Fishers of Men

FISHERS OF MEN
LUKE 5:1-11

5:1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

In the name of Jesus:
Have you been fishing lately? The last time I went fishing was over ten years ago. I had never been fishing before, being a city boy from Cleveland. Drew and Mark wanted to go fishing, some of their school friends had been fishing with their dads and both boys thought it would be a good idea to go with their dad. I had no idea what to do, the only fishing I saw were people fishing on the rocks jutting out to Lake Erie when I was growing up, and I distinctly remember Andy of Mayberry taking Opie fishing at the local pond. But me, fishing? I had no idea what to do.
Luann suggested that I go to Lancaster Sales to pick up a license and some inexpensive rods and reels. I asked around and purchased what we needed but had to go to a store to pick up bait, something to lure the fish to bite the hook on the line. I went to a store that sold bait and found out more than I wanted to know about bait. There are different baits for different fish, some like worms; others prefer something else like chicken. Different lures will entice different fish, as each fish has their own likes and dislikes.
The day of our blessed fishing event was comical. The boys took to it well, but I kept getting the line hooked in a tree or a bush. When we were lucky enough to catch a fish, the boys took holding the fish’s mouth and taking out the hook. Me? I rather watch!
Fishing is great fun, and I enjoyed my brief career as a fisherman. My experience taught me that you don’t have to know a lot about it to enjoy it. Fishing was a major industry in the days of Christ. If you live by Buckeye Lake, or one of the Great Lakes or the oceans, you know that fishing is big business today. People dedicate their lives to the sport. Fishing is a way of life for many.
Fishing is a way of life for the Christian as well. Jesus says as much when He tells Peter that He will make them catchers of men. Instead of fishing for men they will catch men. But what does Jesus mean?
Peter knew about fishing. He was one, as James and John, who dedicated their lives to the fishing industry. They knew of the lures, the bait, the right times to fish, they could tell you how to fish and make a living out of it. In our text for today, Peter, James and John, the fishermen of the bunch, were out all night fishing. The text says, “We have toiled all night and took nothing.” These men worked at their trade, they did everything within the realm of possibility to catch fish, using all of the resources of their intellect, will, and body to catch fish. But in the end, they came up with nothing. Nada. Their efforts were fruitless.
Jesus, knowing this, told Peter to “put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch”. Peter probably thought: “Lord, I have been there and have done that.” But Peter responded to the Lord by saying: “But at your word I will let down the nets.” Peter had nothing; he could only trust Christ and His Word. And so he did, and Luke records that the fish were of such number that they were caught but that the nets enclosed around the fish, so much so that the boats were filled with fish and began to sink. Peter in faith recognized the power of Christ and His Word, confessed His sinfulness and begged the Lord to leave him alone, for a sinner is not worthy to stand before the Holy God. But what does Jesus do, but forgive Peter. He forgives and empowers him to do something other than hunting and killing fish; Peter would be empowered to seek to gather mortal men to everlasting life. But how would this be done?
Not by power or earthly might. Not by human wisdom or insight. To gather people to everlasting life can only occur by the power of God. So where is that power? Listen to the Apostle Paul: 18 for the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,” I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Cor. 1:18-25).
The only fishing lure that God uses to bring people to eternal life is His Word, the Law which shows us our sins and our need, and the Gospel which provides the gift of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Note what Paul is saying here. The Church is called to fish for sinners. Sinners will be gathered to God in Jesus Christ. The power of salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, in His innocent life, suffering, death, and resurrection. Only by the shed blood of Christ does God forgive sins. Only by the sacrifice that Christ paid on the cross are sinners saved. Not by human wisdom. Not by human effort. Not by hooks or tricks or modern philosophy. Only by Christ.
Christ grants salvation only through His Word. At the Lord’s Word did Peter cast the nets out, and at Christ’s Word did the fish gather to be collected. Not only Peter but also the fish obeyed the Lord! Humanly speaking, it didn’t make sense to Peter. After all, he did all he COULD do. There was nothing else FOR HIM to do but trust in Jesus and His Word. Peter’s faith merely accepted what Jesus was giving him, a whole haul of fish!
So too Jesus gives you salvation only through His Word. In Baptism the Spirit gives faith in Jesus. Modern man scoffs at such talk! It is just water, what can water do??? But Baptism is not just simple water, but it is water comprehended in and connected with God’s Word. Without the Word Baptism is no Baptism but is only water, but with the water and the Word Baptism gives faith in Christ and eternal life.
Jesus today comes to you in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine. Modern man once again scoffs at such “silliness”. It is just bread and wine, the “wise people” say. What good can that do? But Jesus says that He is really present, He invites you to take and eat, take and drink His body and blood. Why? For the forgiveness of your sins, for the strengthening of your faith, so that you might go in peace and serve the Lord. Without the Word the elements are simple bread and wine, but with the Lord’s Word God gives His gifts of salvation won by His cross.
Peter trusted the Lord’s Word. He was blessed, called by God to cast out the net of salvation to sinners and see many believe in Jesus BY THE POWER OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST. For man is saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not of his own doing but solely by the grace of God through faith in Jesus. God has so blessed you this day with faith in Jesus, and has so strengthened your faith in Jesus through this Meal that you are now sent by Him to fish for men, that through the Word of Christ working in and through your life sinners will be gathered to the Savior, Jesus.
Peter in one sense hit the fishing jackpot. He caught a boatload of fish which, when taken to market, would have been a huge financial windfall for him and James and John. But Peter wasn’t interested in the cash. Recognizing his sinfulness, he confessed his sin and trusted in Christ. And note: “when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.” Peter and the others had a change in their life and priorities. What mattered most was not financial gain, or the growth of the fishing company. What mattered the most was Jesus. Receiving Christ’s forgiveness they were empowered to reach out and gather sinners to Christ, by simply proclaiming Christ crucified and risen again.
God has given to you a calling. Whether you are a husband or wife, parent or child, worker or retired, God has called you to be His disciple in this time and place. As God’s disciple God calls you to live out your faith. As Martin Luther wrote: “It is a great gift of God to live in the light of the Word and the divine calling. For the Word directs the course of life day and night…we should do nothing contrary to the obedience and reverence we owe to God.” (LW 8:83).
Dear friend, in Baptism God has called you by name, you now belong to Him. As a disciple of Jesus, Jesus now calls you to a life of discipleship. Daily you are to follow Him, listen to His Word, trust in Christ for forgiveness and life, and live out that faith in Christ for all to see. Even as Jesus sent Peter to share the Gospel of Christ, so too this day Jesus challenges you to become a fisher of men. that through your words, actions, and attitude you will proclaim Christ as Savior, to the glory of God.
Amen