Luke 5:1-11
A. INTRODUCTION
I’m sure a lot of people know more about fishing than I do. At its simplest you bait the hook, cast the line into the water, sit back and relax with a good book—or just take the chance to dream—and wait for the fish to bite. But at its more complex , you need to know the difference between the different types of fishing (fresh water, fly fishing, deep sea, whatever); you need to know where the fish are likely to be; you need to know the bait required; and you need to know how to outsmart the fish.
Now it seems to me that there’s one important element that’s needed regardless of the type of fishing. And that’s patience. And that’s something that, when it comes to fishing, I don’t have. If I can’t put my line in, and catch something straight away, I lose interest very quickly. And in a sense that’s a shame, because I can see that, for many, fishing can be a very relaxing pastime.
B. THE IMPATIENT FISHERMEN
And perhaps that’s why, with my mischievous nature. I can smile at this gospel story from Luke. Because it appeals to my sense of impatience. Let me explain.
1. Fishing for Fish (Luke 5:1-7)
The story starts at a lake’s edge. And what Jesus was trying to do was to talk to a group of people that were gathering around. However, it soon became impossible to continue, as the crowd got bigger and bigger and they started to press in on him.
So, Jesus, ever one to find practical solutions, got into one of two fishing boats that had just returned from a fruitless nights fishing. And he used the boat as a platform so that he could do what he was trying to do in the first place. That is, to teach the crowd.
However, by and by, Jesus finished what he had to say. And by way of indicating that he had finished, he told the owner of the boat, Simon, to pull a little away from the shore. And, accepting that as the signal that Jesus had finished, the crowd dispersed.
However, the very next thing that happened was that Jesus proceeded to tell some very experienced fishermen how to fish.
Now these were fishermen who had spent all night fishing—and unsuccessfully. And he told them to go to the deepest water, not far from the lake’s edge, which the experienced fishermen would have known was the most unlikely place to catch fish during daylight hours. And he told them to cast in their nets.
What’s more, they were ill equipped for fishing, All they had with them were their casting nets—nets used during the daytime from the shore or by a person in shallow water. Their drag nets, that they used in deep water at night, weren’t in the boat, having been washed and were hanging up on the shore to dry. But then Jesus had appeared to only the need the boat so he could teach the crowd. So they hadn’t expected him to take them fishing afterwards.
And yet, despite that, they did as Jesus told them. And almost immediately, each net, that had been cast, was full of fish. Indeed, far more fish that the fishermen knew what to do with. Their nets were breaking there were so many fish.
As a result, Simon called to his business partners on the shore—James and John—to bring the other boat, to quickly come to their aid. And, of course, in no time James and John arrived in their boat. And if they hadn’t realised quite how big the catch was, they did then. Because both boats became so full of fish that they began to sink. But they didn’t sink, because they get back to the shore just in time.
Now that’s why I call fishing. And you can probably see why it appeals to me—to someone who is very impatient when it comes to fishing.
2. Fishing for Disciples (Luke 5:8-11)
However, that’s not the end of the story. Because when the boats arrived at the shore, and the fishermen had got out of their boats, Simon’s first reaction was to fall down at Jesus’s feet. In the miracle that he’d just witnessed, this experienced fisherman had seen the hand of God. And Simon expressed his unworthiness in the presence of Jesus.
Indeed, Simon, and his business partners, James and John, were all in wonder (and a little fearful) about being in Jesus’s presence. For seasoned fishermen, the fact that they had caught any fish—let alone one of this size—had no rational explanation.
So, when Jesus talked to Simon (and probably James and John as well) in terms of the need for them to change their occupation—from one of catching fish to catching men—their immediate response was to pull both boats up onto the shore, leave their catch with their fellow workers, and leave their past lives behind to follow Jesus.
Seemingly ‘instant fishing’ all over again—although this time with three disciples rather than with fish. And again a story that would warm the heart of anyone who was impatient when it comes to fishing.
3. Comment
Except for the fact that unlike the catch of fish., the calling of Simon, James, and John was not instantaneous at all.
Because, firstly, the backdrop of this story comes from an expectation that the Messiah could appear at any stage. Jeremiah had prophesied six hundred years before their birth to expect the birth of the Messiah. So, Simon, James, and John, would have already been looking for the Messiah when Jesus came on the scene.
Secondly, Jesus was not the only one to claim to be a Messiah in those days. Indeed, many people had claimed to be the Messiah or were pointing to someone as being the Messiah. So presumably each ‘Messiah’ would have had to have distinguished himself in some way from the others. And the miracle of the fish would certainly have done that.
Thirdly, in the passage prior to this, Jesus was seen coming out of a synagogue, and going in to Simon’s home (Luke 4:38-49), where he cured Simon’s mother-in-law of a fever. Indicating that Jesus and Simon’s paths had crossed at least once before.
And, fourthly, in this story, Simon called Jesus ‘Master’—a term indicative of the fact that Simon already considered himself to be a follower of Jesus, if not a disciple already.
In other words, far from this being a story of ‘instant fishing’ for three disciples, this story indicates that this is the culmination of a number of events—and over a reasonable period of time—indicating a great deal of patience as far as God is concerned.
4. The Purpose of the Catch
However, we shouldn’t lose the aspect of the ‘instant fishing’ story totally. Because the miraculous ‘instant’ catch of so many fish, in a situation that professional fishermen knew was impossible, had at least two distinct purposes.
And the first was to persuade Simon, James, and John to take their faith to a whole new level. After that miracle, they could no longer sit on the sidelines and take a passive role. Indeed, from then on, they needed to commit themselves as true disciples.
And the second reason, was that it removed many of the obstacles that stopped the three of them from being disciples of Jesus. Because we know that Simon, in particular, was married (after all, Jesus healed his mother-in-law). And the three fishermen probably had responsibilities towards a number of people that they needed to care for—to feed and shelter. The enormous catch (beyond even the fishermen’s imaginations) when sold, then, would have provided enough money not only to care for the families of all three but would have provided for their fellow workers as well.
So, Jesus not only called the three to leave their boats and follow him, but he provided the means to make what he asked possible. For Simon, James, and John the obstacles from following Jesus had been removed. So they could then concentrate on training for their new job—and that was catching men.
5. Comment
Despite the miracle of the huge catch, then, this ‘instant fishing’ story demonstrates that Jesus’s interest wasn’t in the edible type of fish at all. His interest was in the fishermen themselves. This episode brings to a conclusion a passage of time where Jesus had prepared them for their call, and that he wanted them to take the next step in their spiritual growth—the call to be disciples.
And, of course, Simon, he shortly renamed, Peter, was to be the spokesman for the group, one of an inner circle of three disciples. He may, later, have slipped up by denying Jesus three times, but he did become one of the most important leaders in the early church. And James and John—the sons of Zebedee—also became two of the twelve disciples themselves.
At the time of their calling, three quite ordinary, uneducated men, demonstrating no particular speaking or leadership skills. There was nothing to set them apart as great leaders. However, they were the kind of people that God often chooses, who only God can see has any potential at all.
C. BEING PATIENT FISHERMEN
So, we started with a story that seemed to fit well people like me—an impatient fisherman. And we ended with the realisation that this story really is not about being impatient at all. Rather, it is about being patient, particularly where God is concerned.
So what does it actually mean for us? How can we apply what it teaches to our own lives?
Well, in regard to actual fishing, it’s probably no help at all. I can’t see that it can help me become a patient fisherman at all. However, in regard to fishing for men . . . Well, there are some very important lessons we can learn.
1. Patience
Because, firstly, whether we like it or not, this story is not about impatience but it’s about patience. And that is a lesson that we need to learn well.
The first time that Jesus met Simon (and probably James and John), it did not involve them immediately leaving everything behind and following Jesus. That only happened after their paths had crossed a number of times. And the same is probably true about us too. When we were first confronted with Jesus we probably didn’t respond immediately in the right way either.
So, when the boot’s on the other foot, and we’re carrying out our responsibilities in telling others about Jesus, we need to learn to have patience. Because it’s unrealistic to expect any non-Christian to give an immediate response to the gospel. And we shouldn’t get discouraged when our efforts don’t get rewarded with instantaneous results.
In fact what we should be doing is to take a lesson from the prophets, who had pointed the way to the Messiah. Because just as they had not lived to see the birth of Jesus, similarly we may not see the results of our labours either. We need to recall at all times, that like the prophets, all we’re asked to do is to do our duty, and leave the rest to God. And that is a practice that needs a lot of patience.
2. Removing the Obstacles
Secondly, the thing we can learn from the example of Jesus is that he not only called people to him, but he was actively involved in removing any obstacle that should be in their path too.
Caring for others and helping remove the barriers to faith in others, then, should be part and parcel of how we go about sharing God’s kingdom. In fact, much of what we do should be to dismantle barriers that get in people’s way from responding to him.
And that can be from befriending someone; to helping someone out; to enabling people to join in a particular group or activity; to providing a lift to church; to removing the obstacles in church (both physical and traditional); to presenting someone (who hasn’t got one) with a bible to read; and the list goes on.
3. The Miraculous
And then, thirdly, we need to accept that God is not beyond the miraculous to take us to the next step.
Simon, James, and John may have known Jesus for some time—and they would have known him even from a backdrop of expecting the Messiah—but the miracle of the fish was the turning point for all three. It changed them from people who intellectually accepted that Jesus may have a right to have a claim on their lives, to people being called to stand up and to put their faith into action.
And just as the three were presented with a miracle—something that they couldn’t rationally explain to take them to the next level of faith—it’s not inconceivable that, even today, God will use things that cannot be rationally explained to take us to the next level too. And when that happens, we will need to respond to God by being willing to take the next step too.
D. CONCLUSION
So fishing, I’m sure, for many, may be a very rewarding pastime, but I still don’t think it’s for me. Fishing for people, however, is something that Jesus asks us all to do. And that requires a deal of patience.
Yes, sometimes there may be instant results. But more likely, it will seem like a long hard slog. Regardless of that, we would do well to learn those three things from today’s Gospel.
Firstly, that God is patient. He has been patient with us, and we need to be patient with others when it comes to sharing the Christian faith. Secondly, that just as Jesus did much to remove the barriers to stopping people having faith, then we should do the same. And, thirdly, that God is not beyond using the miraculous to take us to a whole new spiritual level.
And if we learn those lessons well, then we too will be able to respond to God in a right and fulfilling way. And, like Simon, James, and John, we will then be able to go on to help others, particularly those who struggle with the faith.
Posted: 1st April 2024
© 2024, Brian A Curtis
www.brianacurtis.com.au
