BECAUSE YOU SAY SO

Luke 5:1-11

Key Verses 5:4-5

“4When He had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and

let down the nets for a catch.’ 5Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and

haven't caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.’”

Last weekend we had a wonderful bible conference, titled, “He had compassion on them.”

Through the conference we learned that Jesus saw people as sheep without a shepherd and had

compassion on them. Jesus’ compassion is different from mere sympathy. His compassion

produced prayer and prayer produced action. He saw that the workers were few, so through

prayer He picked up the prayer topic, “Father, send out harvest workers into Your harvest field.

In today’s passage we see how God led Jesus to one man, Simon. Jesus had compassion on him

and, with His compassion, Jesus called Simon into a new life. Jesus called him to grow up to

become a fisher of men.

First, Jesus taught the Word of God to the crowd of people (1-3).

One day, early in the morning, Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, praying, as

He often did (Mk 1:35). Out of nowhere, the lovely calm of the lake was disturbed by a

crowd of people. From early in the morning, many people began coming to Jesus. Soon,

they formed a large crowd. We have to ask the question: why did so many people come to

Jesus from early in the morning? Needless to say, people came to him for healing. As the

gospels narrate, they were mostly sick and needy people. Probably they were depression

patients or discontented, and all kinds of invalids who were too pitiful to look at. There

must have been lepers secretly following behind the crowd, covering their faces with their

rake-like fingers, wishing to be touched by the Messiah's hand of healing. Their needs

were so urgent that they could not think about others at all. So they all came to Jesus

from early morning. Jesus knew that they needed physical healing. But instead Jesus

taught them the word of God first in order to heal their real sickness, their sin sickness.

So how did they respond to his teaching? Did they demand Jesus, saying, “Jesus, enough

talking! Can you please start healing us!?” No. Verse 1b says, "...with the people crowding

around him and listening to the word of God." Surprisingly, they were genuinely happy to listen

to His Words. They had come to Jesus to be healed of their various physical diseases. But when

Jesus taught them the word of God first, they were like a thirsty man, drinking the fresh water

of an oasis in the desert. Jesus knew that they were miserable not only were physically sick, but

they were more miserable because they were sin-sick. So Jesus taught them the word of God

to heal them from their sin. So this seaside conference which was first expected to be a healing

conference became instead a Bible conference.

The word of God is the word of life. God’s Word helps man to be transformed, grow up to be

Key Verse 5:4-5

a godly, wholesome person and wise enough to receive salvation, eternal life, and the kingdom

of God. When we look around us today, there are many pleasure-seeking people. They claim

that they are happy and when we look at them it appears they are. But in reality, they are sick

and exhausted with their lives of sin. They long for the word of eternal life because they too are

human beings whose souls are like stars twinkling in the sky.

The people listening to the word of God grew so large that Jesus could not effectively serve them

the Word of God. So what did He do? Look at verses 2-3, “2[H]e saw at the water's edge two

boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He 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.” Jesus looked around and saw two boats that had been left at the

water's edge by some fishermen. One of the owners of the boats, Simon, was busy washing his

nets after fishing all night. Even though he was washing his nets, he had been secretly listening

to Jesus’ words. At that moment Jesus got into his boat and asked a favor of him, “Would you

mind putting out a little from shore?” Simon was dumbfounded that Jesus had come into his boat

and asked him this question. All he could do was nod his head and say “Sure.” So after Simon

positioned his boat a little from shore Jesus continued to teach the people God’s Word. So now

Simon became a captured audience; instead of listening while washing the net, Simon became

completely focused on Jesus and His words.

Now during this brief encounter, Simon could not be indifferent to Jesus. The more he heard

Jesus speak the more his eyes were transfixed on Jesus. Simon’s heart burned with joy and

excitement at Jesus’ Words. A new hope rose in his breast. God’s Word planted into his heart

planted hope in him.

May God help us to plant God’s Word in the flock’s heart that they may receive eternal life and

be restored as wholesome sons and daughters of God.

Second, “Because You say so” (4-7).

Look at verses 4-5, “4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep

water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ 5Simon answered, ‘Master, we've worked hard

all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.’”

In these verses we see that Jesus challenged Simon to see what kind of man he was. This was

Simon’s job interview, even though he didn’t know he was in a job interview. Jesus tested

Simon in the hope of choosing him as one of His disciples. So what kind of person was Simon?

First of all, Simon was a hardworking man. Simon and his fellow fishermen worked hard all

night and hadn’t caught a thing (5a). It had been a bad night of fishing for them. Now, they

were weary, discouraged and hungry. So Simon could have gone straight home, had a small

meal and fell straight into bed without taking a shower and removing all the fish smell from

his clothes and body. But he didn't do that; instead Simon mended and rearranged his nets so

that he would be prepared for the next night. In short, Simon was a hardworking man and he

wasn’t easily discouraged. Simon had the quality to become a great man of God because of his

hardworking spirit.

I was really impressed with our disciples at the Bible conference because Summer time is the

time for them to take a break from their busy schedules. But instead of taking a break, they

worked hard to prepare Symposium messages, drama and even the Mexican dance. And at

the conference many of them helped to make a good environment for us to have a wonderful

conference. When I saw how hard they worked, I could have vision for our prayer to pioneer all

west coast campuses. They all have a hardworking spirit and I thank God that He is answering

our prayer to raise up harvest workers for this generation from among us.

Simon also was humble enough to listen and obey Jesus’ Words. Look at verse 4. “When he had

finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’”

As far as fishing was concerned, Simon was a veteran fisherman and Jesus was a carpenter.

Simon knew that night was the time for fishing, but now it was bright morning. Yet, Simon

did not say, ‘What are You talking about?’ Amazingly, Simon humbled himself and put aside

his own ideas and listened to Jesus. He said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t

caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (5). Simon ignored all his

experience as a professional fisherman for one simple reason. “Because You say so”. Simon

listened and obeyed Jesus, because Jesus said so.

Simon had an obedient mind. A humble learning mind is the source of obedience. Obedience

is also the expression of love. John 14:21a says, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them,

he is the one who loves me." When Jesus said, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets

for a catch," Simon obeyed Jesus' command unconditionally. It was because Simon Peter fell in

love with Jesus. We don't know why he fell in love with Jesus. Probably Simon felt happy and

honored that Jesus had chosen him and his boat out of all the boats that were along the shore that

day. Basically, he felt loved by Jesus. One who loves God can obey God and can obey others.

It is not easy for anybody to obey. But Simon obeyed Jesus' word because he loved Jesus.

Here we also see Simon’s leadership quality. One thing about fishing (the kind of fishing they

did, not with a rod but with fishing nets) is that it requires co-working. To throw a net, to pull

the net, they have to work together. When Simon said, “because you say so I will let down the

net” it involved not only Simon. At least Andrew had to come along with him. Other partners

also had to stop their washing of their nets, to watch or perhaps help what Simon started doing.

One person’s obedience can have a great impact on others, so that they too can experience the

blessing of obedience. May God help us to be men and women of obedience to Jesus’ Words so

that many can also experience God’s blessings in their lives.

What was the result when Simon obeyed? Look at verses 6-7. “When they had done so, they

caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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.” When Simon obeyed Jesus he experienced the blessedness of obedience. When

his nets began to break, he waved over his partners and together they hauled in the large catch

that Jesus had led them to. Simon failed fishing trip became a resounding success. When Simon

obeyed Jesus, Jesus enabled him and others to experience a great success. There's no failure in

Jesus. Jesus restores all our failures.

Finally, Simon came to know that he was a sinner. Look at verse 8. “When Simon Peter saw this,

he fell at Jesus' knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” Why did Simon

say this? After being filled with Jesus’ Words and seeing the great catch of fish after he obeyed

Jesus, Simon saw the God Almighty in Jesus (8). He saw that even the fish in the sea obeyed

Jesus' word. In the past, Simon did not think much about God or about himself as a sinner. But

now he recognized himself as a sinful man. In the past, he thought he was a good man. But

when he met Jesus, he realized what a sinful man he actually was.

What kind of sinful man was he? First, before God, he was a morally sinful man. Nobody can

say that he has kept all Ten Commandments. Maybe Simon had violated all of them. But this

was not the extent of his sin. Secondly, Simon was ethically a sinful man. In order to eat three

meals a day, Simon became a selfish man. He focused only on his fishing business and making it

a success. Because he was so busy with himself, he never had room to care about others. When

a person only thinks about himself, he can have no compassionate heart on his neighbors, nor

love them as much as he loves himself. Third, Simon was a spiritually sinful man. Simon did

not live for the glory of God. Instead, he lived a selfish life, mundane life. God did not create

man for a small purpose; God created man for His purpose; later we learn that God created us to

be fishers of men.

Look at verse 10b. "Don't be afraid..." Jesus saw Simon’s inner man. Outwardly, Simon looked

bold as a man of the sea. But inwardly he was a slave of fear because of his sins. Those who are

outside of Jesus are all slaves of fear (Ro 8:15). But those who are in Jesus are full of love and

power (2Ti 1:7). As soon as Simon listened to Jesus' voice, his fear was gone and God's peace

was overflowing in him.

Third, "from now on you will catch men" (10-11).

Look at verse 10b. “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch

men.’” What does it mean, ‘from now on you will catch men’? Matthew and Mark said, ‘fishers

of men,’ instead of ‘catch men’ (Mt 4:19; Mk 1:17). It is better to think a little more about "from

now on you will catch men."

God gave Simon a new life in Jesus. In the past, Simon was a fisherman. People thought he was

a courageous man of the sea and perhaps a leader among all the fishermen, at least in the Galilean

district. But inwardly he was very fearful and sorrowful. One night, he tried all night to catch

fish but he caught nothing. Nevertheless, Jesus showed him God by restoring his great failure of

catching fish. Since Jesus came into his heart, he became a happy man; and he learned the

purpose of his life. “From now on you will catch men.” Men who do not know God’s purpose

of their lives can never truly be happy. Inwardly, they are full of fear especially of failure and

sorrow becomes their trademark because of the power of sin over their lives. But those who meet

Jesus personally are completely different; their lives are full of joy and peace.

“From now on you will catch men,” meant he should be a shepherd of God's flock of sheep.

Once, Jesus went on a retreat with his disciples to a quiet place. But the crowd of people came

to him for help. They were really shameless people. But when Jesus saw the crowd of people

they were like sheep without a shepherd (Mk 6:34). In other words, they could have been much

better people, but because they did not have shepherds they became wretched people. It was

because they had no shepherds; they had no one who would care for them. Yet, Jesus saw them

He set aside everything and served them. What this generation needs more than anything is

people who are willing to set aside their own matters and serve the flock of God. When Jesus

told Simon, “from now on you will catch men,” it meant Simon would become a man who is

responsible for the world evangelization to declare the marvelous grace of our Lord Jesus (1Pet.

2:9-10). Jesus also wanted to establish him as the foundation stone of the Christian church (Mt

16:18).

What was Peter's response to Jesus’ calling? Look at verse 11. “So they pulled their boats up

on shore, left everything and followed him.” Before meeting Jesus, Peter was in the darkness

of failure and filled with great fear. But after meeting Jesus, he was to be the shepherd of God's

flock under his care in the early church.

Simon shows the best example for us. Simon passed the job interview with flying colors.

He left everything behind in order to listen and obey Jesus. There are two kinds of people in

this world; those who listen to themselves and those who listen to Jesus. Those who listen to

themselves live a cursed life; but those who listen to Jesus experience the blessed life that Jesus

has to offer. They are happy and know the purpose of their lives. They grow up to be a source

of blessing and life for those around them. May God help us to listen carefully to Jesus Word’s

and go to the deep waters of our campuses and let down our nets for a catch. May God bless us

to double our ministry by the end of the year.

One Word: Because You say so.

---