I truly enjoy fishing.  Catching fish makes it even better but just being out on a boat in the water in the middle of the ocean is special to me.  I don’t do it that often and I wonder what it would be like if I had to do it every day as a profession.  Peter, Andrew, James, and John were in the everyday category.  Their livelihood depended on catching fish.  After an unsuccessful night Jesus tells them to give it one more try and gets onto Peter’s boat.  Let’s read the rest of the story together today.  

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. 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. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 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.

Jesus helps them one time to do what they had been unable to do all night.  They catch so many fish the boats almost sink.  Perhaps this is enough to take care of their families for a bit.  There is no hesitation at all however when they leave everything and follow Jesus.  Perhaps they recognize that Jesus will care for them.  Maybe they are tired of not catching fish.  Whatever the reason they become Jesus’ first and closest followers.  Jesus stays closer with Peter, James, and John than any of His other followers.  Maybe it is their willingness to follow.  They were not theologically trained.  Peter, in particular is impulsive and prone to bad choices.  They immediately followed Jesus though.  That is the key when it comes to us following Jesus today.  How do we follow?  Do we hesitate?  Do we hold on to some of our own ways of living?  Do we live our way and simply follow Jesus with our minds and not our lives?  Jesus asks us all to follow like these fishermen.  He wants us to embrace this Jesus life, this kingdom life and become fishers of people, inviting others to live life Jesus’ way as well. Let’s go fishing!

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave