Friday, September 23, 2005
Great Catch!
Crowds followed Jesus wherever He taught. One day, Jesus was teaching near the Sea of Galilee, and He decided to use a boat to create some space between himself and the crowds. Jesus basically commandeered one of Simon's boats and asked him to push out into the water a bit. Simon stopped cleaning his nets and complied with Jesus' request.
In a very subtle way, Jesus just involved Simon in ministry. It wasn't much. But it was a start. Simon used what he had as his disposal to aid Jesus in advancing the Kingdom of God. While Jesus taught the crowds, Simon, Andrew and their business partners were cleaning their nets. They had been out in the water all night and not caught a single fish. I can imagine they weren't in the best mood. Jesus looked past that because He had something bigger in mind for these men.
After Jesus finished speaking, He turned to Simon and asked him to launch out again and let down their nets. Simon responded, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at they word I will let down the net." Talk about timing, I bet the men had probably just finished cleaning the nets and repairing them. Now Jesus wants the men to go back and fish a spot that they know is empty. They are tired and probably a bit discouraged. Going out to the place where they had just been was probably the last thing on their minds.
Jesus wanted Simon to learn a lesson about all things being possible with God. In the process, Simon learns the value of obedience. Simon demonstrates the first step necessary to be a disciple, he does what Jesus commands. There are many times in Simon's life where he did the right think simply because he followed the directions given by Jesus even when it went against his own best judgment.
The men cast their nets and gathered such a large catch that it began to sink the boat. They called for backup. The catch seemed to get bigger as both ships were full. Finally, they get the catch to shore. And it's more than these men can process. They have instant success in the fishing business; their wildest dreams have come true. Here they have been struggling for years to find such a fishing spot, and in just a few moments of fishing based on Jesus' guidance, they collect a catch that defies explanation. Their minds must have short circuited as they try to figure out what made the fish appear in a place they knew was empty.
Overcome by the miracle of it all, Simon falls at Jesus' feet and begs him to leave. Simon said, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man." After such a miracle, you would think that Simon would beg Jesus to stay. Many businessmen would envision a fishing empire with Jesus directing the boats. Why would Simon be the recipient of such a great gift and want the giver to leave?
Notice his words, Simon spoke about his sin. How do you get a fisherman's attention? With a great catch of fish, of course. Simon saw the power of God, and he became aware of his own inadequacy. He knew that he was not up for the task; He couldn't match the power exhibited by Jesus. When the true power of God is revealed, it calls us to see His glory and our sinfulness. It brings us to a place where the only think we can do is fall down and beg for mercy.
Sometimes failure can be easier to deal with then success. Simon could handle his normal life as a fisherman, but when he came face to face with the miraculous power of God, he was undone. I believe that part of Simon wanted Jesus to leave him alone because he was afraid of following Jesus. But there was another part of him that dared to see just what would happen. That is the part of Simon we see walk on water, heal the sick and proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. People are complex. Many times we have different sides battling for control. We can all be glad that Simon listened to the voice of truth not the sound of fear.
The entire time Jesus looked at Simon and saw right through him. He spoke to Simon where he was and encouraged him to believe. Jesus said, "Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men." Jesus knew the power of fear. He encouraged Simon by identifying the fear and giving him a mysterious mission. Simon must have wondered what it meant to be a fisher of men. An obscure mission like that must have intrigued him and made him a little nervous at the same time. Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James and John on the same day.
Simon had already decided to follow Jesus as a teacher because he called him "Master." But this was different. Simon was now being called to do more than just listen to Jesus and try to follow his teaching. Jesus gave Simon a new mission - something which would require him to leave his nets behind. If we are going to follow Jesus, we always have to leave something behind. The one thing we aren't willing to let go of is the one thing that will keep us from following Him. It will rob us of true life.
Simon had become a prominent businessman in the area with boats and assistants. According to written tradition, Simon had a large house. He had a wife. He paid taxes. Simon was a real guy with real world problems. Now, he was being called to leave it all behind. Jesus gave this call after the single biggest business success of Simon's life. He was called to full nets not empty ones. There is a price to follow Jesus. He was not looking for people who would check a commitment card or say a sinner’s prayer and walk away. Jesus sought people who would follow Him in their daily life.
Why did Jesus choose fishermen? Well, they were hearty fellows who were accustomed to hard work. And they were willing to follow Jesus. But Jesus was making a point by who He selected to follow Him.
These fishermen certainly were not the sort of guys that most great teachers of the day would have selected as their students. No doubt, these men would have gone to Hebrew school and learned the Torah as children. At some point, they would have been deemed not bright or talented enough to continue as a student of the Torah. They would have been told to go home and learn a trade or continue in family business. Only the best of the best could follow a Rabbi, a great teacher. Because these men were fishermen, they had already been passed over for any prestigious religious position or ministry.
Jesus took guys from the "B" team, the reject list and turned them into a force that forever changed the world. Jesus selection of ordinary men demonstrates that God can do anything with anyone if they are willing to follow God's direction. Jesus had started to make a name for Himself. He was becoming a great Rabbi, and He gave Simon, Andrew, James and John the opportunity of a lifetime. He gave them a second chance to be great and significant.
When you consider the miraculous catch of fish and the importance of being called to follow a Rabbi in that culture, it starts to make sense why these simple fishermen would drop their nets and risk all to follow Jesus. And while their decision does make sense when put in that context, the reality of following Jesus would end up being much tougher than any of them could have possibly imagined.
At the end of the day, Simon went from empty nets to abundance from the mundane life of a fisherman to the opportunity of a lifetime. All of this happened because he said "Yes" to Jesus. Simon sought to catch the big one. In the process, he was caught by the call to follow a revolutionary Rabbi.
In a very subtle way, Jesus just involved Simon in ministry. It wasn't much. But it was a start. Simon used what he had as his disposal to aid Jesus in advancing the Kingdom of God. While Jesus taught the crowds, Simon, Andrew and their business partners were cleaning their nets. They had been out in the water all night and not caught a single fish. I can imagine they weren't in the best mood. Jesus looked past that because He had something bigger in mind for these men.
After Jesus finished speaking, He turned to Simon and asked him to launch out again and let down their nets. Simon responded, "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at they word I will let down the net." Talk about timing, I bet the men had probably just finished cleaning the nets and repairing them. Now Jesus wants the men to go back and fish a spot that they know is empty. They are tired and probably a bit discouraged. Going out to the place where they had just been was probably the last thing on their minds.
Jesus wanted Simon to learn a lesson about all things being possible with God. In the process, Simon learns the value of obedience. Simon demonstrates the first step necessary to be a disciple, he does what Jesus commands. There are many times in Simon's life where he did the right think simply because he followed the directions given by Jesus even when it went against his own best judgment.
The men cast their nets and gathered such a large catch that it began to sink the boat. They called for backup. The catch seemed to get bigger as both ships were full. Finally, they get the catch to shore. And it's more than these men can process. They have instant success in the fishing business; their wildest dreams have come true. Here they have been struggling for years to find such a fishing spot, and in just a few moments of fishing based on Jesus' guidance, they collect a catch that defies explanation. Their minds must have short circuited as they try to figure out what made the fish appear in a place they knew was empty.
Overcome by the miracle of it all, Simon falls at Jesus' feet and begs him to leave. Simon said, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man." After such a miracle, you would think that Simon would beg Jesus to stay. Many businessmen would envision a fishing empire with Jesus directing the boats. Why would Simon be the recipient of such a great gift and want the giver to leave?
Notice his words, Simon spoke about his sin. How do you get a fisherman's attention? With a great catch of fish, of course. Simon saw the power of God, and he became aware of his own inadequacy. He knew that he was not up for the task; He couldn't match the power exhibited by Jesus. When the true power of God is revealed, it calls us to see His glory and our sinfulness. It brings us to a place where the only think we can do is fall down and beg for mercy.
Sometimes failure can be easier to deal with then success. Simon could handle his normal life as a fisherman, but when he came face to face with the miraculous power of God, he was undone. I believe that part of Simon wanted Jesus to leave him alone because he was afraid of following Jesus. But there was another part of him that dared to see just what would happen. That is the part of Simon we see walk on water, heal the sick and proclaim Jesus as the Son of God. People are complex. Many times we have different sides battling for control. We can all be glad that Simon listened to the voice of truth not the sound of fear.
The entire time Jesus looked at Simon and saw right through him. He spoke to Simon where he was and encouraged him to believe. Jesus said, "Fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men." Jesus knew the power of fear. He encouraged Simon by identifying the fear and giving him a mysterious mission. Simon must have wondered what it meant to be a fisher of men. An obscure mission like that must have intrigued him and made him a little nervous at the same time. Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James and John on the same day.
Simon had already decided to follow Jesus as a teacher because he called him "Master." But this was different. Simon was now being called to do more than just listen to Jesus and try to follow his teaching. Jesus gave Simon a new mission - something which would require him to leave his nets behind. If we are going to follow Jesus, we always have to leave something behind. The one thing we aren't willing to let go of is the one thing that will keep us from following Him. It will rob us of true life.
Simon had become a prominent businessman in the area with boats and assistants. According to written tradition, Simon had a large house. He had a wife. He paid taxes. Simon was a real guy with real world problems. Now, he was being called to leave it all behind. Jesus gave this call after the single biggest business success of Simon's life. He was called to full nets not empty ones. There is a price to follow Jesus. He was not looking for people who would check a commitment card or say a sinner’s prayer and walk away. Jesus sought people who would follow Him in their daily life.
Why did Jesus choose fishermen? Well, they were hearty fellows who were accustomed to hard work. And they were willing to follow Jesus. But Jesus was making a point by who He selected to follow Him.
These fishermen certainly were not the sort of guys that most great teachers of the day would have selected as their students. No doubt, these men would have gone to Hebrew school and learned the Torah as children. At some point, they would have been deemed not bright or talented enough to continue as a student of the Torah. They would have been told to go home and learn a trade or continue in family business. Only the best of the best could follow a Rabbi, a great teacher. Because these men were fishermen, they had already been passed over for any prestigious religious position or ministry.
Jesus took guys from the "B" team, the reject list and turned them into a force that forever changed the world. Jesus selection of ordinary men demonstrates that God can do anything with anyone if they are willing to follow God's direction. Jesus had started to make a name for Himself. He was becoming a great Rabbi, and He gave Simon, Andrew, James and John the opportunity of a lifetime. He gave them a second chance to be great and significant.
When you consider the miraculous catch of fish and the importance of being called to follow a Rabbi in that culture, it starts to make sense why these simple fishermen would drop their nets and risk all to follow Jesus. And while their decision does make sense when put in that context, the reality of following Jesus would end up being much tougher than any of them could have possibly imagined.
At the end of the day, Simon went from empty nets to abundance from the mundane life of a fisherman to the opportunity of a lifetime. All of this happened because he said "Yes" to Jesus. Simon sought to catch the big one. In the process, he was caught by the call to follow a revolutionary Rabbi.
