Jesus’ Fishing Lesson

March 16, 2014

After Christ was rejected at Nazareth, He went to Capernaum (4:31-32). Jesus spent most of His earthly ministry in Capernaum and around the Sea of Galilee (20 months). Most of Christ’s disciples came from here.

Peter, Andrew, and John were already following Christ (John 1). However, it appears that while they were following Jesus, they still continued their fishing business.

! 4:31-32, 42-5:1—What a blessing when a crowd gathers to “hear the word of God.” The crowd was so big, they backed Christ up to the shore.

I. The REQUEST (vs. 2-3).

Jesus asked Peter if He might use his boat as a pulpit to speak to the people. J. Vernon McGee said, ”Every pulpit is a fishing boat, a place to give out the Word of God and attempt to catch fish.”

The shore was the pew.
The ship was the pulpit.
The Savior was the preacher! Jesus didn’t just preach in the synagogues. He preached wherever people wanted to hear.

A. An inconvenient request.

1. Peter had worked all night (v.5). He was tired, frustrated, and probably not in a good mood. The nets were washed.

2. Yet Peter still granted Christ His request.

3. We should serve the Lord even when we do not feel like it or it is inconvenient.

Attend church activities (Sunday night / Life Group)
Visit someone (G.R.O.W.)
Teach a S.S. class
Come to choir practice
Lawn and grounds maintenance
Clean the church

African missionary David Livingstone received a letter from a young man who wanted to join him on the mission field. He asked Livingstone, “Can you tell me an easy way to get to where you are?” Livingstone wrote back, “I don’t need someone who is looking for an easy way—I need a man who will make his own way!”

B. An important request.

The use of Peter’s boat would allow more people to hear Christ speak. What a blessing to have one of our possessions put to use so people can hear God’s Word.
We need to do whatever we can to get Christ’s message to as many people as we can, by any means that we can.

B. An instructive request. How Jesus works through people.

Why did Jesus ask Peter to take Him out? Couldn’t He just walk out on the water to speak? Jesus asked Peter to take Him out for the same reason He calls people to teach Sunday school, clean the church, work in the sound booth, and prepare videos for others to see. God works through people!
Does the Lord need to use us? No. But we need to be used by Him in order that we might be in a position to hear from Him and grow in Him.

II. The REQUIREMENT (vs. 4-5).

A. Illogical command.

It was probably noontime. Not the best time for fishing.
These were professional fisherman.They must have thought, “We’ve just washed our nets. Why get them dirty again for nothing!”