Luke 5:1-11 "Going Fishing"
We live in a time when people think they know all about Jesus—at least everything they need to know. Maybe they went to church when they were kids, and remember being bored to death. Maybe they got screamed at on social media by people who confuse Christianity with politics. For sure they’ve seen people who say they’re followers of Jesus say one thing and then do another. Everyone hates a hypocrite.
Lots of people have rejected Jesus based on cheap imitations and bad information.
Do you remember Tang? That powdered orange drink we were all tricked into buying because they said the astronauts drank it? It was terrible. It barely had any flavor. It was like taking a glass with dried orange pulp residue from yesterday’s breakfast, and then adding water and stirring it up. Yum. Imagine if that was all you had ever tried but you were sure you didn’t like fresh orange juice.
That’s what most people who think they know all about that Jesus stuff are like.
Or like someone who’s only tried one of those vegetarian hamburgers, like the McPlant or the Impossible burger—and now they’re pretty sure they wouldn’t enjoy a filet mignon.
G.K. Chesterton said, “The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.”
We might say it like this these days: Christianity hasn’t been rejected because of Christ, it’s been rejected because of Christians. Well, McChristians. Hypocrites.
This is why we’re taking our time and walking through the Gospel of Luke. To get to know Christ. If you actually show up and pay attention, you might just find out who Jesus really is and what He’s really all about. There’s a really good chance that a lot of what you think you know is Tang.
Luke chapter five:
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. Luke 5:1
Listening to the word of God. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh—everything He said was the word of God. The early church called disciples “hearers of the Word.” Jesus is speaking the Word of God to the crowds—from the crowds will emerge disciples. The faithless crowds are pressing in on Him—they want more miracles. They want to hear what He has to say. But they’re not Christians yet.
The word of Jesus is what creates faith. And Jesus will make it clear in His teaching that it’s not enough to just hear His word—you also have to do it. We can read the Bible, study it, know all kinds of things—we can even believe it—but we haven’t really “heard” the Word of God until we do it. Faith has to lead to faithfulness. Saying you believe something and then not doing it is lame. It’s weak sauce. Tang. It’s hypocritical. Everyone really does hate a hypocrite. It’s not the way of Jesus.
You can’t have faith until you hear the words of Christ. But you won’t understand your faith until you do it—until you try to be faithful.
So, the crowd has pushed Him all the way to the edge of the lake. It’s a miserable situation for everyone. It’s hard to hear, it’s hard to see. Usually, Jesus would sit down to teach but there’s no room—so He improvises a solution. Verse 2:
He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. Luke 5:2-3
Put a little space between Him and the crowd, made room to sit down, and get a little more comfortable. We don’t know how long He spoke. We know he had the attention of the guy who owned the boat. Jesus had just healed his Mother-in-Law the other day. This is going to be a really big moment in the life of Simon Peter. This is his come to Jesus time.
Think about it, Peter already knew about Jesus. He had seen a miracle or two. But he didn’t really KNOW Jesus yet. Verse 4:
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 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.” Luke 5:4-5
Can you hear the sound of an experienced tradesman humoring the preacher?
Jesus tells Simon Peter to go out into the deep water. You know, now that the sun is up and it’s hot, now that you’ve got your nets all clean, now that you’ve been working all night with nothing to show for it, now that you spent all morning listening to a preacher sitting in your boat in the sun—now that you’re ready to go home and get some sleep.
Peter’s like, “Okay, if you say so. I mean, that’s not how fishing works. I don’t really want to. But okay.” Verse 6:
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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. Luke 5:6-7
You’ve probably heard this story before, so you’re not surprised by the punchline. Of course they caught a bunch of fish. Of course Jesus was right. This is the Bible, that’s the way Bible stories work.
But that’s not how it would have felt to them. I’m also going to guess that you still feel the same way Peter did before he went out and dropped the nets again. You probably still don’t think that’s the way the world works.
You know this story isn’t really about fishing, right? Jesus was speaking prophetically when he told Peter to go out into the deep—on what looks like a fool’s errand—and try to catch something in the same water that had been a bunch of nothing all night.
But a miracle happened. The nets were too full. The boats were too full. They had to ask for help to haul in the catch. People were watching. This was incredible. How do you think Peter’s going to react to all this? Verse 8:
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Luke 5:8-10
He falls to his knees. This is worship. He calls Jesus “Lord.” Also worship. But his response to realizing he’s in the presence of The Holy One of God is the same as the demon. He tells Jesus to “go away.” Go away! It’s what always happens when sinful people come face to face with holiness. They don’t like it. They realize how unholy they are. How sinful and unclean and unworthy they are. They feel dirty. Judged. Insignificant. God is light and we’re shadows. What happens to shadows in the light? What happens when we’ve been in the dark and suddenly there’s bright light? It’s blinding! It’s painful. We cover our eyes and scream at the light to go away. Sinners always prefer the dark. Fish always prefer the dark waters.
It’s the same reaction you’re going to get when you talk about your faith with people. They’ll be uncomfortable. They’ll feel judged. If you’re doing it right, they’ll probably hope you go away and let them sink back into the cold shadows that they’re used to.
Peter thought he knew all about rabbis. All about preachers and teachers. He even thought he knew all about this Jesus guy—the miracle worker from Nazareth. He also thought he knew all about fishing. All of sudden the only thing he knew was he was a sinner and didn’t know anything. He was undone. He was terrified. This was an existential crisis.
Jesus gives him the most common command in the Bible. The most common thing God says, the most common thing angels say. But this time it’s not only a command, it’s also absolution. Verse 10:
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Luke 5:10
Don’t be afraid. He was in awe because of the words of Jesus, the power and authority of those words, the miracle of the fish. He felt the holiness of Christ. He felt the weight of his sin. When Jesus tells him to not be afraid, he’s offering forgiveness and salvation. The next sections of Luke will dig into that deeper.
Don’t be afraid. Jesus is saying the same thing to you today. You don’t have to be afraid of God’s holiness. He’s not going to destroy you, He’s going to save you. Forgive you. You don’t have to be afraid; because from now on you’re going to fish for people. Literally it says, “you will catch men alive.” From now on you will spend your life pulling people from the dark waters of chaos where they are mindlessly swimming in circles waiting to be eaten by bigger fish—and you will bring them into the boat with Jesus. Not to kill them. Not to eat them or sell them. To make them alive and free. You will catch people alive.
In Matthew and Mark they say the same thing but a little differently, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Same idea.
So what did Peter, James, and John do? Verse 11:
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Luke 5:11
They didn’t waste the fish, they let the men who were helping take care of it. I’m sure that great haul of fish was worth a lot of money and paid the bills for a while. But this is the day they officially became disciples of Jesus. They left everything and started following Him. We’re told the same thing about Matthew. Jesus said “follow me,” and he dropped everything and followed.
Had to be kinda scary. They had jobs. Families.
Jesus says the same thing to you and me. “Follow me.”
Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.
I’ve been waiting to get to this passage since we started this series. I think this passage is the key to NewChurch’s future. I think it’s the key to every faithful church’s future.
Like Peter, we’ve been fishing all night. Barely caught anything. We’ve been stuck at about a hundred people for seven years. We’ve been hoping to grow so we can afford to get a place of our own—a place where we can connect with people in this community and share the love and grace of God with them. So we can do the ministry God called us to do in the way He called us to do it. A place that is a net in and of itself.
But it’s been hard. We’ve been fishing through all the dark hours of COVID and Hurricane Harvey and political culture wars and stolen equipment. We’ve barely caught anything. It’s discouraging. We’re tired. We feel like we’ve tried. We’ve already invited the people we know. We come to church and keep hoping. Hoping people will see our signs outside and join us. Hoping fish will just jump into the boat.
Here’s what I think Jesus is telling us: “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Go out there where it’s scary, the same places you’ve been before. Don’t just hear the word of God, do the word of God. Go fishing for people. Have conversations with the same people in the same places you’ve tried before. Have conversations with new people in new places—and this time it will be different.
And you might be thinking, “No it won’t. I’ve tried before. Didn’t catch anything.” You might be afraid to talk about your faith with people, especially these days.
Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
That’s two commands. Don’t be afraid. You will fish for people. When? From now on.
Talk about your faith. Talk about your church. Talk about your hope. But when the time is right, you have to actually pull the net back in. Yank the fishing line. Set the hook. You have to actually say the words of Jesus. The Gospel. There’s a difference between talking about Jesus—things you know, facts, big theological ideas, opinions—and saying His words.
There’s a difference between talking about fishing and going fishing.
Here’s three big ideas—I don’t know much about fishing but I know this:
You have to go to where the fish are.
You have to use the right bait or hook or net.
You have to be willing to fish the same spot again and again.
Go to where the fish are. You know what most churches do? They pretty much just fish in their own swimming pool. Their baptismal fountain. Try to catch fish in the bathtub. You have to go to where the fish are if you want to catch anything.
Where are they? Where are the people Jesus wants us to catch alive? Where are the people He wants to bring into the boat with Him?
In a traditional church, the lobby area, the place where you enter the church—that leads to the altar—is called the “nave.” “Nave” is from the Latin word “navis” which means “boat.” The entrance to a church is called the “nave” because Jesus told His people to fish for men alive and bring them into the boat—the church. We are the Lord’s Navy.
I want us all to be thinking about and praying about where Jesus is sending us to fish. Where is He sending you to fish? Can you join a Jeep club? A motorcycle club? Hang out at the same coffee shop a couple times a week? Start a Bible study or prayer group at work or school? Throw a party in your neighborhood and give away hotdogs and beer? Invite some people to a movie and then have some drinks and talk about the faith implications of what you just watched? I don’t know—come up with your own ideas! But you have to go where the fish are.
Number two, you have to use the right bait or hook or net. When you’re trying to catch one fish at a time, you can’t do it without bait. Something has to get their attention. And it doesn’t work without a hook—there has to be some way to make a connection. A hook or a net—a way to bring them into the boat.
One of the things I’ve been doing recently is making short videos. They’re on all kinds of subjects but they all point back to Jesus. I post them everywhere. They’re bait. They’re a net. Ideas as bait. Myself as bait. It’s fishing. People are swimming in the dark, deadly, mindless waters of social media and I’m trying to get them in the boat with Jesus. To catch men alive.
So, you could do the same thing. Make little short videos inviting people to come and see what Jesus is all about. Telling people what Jesus has done for you. Talk about what we do here in church that gives your life meaning and hope. If you make some videos like that, I’ll help you share them.
I know not everyone is comfortable shooting and uploading videos of themselves. I get it. But you can help get my videos in front of more people. You could help me share the videos I’m making. I hope you like them but I’m not really making them for you. I’m making them to help you share your faith—with your friends, with your family, with strangers. Help you go fishing.
The best way is to add a little message when you share it—something to give it some context—what you think about it: this is my pastor, my friend Pastor Frank, ask what they think about whatever the subject is—and then share it: text it to someone, email, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Rumble, Facebook, put it on a USB drive and cast it into the water.
It’s bait. And it’s only going to work if we use it somewhere other than our own bathtub. Also, I think Jesus actually expects all of us to be the actual bait. You’re the bait. I am, too. But you’re the bait that’s going to catch the people God has called you to catch.
The third point: be ready to fish the same spot over and over. They had already fished all night—Jesus said to try again. He’s going to repeat this miracle after the resurrection—just to really drive home the point of what they’re supposed to be doing.
In John 21:6, it’s the same setup. They had been fishing all night, hadn’t caught a thing. This is after the resurrection and they didn’t seem to get the point the first time, so Jesus repeats Himself. Peter and the boys went back to actual fishing. Catching nothing. And Jesus walks up in the morning.
“He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” John 21:6
Throw your net on the other side of the boat. Made no sense. It’s the same water.
This time Peter not only does what Jesus tells him to do but he jumps in the water and swims to Jesus—where he’s restored and forgiven.
We say this all the time around here: read your freaking Bible. The truth is, if you’ve been hanging out with us for any length of time, you’ve heard plenty of God’s Word. It’s not that you’re unfamiliar with it. Even if you’ve only been with us today. You’ve heard plenty to keep you busy.
Be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
Go to where the fish are.
Use the right bait, hook, or net.
Don’t be afraid to hit the same spots.
Speak the word of Jesus. With His authority. Lots of people have rejected Jesus based on cheap imitations and bad information. Poor examples. Tang. Go out there and be the real thing. Don’t be a hypocrite. At least not as much of one. You are forgiven because of Jesus. Don’t be a McChristian.
Let’s go fishing. Don’t be afraid.