Luke 5:4-5;10b-11 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word, I will let down the nets.” “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. ‘
● Peter initially addresses Jesus as Master (Luke’s equivalent for “teacher”) but after the miracle of the catch, he calls him Lord.
● Sinner was a term used for people who isolated from the religious circles because of their open sin, their unacceptable lifestyle, or paganism.
● They were faced with a decision. To cash in on the greatest catch of their career, or go all in and fully trust. It’s much easier to go all-in with God when you are at rock bottom that when you are at the pinnacle of your own achievement. It’s not as hard to burn the boat when your boat is a raft that you just made to survive. But when your boat is a million-dollar yacht, it’s a different story.
John 6:66-69 “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
● Jesus had just taught in the synagogue that he is the living bread that came down from heaven, and unless you eat his flesh and drink his blood you have no life in you.
● Are you going to go with the crowd? Are you going to take the path of least resistance? Are you still going to be all in and fully trust me, even when you don’t understand?
● To them, Jesus wasn’t their last resort, but their only hope. They have thrown everything into it.
What’s your boat? What’s the thing you’re afraid to let go of? The part of your life you have a hard time fully trusting God.
● Relationships
● Your career or your ministry
● Responsibility and faith
● Certainty and control
● Finances
● With your kids
● For the right spouse
● Sexuality
● Pain, brokenness, Shame
John 21:3-6 ‘Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the
net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”
V. 9 ‘When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.’
● Peter had seen the resurrected Jesus before this encounter.
● Back in “The boat”
● They fished all night and caught nothing (sound familiar). Right at the break of dawn.
● He showed no concern for the fish, his only desire was to get to Jesus
● The description John gives the fire is “charcoal fire” which is the same description he gave the fire that Peter stood next to in the high priest’s courtyard the night he denied Jesus. He stood by the fire with the officers and the servants “with them” warming himself by the fire.
John 21:15-19 ‘When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved
because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify
God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” ‘
Will you go all in, again?