Following Jesus: The Call
Luke 5:1-11
Introduction
If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer? One of the ways we all initially follow Jesus is to hear his call - to become aware that Jesus desires for us to be in his family, to serve as He did, and to live forever with him.
2 Thessalonians 2:14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The entire story of Jesus is, in a sense, a calling out to all of humanity that says, “I love you, I was willing to die to save you from your sins; I’m preparing a place for you.” Of course many reject that call, but what about you today?If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer?
In Luke 4:43 Luke has noted that Jesus said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God …that is why I was sent.”.Good News - the message of the gospel is good news. Kingdom of God - reign and rule of God in our lives. Discipleship is following Jesus - allowing Him to be Lord of our lives - to reign and rule. It’s not always an easy decision. It’s not always an easy way of life . It is good because it promises the best life now, and the reality of eternal life after this life.
Our text is Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.
2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 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.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 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.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
7 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.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
What does this passage show us about the call of Jesus?
1. The Call of Jesus Comes From The Word (Luke 5:1)
Luke 5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of
Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and
listening to the word of God.
I do believe God can speak to us in any number of ways. I have heard people say that God spoke to them in dreams, in a hunch, with a feeling, through a vision, and voice. One thing I know is that the surest way to know God’s will is to read it in the Scriptures yourself. Every other way is subjective - and possibly not a message from God at all. But the word of God is a sure source of God’s wisdom. When Jesus preached, he preached the word of God.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually
because, when you received the word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as
it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you
who believe.
If Jesus is calling you today through the Scriptures, will you answer?
2. The Call of Jesus is Determined (Luke 5:2-3)
Luke 5:2-3 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there
by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 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.
As people crowded Jesus, he became all the more determined to speak to them. He conscripted a nearby boat. It was left there by fisherman - they had fished all night and were washing their nets. Exhausted and not too happy for this stranger to want to get out on the water to hold a revival!
Jesus was determined to share the good news of the kingdom with as many as he could. He took an overflowing crowd and tired fishermen and spoke the word of God.
How determined is Jesus to speak to us?
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.
In 1893 Francis Thompson wrote his poem, The Hound of Heaven, to express the relentless love of God that goes to great lengths to save us. If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer?
3. The Call of Jesus is Demanding (Luke 5:4-5)
Luke 5:4-5 When he had finished speaking, he said to
Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a
catch.” 5 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.”
Peter speaks from the voice of experience, he knows there are no fish … he is exasperated at the request … but he obeys. Jesus always makes demands of us to help us grow and understand more about him. His teachings do not always make sense to us - or they challenge us in ways that will help us grow.
We should never be in a position to decide that what Jesus demands of us is too much, ineffective, of no use. The
demands of Jesus are not effective because of our power and strength but because of His.
Many people do not want to be baptized.
I’ve already said a prayer.
I’ve already given up some things for you.
I’ve already become a better person.
I don’t see how it can help anything.
Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with
you always, to the very end of the age.”
If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer?
4. The Call of Jesus is Promising (Luke 5:6-7)
Luke 5:6-7 When they had done so, they caught such a
large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 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.
Those tired fishermen couldn’t have know what a blessing was coming their way. If we could only perceive the promises Jesus has given to us, it would break our nets and cause us to depend more on Him every day.
How many of us are praying with a spirit that expects God to provide a blessing? When we are disciples of Jesus He can use our obedience, our spirit, our attitudes, and our works to bring about His will in surprising ways!
If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer?
5. The Call of Jesus is Humbling (Luke 5:8)
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees
and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
When we see who Jesus really is, hear his call, and decide to follow - we will have to realize that we never deserve the promises.
We can easily think too highly of ourselves, and we are intelligent. We do have wisdom. We do have resources. But in the shadow of Jesus Christ, we realize the truth about ourselves.
Romans 3:10 There is no one righteous, not even one
Only when we humble ourselves before God can we know the saving power of Jesus Christ. This is our ongoing life-long position - we are humbled in the presence of Jesus. If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer?
6. The Call of Jesus is Expanding (Luke 5:9-11)
Luke 5:9-11 For he and all his companions were astonished
at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James
and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then
Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will
fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore,
left everything and followed him.
Not only did Simon give himself over to Christ, so did the other fishermen there.
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
In the Kingdom of God with Jesus as our King, there’s a new assignment. He’s going to make us fishers of men. We adopt the perspective of Christ - seeking, reaching, loving other people in hopes that they also will follow Jesus.
Conclusion
1. We hear His call - will we answer?
2. The Call of Jesus Comes from the Word, it is Determined, Demanding, Promising, Humbling, Expanding.
3. Following Jesus means that We Hear The Call and answer.
- in initial obedience - repentance, baptism
- in ongoing obedience
Rejection of sin and embracing a holy life
Spending time in the Word and Prayer
Working with others who follow Jesus
4. If Jesus is calling you today, will you answer?
