Title: Fishers of Men
Text: Luke 5:1-11
Last week, we talked about how Jesus said He must preach the good news to other towns too. We also learned that we might fall into selfish thinking without even realizing it. Jesus is not just for one group of people—He is the Christ who came to save all humanity. Through faith, we can see that Jesus, the Son of God, is the Lord of the whole earth and even the entire universe.
How did God’s message of salvation reach people? Jesus worked through His disciples. In today’s passage, we see the first meeting between Jesus and Simon, who later became Peter. This meeting happened at a specific time and place. Simon wasn’t having a great day—he was struggling.
Simon didn’t seek Jesus out. He wasn’t following the crowds to listen to Jesus’ teachings. Instead, Jesus approached him. Simon was a poor fisherman, making just enough to survive. Some days he caught fish, and other days he didn’t. He lived a life full of disappointment and despair. In verse 5, we see that Simon was hardworking. He put in the effort, but there were times when he had no results. It’s like working hard all day in our time but earning no income. How discouraging would that be? We can imagine that Simon was feeling uneasy and uncertain about his future.
Back then, people thought wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, and poverty meant God’s curse or punishment. The Pharisees, for example, worked hard to gather wealth to show others they were blessed by God. For them, accumulating wealth was about honor and appearance. Meanwhile, poor people were often looked down upon or treated unfairly.
Even today, in our society, we might see similar attitudes. People might judge the poor, blaming them for their situation. Others might hide their sins and justify dishonest ways of making money. Whether in the past or now, sin remains a part of our world.
Who can cleanse the sin of poverty? Should we lie to ourselves and others to gain wealth? Is that the right thing to do? Simon didn’t have the courage to pursue wealth dishonestly. Instead, he lived a modest life.
One day, Jesus saw two boats sitting empty by the shore. The fishermen had worked all night but caught nothing. I Think at least One of these boats belonged to Simon. Jesus noticed not only the boats but, perhaps, Simon’s heart as well. Among the crowds surrounding Him, Jesus chose Simon—a man who wasn’t seeking cloud Him but was focused on his surviving.
Luke doesn’t record what Jesus said to the crowd about the kingdom of God. Instead, he tells us what Jesus did that time and that place. We see Jesus not just teaching about God’s kingdom but also reaching out to a struggling soul in Simon. This meeting was no accident. Jesus saw Simon first and approached him. The more we read this story, the more we see how beautiful this first encounter was. Both Jesus and Simon shine in this moment.
In verse 3, Jesus got into Simon’s boat. We don’t know if Jesus asked for permission or not, but He then asked Simon to move the boat a little from the shore. This could have felt intrusive to Simon. Imagine someone stepping onto your boat uninvited and then telling you what to do! But Simon obeyed without complaint.
In verse 4, Jesus asked Simon to go into deeper water and lower the nets for a catch. This third request would have been the hardest for Simon to accept. Simon was an experienced fisherman. He knew the waters, the methods, and the right times to fish. He was a professional. Yet, Jesus, a carpenter by trade, was telling him how to fish. Simon faced a choice: trust his own experience or obey Jesus.
In our lives, we may face similar moments. Our thoughts, experiences, and judgments may seem so certain, yet we’re asked to trust something entirely different. These moments challenge us and reveal our inner selves.
In verse 5, Simon expressed some doubt, saying, “We’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing.” But then he added, “Because You say so, I will let down the nets.” Simon chose to obey.
And then the miracle happened. In verse 6, we see the nets filled with so many fish that they began to tear. Just as the crowd pressed around Jesus earlier, the fish filled the nets and overflowed. Simon had to call another boat for help, and even then, both boats were so full they began to sink.
This was when Simon truly met Jesus. It wasn’t just about the fish or the blessing. In verse 10, Simon realized he was in the presence of the holy God. He didn’t celebrate the catch or thank Jesus for the blessing. Instead, he fell to his knees and confessed his sinfulness. Simon recognized who Jesus was and who he himself was—a sinner before a holy God.
This beautiful moment wasn’t just about Simon’s external actions but about his honest, internal response. Simon admitted his sin and followed Jesus.
When we choose to obey God’s word, we often realize our limitations. Obedience requires faith, even before we see results. Through obedience, we are humbled and learn to rely on God more fully.
Simon was no longer a fisherman catching fish. He became a fisher of men. God’s focus isn’t on wealth but on the souls of people. Let us also follow Jesus and seek the souls God treasures. Amen.
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