LUKE 5:1-11
INTRODUCTION
A little boy was riding his tricycle furiously around the block, over and over again. Finally, a policeman stopped and asked him why he was going around and around. The boy said that he was running away from home. Then the policeman asked why he kept going around the block. The boy responded, “Because my mom said that I am not allowed to cross the street.” The point is clear—obedience will keep you close to those you love.
A little boy walked down the beach, and as he did, he spied a woman sitting under a beach umbrella on the sand. He walked up to her and asked, “Are you a Christian?” “Yes.”
“Do you read your Bible every day?” She nodded her head, “Yes.” “Do you pray often?” the boy asked next, and again she answered, “Yes.” With that, the boy asked his final question, “Will you hold my quarter while I go swimming?”
I would like you to explore with me, “The Results of Obedience and Surrender to Christ.”
Background
Luke sets the scene. The crowd, eager to hear the word of God, pressed in on Jesus as He stood by the lake of Gennesaret. This lake was also called the Sea of Galilee or the sea of Tiberias. It measured roughly 13 miles by 7miles and situated about 700feet below sea level. Jesus saw two boats from which the fishermen have gone out to wash their nets. After each fishing trip the equipment had to be checked and cleaned in readiness for the next. Jesus got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to thrust out a little from the shore. Jesus sat down, which was the customary position for teaching, and taught the people from the boat.
Jesus was best known among His disciples as the Master Teacher. Preaching and teaching were the priorities of Jesus’ public ministry. Whenever people gathered around Him, Jesus used it as an opportunity to teach divine truth. Jesus used Peter’s boat as His pulpit to teach the Word of God. He would not let any opportunity slip by without sharing divine truth with others. In Luke 5, three miracles are recorded: a nature miracle, then a couple of healings. These miracles emphasize Jesus’ mastery of the situations in which He found Himself and show His compassion. The Nature miracle is the focus of our message.
I. THE REQUEST OF FAITH V. 4
When Jesus had finished His teaching lesson to the multitudes, He suggested to Peter that they go fishing. Jesus commanded Peter “to launch into the deep and let down the net for a catch.” Peter as would many of us have done raised an objection, Peter said, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.” The word “Master” (Epistata) is used only in the Gospel of Luke in the entire New Testament. The word, “Master,” means, “a person of authority.” Underscore that word because I will come back to it later on. Peter’s objection to Jesus’ command was reasonable. The best time for fishing with nets was during the dark night and the worst time was during the morning with glistering rays of the sun on the waters. This was daytime. Peter and his counterparts were washing their nets. They were getting ready to go home. I believe Peter and his friends were exhausted after the sleepless and fatigue night on the lake, they were ready to go home and sleep. Perhaps there was even a rebuke at the sound of Peter’s voice as he responded to Jesus. Do you see what I see here? Peter was saying, “I am the expert fisher man, fishing at the right time, and had caught nothing.” It is useless to respond at the request of a Carpenter at the wrong time. Peter was saying to himself, after all, this is not one of your areas of expertise. After all, Peter is a seasoned fisherman, and Jesus as a Carpenter. There is a vast difference in their area of expertise. Can anybody teach an old dog a new trick? What is this all about? After all, I have been in the fishing business since I was a boy. This is a mark of a person who has an unteachable spirit. When God puts a period, don’t change it into a question mark.
II. THE RESPONSE OF FAITH V. 5
However, Peter had a change of mind. Peter is now willing to act on Jesus’ command. You also do the same thing sometimes. The Lord asks you to do something but you try to come up with every excuse conceivable. Then, you change your mind and begin to do what the Lord has asked you to do. Why did Peter change his mind? Peter may not agree with Jesus but he can obey what the Master says. Peter had had a brief encounter with Jesus through his brother Andrew (John 1:41-42). Peter obeyed Jesus even though all circumstances pleaded against it. In your walk with Jesus Christ, He would sometimes ask you to do things, which would not make sense to you. The basis of faith is not in knowing but in trusting. Some of you are trip up in your Christian life at this point because you want to know before you act. Many of you want to be in charge of your circumstances, your work, family, life, and marriage. But the truth is that you are not the one who must be in charge in all these. The one who must be in charge is Jesus Christ. The one who must be in control in all these areas of your life is Jesus Christ. When Jesus is in charge, you are a winner. When you insist on seeing and knowing where God is leading before making a commitment to trust Him, you are living by only human reason and not faithful obedience to God.
III. THE RESULT OF FAITH VV. 6-7
Contrary to all human expectations, they caught so many fish in their nets that they had to seek the help from other fishermen to be able to load the fish. They filled both ships and the boats began to sink due to the weight of the fish. Obedience to Christ brings results. You cannot lose when you are obedient to Christ. But you will always be a loser when you live in defiance to Jesus Christ. Are you trusting Jesus Christ or reasoning your way through life? When you live by faith, things may not always turn the way you anticipate, because God answers your prayers according to His will and timing. Where was Jesus when Peter and his companions were toiling during the night? Had Jesus gone there during the night and instructed them to launch their net down for a catch, they would have rationalized the miraculous catch of fish. God will do only what is best for you but you must trust His wisdom. God does His best for us when we come to end of ourselves. This year are you going to step out of the way and allow God to do His work in you and through you? Are you going to interfere with what God is going to do in your life? It is when all our natural resources are depleted that the Lord steps in and takes charge of things. Some of you are busy but barren. You work hard but you produce little. Your life is filled with activities but no lasting results. Can it be that Jesus is the missing link in your life? Personal efforts without Jesus Christ are like a car without engine. A car without engine is going nowhere. It does not matter how hard you turn the steering wheel, or how much you push the accelerator. Personal efforts without the person and power of Jesus Christ lead to discouragement and despair.
Jesus ordered Peter to “launch into the deep” not only because He wanted them to witness a miracle, but more importantly that they might be caught up in the reality of His power and personal care for them. When your faith and obedience to Christ collide with reason, choose faith and obedience.
The catch of fish by Peter was not to be explained along usual lines of fishing techniques. The catch of fish was abnormal. It was a supernatural event. It was a miracle pointing to Jesus’ power over nature. Jesus has power over the sea, lake, and the fish. At His command, the fish yield to Him. At His word, the raging sea becomes quiet. At His word, diseases leave their victims. At His word, lepers are cleansed. At His word, the demonized are set free. At His word, the insane are clothed in their right mind. At His word, Satan and his demons shudder and leave their victims. Whatever problem you are facing in life, Jesus has a solution for you. What a Savior and Lord that we serve! Jesus knows where you are. He knows what you are going through. He knows what is in your life. He knows the problems in your marriage. He knows the problems you are facing at your job or business. He knows your disappointments and He is willing to help bring the best out of you. The reason many Christians are ineffective, the reason many Christians do not experience the blessings of God is because we want to stay in the shore. We don’t want to “launch into the deep with Christ.” We want ease and comfort, but Jesus wants those who will risk their lives for Him. Jesus is looking for those who will take the step of faith. He is looking for those who would surrender in obedience to Him.
Had Peter not yielded to Jesus, they would have gone home empty-handed. They would have been losers. Faith and obedience to Christ always brings results. Does it seem that your life is going nowhere? Examine your life whether you have surrendered to Jesus Christ. Is Jesus in your lifeboat? If Jesus is in your lifeboat, there is nothing that you cannot do.
IV. THE RECOGNITION OF FALLENNESS VV. 8-10
When Peter saw what had happened, he fell down on his knees before Jesus. Peter who was an expert fisherman is now worshiping Jesus and confessing his sin to Him. Peter recognized the miracle and reacted as one in the presence of God. Now listen to Peter’s response to Jesus’ miracle: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” Peter’s words echoed some of the saints of old. When Abraham caught a glimpse of the glory of God, he said, “I am but dust and ashes” (Gen. 18:27). When Job saw the glimpse of the glory of God, he said, “Therefore, I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up and the train of His robe filled the temple, he said, “Woe is me, for I am undone! I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). Peter had experienced the unimaginable grace of God, and that drove him to realize his own sinfulness.
Now get this; the address, “Lord” replaces “Master” of verse 5. It is the Master whose orders must be obeyed, and the Lord whose holiness caused moral agony to the sinner (Dan 10:16). Peter the veteran fisherman knew how humanly impossible it was to catch fish successfully in the lake in the early morning hours. Jesus’ revelation of power in Peter’s area of expertise as a fisherman consequently made a profound impression on Peter. That is why he fell prostrate before Jesus with a deep realization of his own sinfulness. Ladies and gentlemen, you don’t fall on your knees before mere humans and confess your sin. You do that only when you are in the presence of the Lord. Hence, Peter changed from addressing Jesus as “Master” to addressing Him “Lord.” The Lord deserves your worship, confession, and repentance. At the presence of Jesus, Peter acknowledged his sin. What was Peter’s sin? His sin was his unwillingness to give the priority of his life to Jesus. Jesus had called him to be His disciple but Peter loved his vocation more than he loved Jesus. Do you know why you are afraid of giving the control of your life to Jesus Christ? Because you think that, He may ask you to give up your vocation, unhealthy habits, and some illegitimate relationships. Ladies and gentlemen, whatever you give up to follow Jesus Christ, He will replace it with something that is far better.
Because of this miracle a great fear and awe gripped not only Peter but also all the fishermen present. They feared for their lives because they knew they were in the presence of God. However, Jesus in His usual way calmed their fears and assured Peter that he would no longer be catching fish; rather he would be catching people. This event formed a turning point in the life of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who were partners in the fishing business. When you look back, what event caused you to give your life to Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Every one of us can point to an event that brought us to Jesus Christ. The turning point of Moses’ life was the Burning Bush experience at the backside of the wilderness.
When Jesus steps into your life things become different. The old and unproductive life gives way to the new and productive. The Bible says that Peter would be catching men. The statement “You will be catching men” is a present continuous tense, signifying a habitual practice. Peter would no longer be concerned with fish but people. Brothers and sisters no matter your line of work, people are more important to Christ than everything else. Christ died for people. He did not die for things. Therefore, take time to tell a family member, a coworker, a friend, or a neighbor about the unfailing love of Jesus Christ. When Peter and his partners brought their boat to land, they forsook all to follow Jesus. There is always a forsaking of something before you can be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Have you forsaken your old ways of life? Who is the boss of your life? Is it yourself or Christ? If you are still occupying the throne of your life, then you have not forsaken all. If you are still in charge of your life, then I can guarantee you that your life is going nowhere. Your life is like a toy plane that can’t fly because it does not have what it takes to fly. Let me ask you a question: “Do you still miss the things that you gave up when you became a Christian?” You can testify that God has given you better things than when you were lost in sin. Peter and his counterparts would not regret for leaving all to follow Jesus.
Bruce Larson, in Believe and Belong, tells how he helped people struggling to surrender their lives to Christ:
For many years, I worked in New York City and counseled at my office any number of people who were wrestling with this yes-or-no decision. Often I would suggest they walk with me from one office down to the RCA Building on Fifth Avenue. In the entrance of that building is a gigantic statue of Atlas, a beautifully proportioned man who, with all his muscles straining, is holding the world upon his shoulders. There he is, the most powerful built man in the world, and he can barely stand up under his burden. “Now that is one way to live,” I would point out to my companion, “trying to carry the world on your shoulders. But now come across the street with me.”
On the other side of Fifth Avenue is Saint Patrick Cathedral, and there behind the high altar is a little shrine of the boy Jesus, perhaps eight or nine years old, and with no effort he is holding the world in one hand. My point was illustrated graphically.
We have a choice. We can carry the world on our shoulders, or we can say, “I give up, Lord; here is my life. I give you my world, the whole world.” Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment