I caught a fish once. Once. That’s it. I’ve always lived near water, but never been a fisherman. Some of Jesus’ close disciples were fishermen. They caught more fish than me – especially when Jesus gave them a hand! In Luke 5:1-11 Jesus meets some peeps at the end of a long and unsuccessful night of fishing. He tells them to throw their net in one more time. Begrudgingly they do. To their astonishment they get the biggest catch of their lives… even the boat starts to sink!
Simon Peter responds to Jesus with the words: “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” In the presence of Jesus, Peter recognises that he is nothing. He is sinful. He is lost. Jesus responds: “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” This isn’t a reference to them running down Oxford Street looking for men to catch – rather Jesus is calling them to a career change. Still fishing, but not for fish, but people – people who are lost, people that Jesus came to find.
After the greatest catch of their fishing careers – they leave all of it behind to follow Jesus. Are you lost? Are you willing to give up everything to follow Jesus? Only in Jesus can you be found.
ps – we looked after my sister’s two fish at the start of the year – one of them died. Sorry Jen. Note to family: don’t entrust us with your pets!