listens to Jesus’ directions? (6) Who comes to help bring in the miraculous catch? (7)
2-1. Read verses 4 - 7.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 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.” 6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 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.
2-2. What does Jesus say to Simon? (4)
“Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
Jesus’ direction to Simon seems unreasonable.
The common practice on the Sea of Galilee was to fish in the middle of the night and only in shallow water.
However, Jesus told to Simon to move into deep water and cast his nets in daylight.
2-3. What is Simon’s answer to Jesus? (5)
“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
“Master”
Simon called Jesus as master.
He agreed that Jesus and His words have some authority.
“We’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything”
Peter explained how hard he had worked as a professional fisherman.
I worked all night and I'm tired.
I know a lot more about fishing than you.
The best fishing is at night, not day time.
All these crowds and Jesus’ loud teachings might have scared the fish away.
We already washed our nets.
Jesus may know the Bible but he would not know fishing as much as I would.
“But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
Peter simply obeyed to Jesus, because he says so.
2-4. What can we learn from Simon?
Simon didn't make excuses.
Peter believe that he knew more about fishing than a carpenter.
He had worked all night without any results.
But he was also a man with a learning mind and had potential to grow in Jesus.
Simon overcame his own thought and obeyed what Jesus told him to do.
His greatness is that he listened Jesus’ word and moved his body and casted his nets.
He also keeps trying without giving up.
Most importantly he shows respect toward Jesus’ words.
2-5. What happens when he listens to Jesus’ directions? (6)
“they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”
His faith in Jesus’ word and his obedience were rewarded.
2-6. Who comes to help bring in the miraculous catch? (7)
“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.”
Peter had to work with others to get the job done
3. Read verses 8. What does Simon Peter do? (8a) Why do you think he says, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”? (8b)
3-1. Read verses 8.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
3-2. What does Simon Peter do? (8a)
“When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees.”
This was a dramatic gesture.
Simon fell at Jesus’ knees. He couldn’t stand before Jesus.
It shows that he has developed a reverent attitude toward Jesus.
3-3. Why do you think he says, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”? (8b)
“Go away from me, Lord”
Simon called Jesus as Lord. In verse 5 he called Jesus as master or teacher.
Now he realized that Jesus had authority over nature and called him “Lord.”
The Lord has sovereignty over his creatures.
“I am a sinful man.”
Before Jesus Simon realized that he is a sinful man.
For the first time he must have realized that he had been living a sinful life before God.
He might have thought that he lived decent life to work hard for his family.
When he obeyed Jesus’ word, he must have realized that he did not know God in person.
In light of Genesis 3:17-19, he must have realized that he was a mere offspring of Adam who had been struggling to survive.
He opened his spiritual eyes for the first time to see who Jesus is as the creator God and who he is as a sinful man before Jesus.
He must have sensed that there will be eternal condemnation and judgment if he continued to live that way.
4. Read verses 9-11. What does Jesus say to Simon? (9-10) What does it mean by “you will fish for people”? What impact do you think these words had on Simon’s life? (11) What can we learn from their actions after Jesus speaks to Simon and the others?
4-1. Read verses 9-11.
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 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.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
4-2. What does Jesus say to Simon? (9-10)
“Don’t be afraid”
This is literally “stop being fearful.” He helped him to overcome fear.
God wants to build up love relationship with him, not based on fear.
“from now on you will fish for people.”
This is a life turning point for Simon.
Jesus gave him a new life direction from catching fish to catching people.
4-3. What does it mean by “you will fish for people”?
Peter used to live for three meals a day.
But from now on he will fish for people.
It is new life direction for him with meaning and purpose.
You will fish for people - his labor of love is for people.
Jesus upgraded his level from an animal level to a normal man-a man who is both flesh and soul
Jesus saw through great potential in him to be a great man of mission to endure meaningful sufferings for the name of Jesus Christ.
His suffering will be glorified in the Lord.
He later wrote the book of 1 Peter, which shows the word suffering up to 18 times and glory 11 times.
“But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” - 1 Peter 4:13
Thanks to Jesus he became a master of suffering for God’s glory.
4-4. What impact do you think these words had on Simon’s life? (11)
“ they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
Simon made a full commitment to follow Jesus.
Although he knew Jesus earlier(John 1) thanks to his brother Andrew’s witness, he hadn’t made full commitment yet.
Thanks to Jesus’ shepherding and His words, he was able to see Jesus newly.
4-5. What can we learn from their actions after Jesus speaks to Simon and the others?
We can learn their clear decision of faith to follow Jesus.
So they left everything and followed Jesus.
It was not easy but it was possible when they met Jesus in person through obeying Jesus’ word.
Making a great decision made each of them to open their spiritual eyes to become leaders.
In conclusion,
Jesus helped one person, Simon Peter to see who Jesus is as well as who he is. When Peter saw the secret of kingdom of God by obeying one command of Jesus, his life changed drastically. “From now on you will fish for people.” May the Lord raise up obedient disciples among young people by overcoming their humanistic views. America may be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Amen.
One word: You will fish for people!
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