Luke 5:6-11 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net broke.… "Out of the ship." The Lord Jesus had been preaching in synagogues; but there were very many outside who wanted to hear Him, and whom He wanted to reach. So He entered into a boat belonging to one of His disciples that was drawn up on the beach, and when it was thrust a little way from the shore He sat down and taught the people. I. JESUS SEEKS A PULPIT RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF DAILY LIFE. He comes to each of us and asks us to let Him have our daily occupation as His preaching-place. II. LOOK AT THE BOATS WHICH THE LORD JESUS USES. 1. It was the boat of a disciple. He never thrusts Himself upon any. Can we afford to receive the Lord aboard of our ship? 2. It was the boat of an ardent and loving disciple. How eagerly Simon received Him into the boat! 3. It was the boat of a busy disciple. Hard-working disciples who can toil all night, if need be — their's is the business from which Christ will preach. III. LOOK AT THE FISHERMEN. They were washing their nets. The Lord will never help us to catch fish with dirty nets. IV. Then as to THE SERMON WHICH THE LORD WOULD PREACH from the daily occupation. 1. Considerateness for other people. These men would have to go off again at sunset to fish, and they had toiled all the previous night. But that others might see and hear Jesus, they leave their nets, they thrust out the ship, and they wait upon the Lord. A sermon that was never so much needed as it is to-day. 2. Faithfulness. The crying want of our times is this, that men should see and hear Jesus in the boat of every disciple. Faithfulness on the part of His disciples goes furthest to give men faith in their Lord and Master. V. Then there are TWO OR THREE OTHER THOUGHTS THAT GROW OUT OF THE INCIDENT. 1. It goes well with the boat when Christ is on board. 2. Notice that while the Lord said "nets" (ver. 4), Simon said "net" (ver. 5). And he took up the first that came to hand. Ah, Simon, the blessed Master knows more about fishing than you think. And, my brethren, He knows as much about your business as about Simon's. Their net brake (ver. 6), so they needed the nets after all. 3. Think of the fishing-net giving the disciples the most amazing manifestation of Jesus they had seen. Ah, so it is when Jesus is in the business, the common daily work of life shall bring glorious manifestations of the Lord's presence and power. 4. The fisherman who takes Christ on board is promoted to the rank of an apostle. To serve Jesus in the common round of daily life is the way up to the highest and most splendid service for the King. 5. When Jesus is in the ship everything is in its right place. The cargo is in the hold, not in the heart. Cares and gains, fears and losses, yesterday's failure and to-day's success, do not thrust themselves in between us and His presence. "Goodness and mercy shall follow me," sang the Psalmist. Alas when the goodness and mercy come before us, and our blessings shut Jesus from view I Here is the blessed order — the Lord ever first, I following Him, His goodness and mercy following me. (Mark Guy Pearse.) Parallel Verses KJV: And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.WEB: When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. |
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