by Bruce Mackay | Download PDF | Purchase Hardcopy

Very early in His ministry, Jesus began to invite people to follow Him and become His disciples. The first record we have of Jesus using the words, 'Follow Me', was to four fishermen. These were Simon, also called Peter, Andrew, James and John. Matt 4:18. In Luke chapter five, we read that these men had returned from a night of fishing and were washing and mending their nets. They were possibly a little discouraged because they had fished hard through the night and had caught nothing. They would have preferred to be cleaning their catch rather than cleaning and mending their nets!

As a recreational fisherman, I know the excitement and anticipation of going fishing. There is always plenty of talk of what is 'on the bite' and the expectation of a great catch. It is a totally different mood when we return, as we do many a time, with not a single fish to show for a lot of money and effort. How much more for these professional fishermen, who needed a good catch to earn a living.

No doubt we all have stories of disappointment and unfulfilled expectations; family dramas, relationship breakdowns, and business ventures. The stories are endless, and yet are true and can be very discouraging. It was in this context that Jesus approached these fishermen.

Teaching the crowds

A crowd of people gathered by the lake that day, eager to hear what Jesus had to say. Jesus asked Peter if He could use his fishing boat. Peter pushed his boat out from the shore, and from that boat, Jesus taught the crowd the word of God. A fisherman's boat became Jesus' pulpit. We learn very quickly that Jesus was a people's person. He was not sophisticated, He cared for the people, and took every opportunity to meet the people just where and how they were. Jesus was unlike the professional religious leaders of the day, who put unreasonable and unnecessary demands on the people. So here, from a discouraged fisherman's boat, the Son of God taught the eager crowds.

Launch into the deep

When Jesus stopped speaking to the crowds, He turned and made a request of Simon Peter, that possibly felt like a piece of heavy wood tied to his heart. He said, '"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".' Luke 5:4-5. Peter initially reacted. 'We have fished and fished, and fished some more, and what have we to show for it; absolutely nothing.' But then, he stopped defending himself and reacting against Jesus. He made a decision that would change his life forever. 'Nevertheless at Your word, I will let down the nets.'

Sadly, most of us just react against what Jesus asks of us. We don't feel He understands our situation or circumstances. We don't feel that what He says is the answer, or even the way to go. We are so full of our own opinions, or the opinions of others, that we are not prepared to listen to and obey what Jesus is saying. We, like Peter, have had enough. We have tried everything that we possibly could try. 'Why ask this of me?' Jesus didn't ask Peter to do anything that he was not capable of doing. Peter was a fisherman; he knew how to fish. So why would Jesus ask him to go out again and let down the net? Peter was sure that this would be a waste of time. He knew that particular fishing spot like the back of his hand and there were no fish there! Peter didn't want to do it.

Jesus doesn't ask any of us to do something that is beyond us. We usually think we know better and so we don't want to do it. If it was something great and mighty, maybe, but not this. But like Peter, God's answer for you possibly lies right at your fingertips. The very thing that has discouraged and disappointed you, is possibly the very circumstance Jesus can use to transform your life. Thankfully for Peter, he stopped reacting and did what Jesus asked of him.

The result of obedience

The immediate result was amazing. The number of fish caught in the net was so great that the net began to break. They were fishing in the same spot with the same net. What was the difference? Obedience to the word of Jesus.

Peter's boat then signalled to their business partners, James and John, to come and help them. And when James and John's boat came, they filled it with fish as well! The catch of fish was so great that both fishing boats were beginning to sink. What a transformation; from discouragement to overflowing joy. The effect was experienced by everyone.

This experience had a very deep impact on Peter. Even though he had caught fish all his life as a professional fisherman, he knew that this was no ordinary man that he was with. He knew that he was in the presence of the Lord from heaven. He now began to experience a new emotion; from discouragement and disappointment to joy and now a deep commitment. He began to be convicted of his sin and said, 'Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord.' Luke 5:8.

Facing reality

A true encounter with the Lord Jesus will, at some point, cause us to be convicted of our sinful life. He is holy and we are sinful. We have all sinned and we have all come short of God's glory. There is not one of us who could say that we have never acted with pride, jealousy, greed, deceit, lust, lying or self-centeredness; to name a few. Compared to others, we may be good. But like Peter, when we are face to face with Jesus, we need to face the reality and say as Peter said, 'I am a sinful person'.

Jesus did not disagree with Peter. Neither did He reject Peter because of his confession of sin. The Bible says elsewhere that if we confess our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin. The issue that we all face is that we cannot remove the guilt and shame of our sin. We are burdened down with shame and guilt as a result of our sin. We are told we shouldn't feel guilty. We are told that we have our rights. Regardless of the efforts of friends, family or professionals, the reality is that we cannot remove the guilt of our sin. Our sin is ever before us. It is there when we put our head on our pillow, and it is there again when we rise tomorrow. Only true confession of sin to Jesus can remove its stain on our life.

Finding our purpose

A conviction and acknowledgement of sin is essential to be a follower of Jesus. It is interesting to note that initially, Jesus came to Peter and not the other way around. This teaches us that Jesus loves us, and He has come to us calling us to follow Him, long before now. How we respond will determine if we will become a disciple of Jesus or just one of the crowd. Jesus assured Peter that he didn't need to fear the future. Jesus was about to lift Peter out of his own self-centred world into the will of God.

God had a purpose for Peter, but Peter had never fulfilled it. He needed to become a follower of Christ to fulfil the purpose God had planned for him. He was to become a disciple of Christ. And his function as a disciple of Christ was to no longer catch fish, but to gather men and women into the kingdom of God. Likewise, for all of us there is a higher purpose. Many never fulfil it as they never choose to obey the words of Jesus. They stay locked in their self-centred, self-directed world of ups and downs, of expectation and disappointment, and of guilt and avoidance. We must meet Christ and move into conviction of sin, be cleansed by Him, and obey His word to each of us. We can then fulfil the purpose that God has planned for us as a disciple of Christ.

Follow me

Having brought their boats and catch to land, the next decision that Peter, Andrew, James and John made, was the most challenging of all! Remember, this was the biggest catch of fish that they had ever witnessed! It was so large and unique that they, who had worked in the industry all their lives, were astonished at such a catch and the monetary value of it would have been enormous. It could possibly have set them up financially for the future. But Jesus saw beyond just money. He saw beyond this life and into the next. He knows that to live in the next life doing the will of God in heaven, we must do His will now on earth. The will of God for these men was to 'forsake all and follow Jesus'.

The call of discipleship is the same for all of us. The only difference is the specific aspects of our life that we are to forsake. We are all different and different things will have a hold on us. The things we trust and depend on will differ for each person. However, the one thing that does remain the same is that we must put Jesus ahead of everything and everyone. When He says, 'Forsake all and follow Me', He is not calling us to forsake our accountability in life. He is not calling for us to stop providing for our families or to stop loving them. He is challenging what we trust in. He is calling us to question and examine our motives, our drive, and our fears. Our lives need aligning in a new way and it starts with putting Christ first, obeying His word to us, and fulfilling God's purpose for our lives.

Jesus speaks quite a bit about being a disciple. As we continue in the Life of Jesus series we will cover what Jesus says we must do to be His disciples.

Author: Bruce Mackay | Citywide Christian Fellowship - Cairns | CCFC
Published by Vision One at Toowoomba Christian Fellowship | TCF
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