How Should You Fish?

5th Sunday after Epiphany, 2/9/25 Luke 5:1-11 How Should You Fish? I. Impress them with Jesus’ power. II. Invite them into Jesus’ presence. “You wanna go fishing?” What’s your response to that question/invitation? Well, I can think of two extremes. On the one hand, fishing is one of your favorite past times. You would go fishing every day if you didn’t have other things that you had to do. You dream about being out on the water in your watercraft of choice, casting your baited line into the shimmering water, and just waiting for the bobber to plunge beneath the water’s surface and the accompanying tug on your fishing line. In fact, you love fishing so much, you wouldn’t care if you didn’t catch anything. You simply enjoy fishing. At the other extreme, you can’t imagine yourself fishing. The fact that you don’t particularly like to eat fish only fortifies your aversion to fishing. You consider it to be a waste of time and money. Just the thought of baiting a hook makes you nauseous, let alone cleaning a fish if you should be so horrified to actually catch one. You want no part of sweating in the sun or suffering through seasickness. Those are the two extremes I can imagine in answer to the invitation, “Wanna go fishing?” A few of you are on one end, and a few are on the other, and the rest of us are somewhere in between. This morning’s sermon text is the familiar account of the miraculous catch of fish and Jesus calling his disciples to fish for people. If you attended Sunday School as a child, this lesson was certainly in the curriculum. It might even be one of the most memorable accounts you can recall. And the application is always the same. Just as Jesus called Peter and the others to fish for people, so he calls you and me to do the same. And that calling is more than just an invitation, “Wanna go fishing?” It’s even more than an opportunity. There’s an expectation included. That expectation emanates from the will of our God who wants everyone to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ. He wants everyone to follow him. And that means he wants every one of his current followers to go fishing for others. So, the question before us this morning is not from the lips of Jesus asking us, “Wanna go fishing?” We know that he wants us to go fishing and even expects us to go fishing. And that’s why our question is, “How should I fish?” In other words, what should we do to fish for people as Jesus asks us to do? How should you fish? Keep that question in mind as we have the gracious opportunity to spend some time in God’s word this morning. I. Do I have your attention? If not, “Hey! Yoo-hoo!! Up here!” Why did I just do that? Because I know how difficult it is to cause someone to pay attention. And part of the reason for that is that I’m just up here speaking to you. There are no theatrics. No pyrotechnics. During this 15-minute sermon I can’t possibly hold your attention the way that this evening’s Super Bowl Half-Time Show will. And that’s the way it is every day all day long. The amazing things grab our attention. The mundane doesn’t even garner a glance from our eyes or a second of our time. But look again at the impressive events on this day in the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus. It starts out in a rather familiar way. “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 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.” Jesus spends time preaching to the people. In last Sunday’s gospel reading, that’s exactly what we heard Jesus state that he came to do—to go and preach to as many people as possible. On this day he used the natural astounding acoustics of the water to reach the ears of a crowd of people. We don’t know exactly what he told them, but a good guess would be that he told them that he was their Messiah, their long-awaited Savior from sin. That’s an impressive message when you actually stop to ponder it. But from a human standpoint, that message doesn’t hold an impressive candle to what Jesus then did. I don’t need to re-read it. He told Peter to put out into deep water and let down his nets for a catch of fish. And that command seemed like nonsense to an experienced, professional fisherman such a Peter. You catch fish with nets in shallow water, not deep. And you don’t fish during the heat of the day. But Peter complied. He complied and was astounded. Our text states that he and James, John, and their other companions were astonished. If the crowd was still on the shore, I imagine they were as well. Nets breaking under the weight of the catch. Two boats full of fish. Impressive to say the least. And the miracle of Jesus wasn’t for nothing. It accomplished what Jesus desired. They were amazed. Impressed with Jesus’ power. And that answers our question, “How should you fish? How should you fish for other people?” Impress them with Jesus’ power. But what can you do? How will you impress people with the power of Jesus when you’re fishing for them? You can’t count on performing a miracle yourself, and don’t expect Jesus to do one either. At least not one like filling a net full of fish. Instead, let the fish you are fishing for see the miracle that Jesus has done for you and still does in you every day. Let others see Jesus through you. Let others see what Jesus has done for you. You don’t have to contrive an amazing story that every news media outlet would love to show. Instead, impress them with how much you’re just like they are regarding your faults and fears, your dangers and depressions, your sorrows and sins. Impress them by telling them you know what their life is like because you’ve been there. At times, you still are there. But Jesus used his power to transform you, to give you certain hope and a guaranteed future. He’s brought meaning and purpose to your life. You live each day surrounded by his love and filled with his inner peace and joy. When you go fishing for others, you don’t have to impress them with a net full of fish. Just share how Jesus has used his power to impress you. II. The world-famous Augusta National Golf Course was historically exclusive, and that didn’t sit well with many people. Only white men were allowed to be members. Then it opened its membership to all men. And just a few years ago it began welcoming women into membership as well. Telling someone, “You don’t belong here,” or “You can’t belong here,” is counter cultural, to say the least. But people still say or feel, “I don’t belong here.” It happens all the time, to all of us, if we’re honest. We find ourselves in a place or a situation which seems as if we don’t belong. And we’re compelled to leave…immediately. Peter experienced that same thing. After witnessing the miracle of Jesus, Peter exclaimed, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” The Greek word here for “sinful” is noteworthy. There are several words for “sin” in the Greek, and the one used here emphasizes the status of being an outcast. It’s used for the type of person who was shunned by society for their shameful life. Here Peter used it to describe himself. And he was correct. As a sinner, even if he wasn’t an outcast from society, he had no business in the presence of Jesus, the holy Son of God. Because he was sinful—like the rest of us—he deserved to be banished from the presence of God forever—in hell. But what does Jesus do instead? Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” He didn’t shun Peter; he accepted him. He invited him into his presence. He wanted to assure Peter that he was the solution to Peter’s sinful condition and his daily sins. Peter was washed clean—made holy—sanctified by Jesus. And as such, Jesus had plans for Peter. He invited—he called—Peter to follow him. Why? So that he could fish for people. He called Peter to the highest vocation any person can attain—to be in the service of Jesus, the Son of God, fishing for people. Jesus wanted to use Peter—even with his shortcomings—to carry out the glorious work of calling other people into the kingdom of God where there is full forgiveness, new life, and eternal salvation. And he does the same for you and me. He calls us to do the glorious work of calling other people into his kingdom. Fishing for people. So, how should you fish? Invite them into Jesus’ presence. “Acceptance” is a huge issue in our society. Too often it’s marked by the number of social media “friends,” likes, and having the most up-to-date information about that’s happening in your life available for others to enjoy. At least, that’s what we like to think. Or, we measure acceptance by our performance. As long as we’re going above and beyond what’s expected of us, we deserve to be accepted, and if not, then that’s their issue, not ours. I’m sure there are other methods of obtaining acceptance. Too many of them reside in our fragile psyche. And that’s not unique. I’m guessing it’s that way with every person. Every fish. Every person—every fish—longs for acceptance to one degree or another. So, how about knowing and then sharing this great truth: Jesus, the holy Son of God, brims with loving acceptance of sinful people. That doesn’t mean he tolerates sin; it means he loves each and every sinner. He loves me. He loves you. He showed it when he died on the cross for you. That’s right—he died to invite you into his holy presence for eternity. And he wants to do the same thing with every person. Every fish. And we are the ones going fishing every day. Again, if acceptance is a huge need for everyone in our world, then here’s a point of contact between you and others. Jesus invites them in. Jesus loves them. And he uses us to share his invitation and his love. So, go fishing this week! And next Sunday, let me know what you catch! May Jesus richly bless your fishing this week! Amen.