CHRISTIANS: BOTH FISH AND FISHERMEN!

by Pastor Paul Naumann

Now so it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. Now when He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word, I will let down the net." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." 

— Luke 5:1-10

Dear Fellow-Redeemed,

In the state of Alaska, fishing is a major industry. Commercial fishing boats there provide a large share of the salmon that is consumed in this country. The most profitable kind of fishing boat, interestingly enough, is called a "purse seiner". When a school of salmon is located, a skiff is launched, which drags a net around to form a wide circle behind the boat. The top of the net floats, and the bottom sinks down to form a kind of fence around the fish. Then a rope that runs through the bottom of the net is tightened and pulled on board, forming the net into a "purse", and trapping the fish. On a good day, hundreds of valuable king and silver salmon can be hauled onto a boat in this purse-shaped net. It's an interesting process.

Our Lord once told a parable about a similar process... He said that the Word of God is like a net that men throw into the sea. When they draw the net back in, it's full of all different kinds and sizes of fish. Likewise, the people that God's Word catches are all different. But once they become believers, they all have the same job to do. To spread the net of God's Word even wider, and bring even more people into God's Kingdom. That's why our theme for this morning is:

"CHRISTIANS: BOTH FISH AND FISHERMEN!"

I. First the Gospel catches us. II. Then we help catch others with the Gospel

Did you know that there are some kinds of fish that are permanently blind? Scientists have discovered fish deep in the darkness of subterranean caves that have only a membrane where their eyes should be. They swim around in total darkness their entire lives. The Bible tells us that that's how people are, by nature. Paul says that they're spiritually blind, "...walking in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them..." — Eph 4:17-18. They're like blind fish, swimming around in a darkened sea. They don't know that, of course; they're just going about their business. Like Peter and his friends there on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, washing off their nets after a long night of unsuccessful fishing. Just taking care of business, wondering whether their next fishing trip would be any better; it could hardly be any worse! Little did they know, they'd be going out fishing again very soon, and the results of that fishing trip would completely change their lives.

"Now when Jesus had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.'" Simon Peter must have wondered exactly who this Guy thought He was, telling him, a professional fisherman, how to do his job! He said, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So 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." An amazing miracle! All night long, time after time, they had thrown in their net and brought it back empty. And now, with one simple word from Jesus, their net is filled to bursting with fish. So many that two boats can hardly hold them all. It was Jesus' way of showing them that He was no ordinary man, but the very Son of God, that Messiah that had been promised.

It was obvious to these fishermen that this great haul of fish wasn't any coincidence. For, "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!'" He doesn't call Him "master" or "teacher" anymore, but "Lord." All of a sudden his eyes were open. Now he knew that this wasn't just some eccentric rabbi giving him offhand tips on fishing. This was GOD, and Peter knew it! Jesus had caught him in His net!

If you go into a restaurant for breakfast, often they'll have three or four different specials. What do they call them? "Eye-openers". Jesus uses miracles like this one as "eye-openers," ways to make people wake up to what they are - sinners, and to who He is - the Savior of sinners. And almighty God, the Creator of the world, has enlightened our darkness by opening our eyes to the light of this Gospel, as it says in II Corinthians, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." — II Cor 4:6. He catches us with the Gospel, just like He caught these disciples. And when we hear the white light of God's Word, and see the black darkness of our sins, we feel like saying the same thing Peter did, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" That's the true contrition that the Holy Ghost works through the Law. But Jesus didn't depart from Peter, and He won't go away from us, either. He stays to comfort us with the sweet forgiveness that He earned for us on the cross. Because of that atonement He made with His own blood, we are now the sons and daughters of God; the brothers and sisters of Christ. And we stand to inherit the priceless gift of eternal life!

But what do we do in the meantime? Sit back on our heels and keep the good news to ourselves? No way! there's work to be done. Peter had been catching fish since he was a boy, but Jesus had a change in career planned for him. He said, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." Jesus had caught him with the Gospel, and now, as an apostle, he would catch other men with the Gospel. We, too, have been caught in Jesus' net; and now we have the wonderful work to do of catching others with that same Good News of forgiveness. As Christians, first we're the fish, then we're the fishermen!

After Jesus did this amazing miracle at the Sea of Galilee, it was no more "business as usual" for those disciples. In fact, it was the end of their fishing business. Our text tells us that "...when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him." vs. 11. They had a special work to do: they would be Jesus' disciples, and they would later become leaders of the early Christian church. The Apostle Paul was a special kind of fisherman. He was the first one that God sent to bring the Good News to the non-Jews of his time. When Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, Jesus told him, "I now send you to the Gentiles to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." — Acts 26:17-18.

It may be passages like this, though, that give people the wrong idea that it's only the pastors who are supposed to be "fishers of men." That's just not true! When Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations," he wasn't just speaking to his disciples, but to all Christians. This same Peter, the former fisherman, had advice to give to every Christian sitting in the pew. In his first epistle he tells us, "...Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you." — I Pet 3:15. You are God's fisherman! You are helping to spread the net of the Gospel with every word you speak, and every thing you do. I'm talking to every single one of you. Your walk in life, as a Christian, is like a light shining in a dark place. Jesus says, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." — Matt 5:16. And I'm not telling you to grab people by the lapels on the street corner and witness about Christ. The topic will come up by itself, and more often than you might think. Before you know it, someone will be asking you why you go to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Why you believe the things you do. Why you're not a worried about life as everyone else is. Why you don't cheat on your taxes. Why you're confident, instead of confused, about deep subjects like life after death. They'll ask you why; and all you have to do is tell them the truth; and you'll be letting your light shine. You'll be doing your work as God's fisherman. You'll be spreading the net of the Gospel.

I saw a church bulletin once that had kind of a unique cover. It was the name of Jesus, but the "J" was shaped to look like a fishing hook. You see the meaning... You and I have been "hooked" on the Gospel of Christ. We're His now, praise be to God! As Christians, we're both the fish...and the fishermen. God grant us wisdom and courage to let our lights shine, so that through us, others may be brought to the blessed confidence of eternal life in Christ. In His saving name, AMEN.