Pastor Michael Neumann

February 7, 2010 

Luke 5:1-11

See the Glory of Jesus, Our Almighty Savior

1) Treasure above all, the blessing of his saving Word.

2) Trust him also for earthly blessings.

3) Receive all his blessings in humble faith and thankful service.

 Jesus is not just a man. He is more than just a great teacher. He is more than just an example for us to follow. He is the almighty, creator God. He is the ruler over all things. His word is the all powerful word of God to be listened to, trusted in and obeyed. He is the very Son of God come in the flesh to be our Savior and substitute. “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” He is truly God and as such, he is Savior we need. He is a sufficient sacrifice to pay for the sins of the world.

 We see that divine glory of Jesus powerfully displayed for us in our text this morning. See the glory of Jesus, our almighty Savior. Treasure above all the blessings of his saving Word. Trust him also for earthly blessings. And receive all his blessings in humble faith and thankful service.

 Jesus is surrounded by a large crowd, who are all eager to listen to his teaching. The problem was that with so many people crowding around Jesus, only those few near the front of the crowd were able to hear him. Jesus wanted everyone to hear his precious message of salvation. So he quickly discovered a solution. Seeing two boats pulled up on shore, he got into one and had the owner – Simon Peter, put out a little way from shore. Sound travels well over the water, and the people were able to spread out along the shoreline and all of them were then able to hear Jesus.

 Peter provides us with a good example. Peter was eager to listen to Jesus’ teaching and willing to serve the Lord. Despite the fact that Peter was hard at work cleaning and fixing his nets – hard at work to support his family; and that after a long night of work – he was nevertheless willing to set aside time to listen to Jesus and to serve his Lord.  How could he spare the time to sit in the boat while Jesus taught? The Lord and his word were a priority to Peter. His chief concern was the one thing needed – the Savior’s word. So he was willing to postpone his important work of getting his nets ready and listen to and serve his Savior.

 Is our attitude the same as Peter’s? Are we willing and eager to take time for the Lord? So often work, family, recreation, the concerns of this life distract us or keep us away from the Lord’s word. We don’t have time for Bible study. We don’t make time to give for special church activities or for service in the church and to the Lord.

 But Jesus would remind us of the importance of his word, the importance of time spent with the Bible. Jesus tells us, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” That word is able to do what nothing else can. As the apostle Paul writes, “the holy Scriptures … are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” The blessings that the Lord gives to us through his word are greater than any other blessings we might receive. He gives to us forgiveness of sins and life eternal in heaven. Through that word we learn about our Savior Jesus. We see his perfect life offered on the cross as the sacrifice to pay for all sin. Through that gospel word, the Holy Spirit works to produces faith and then to strengthen and sustain faith. Through that word come life – spiritual and eternal life. Through that all sufficient word we receive everything that we need spiritually.

 So trust the powerful word of Jesus our Savior and put your priorities in the proper order. Recognize the importance of Jesus’ word and treasure the great and most important blessings which he gives through his written word of the Bible. Jesus says to us, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus wants us to put first what is most important - his Word; but he also then promises that he will provide for us and bless us. Not only does Jesus bless us spiritually, but we can also trust him for every earthly blessing.

 Jesus provided here in a very dramatic and a very abundant way. Jesus told Peter to “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Peter probably didn’t see how this could possibly work. It didn’t make any sense. For one, it was the middle of the day. Every experienced fisherman knew that the best time to fish was at night. And the deep water wasn’t the right place. The shallower water along the shoreline was where you caught fish. These things were common knowledge. Every fisherman in Galilee knew these things. Jesus didn’t have any experience as a fisherman. Why listen to him? This would certainly be an exercise in futility. Yet Peter, simply because Jesus told him, followed the Savior’s direction and Jesus provided a miraculous catch. We certainly wouldn’t have blamed Peter if he had suggested a slightly different course of action or if he hadn’t followed his direction exactly. But Peter recognized that this was the word of the almighty God to be trusted and followed.

 How often aren’t we tempted to make little changes to what God tells us? If something doesn’t quite fit with my thinking, if it presents a problem or challenge for me, if it doesn’t fit with society – aren’t we sometimes tempted to make a little change so that it is easier for us to understand and accept? We don’t understand how some are brought to faith and saved (all God’s doing), while others reject and are lost (all their fault) – and so we imagine that we must make a decision, that faith is something we produce, at least in part. God directs us to separate from all false teaching – big or small, and to make a clear confession to the truth in all our practice; but then it would be nice to commune with my relatives who belong to a different church. That church isn’t in agreement with everything the Bible says, but they are Christian and believe in Jesus so we are tempted to question why should those differences matter? Why is closed communion a necessary practice? God sets down different roles for man and woman, that is good but sometimes it just doesn’t work in our society so we look to make exceptions, rather than vigorously practicing our God given roles in a sinful society. Instead in everything, we will allow God’s word to stand for itself. To improve on what the Bible says is sin and brings failure. To argue that Jesus wouldn’t say that today or that part of the Bible no longer applies today is to try and justify your deviation from God’s word. Nothing except the pure word of God, unchanged in any way – gives salvation and brings God’s blessings.  

 Even in our daily lives, it can be a temptation to lay aside God’s word – to consider the Bible something for eternity, perhaps even something to guide my personal life, but something that doesn’t always work in business. The world tells us to look out for ourselves. We see others get rich off shady, perhaps immoral business dealings. Love and concern for others as the Bible encourages isn’t something that is shown in the real world. It might seem that if we didn’t have Jesus’ words holding us back, if we could engage in a few of their practices, maybe we too could make more money.

 But Jesus has promised that he will provide for us. We may not always see how that will be. When times are difficult, it can be easy to doubt the Lord. We don’t always place our complete trust in him to provide for our physical needs. We often think only in terms of what I need to do. 

 Jesus gives us his word to bless us – not as a burden. Through his word, not only does he give every spiritual blessing we need, but that word guides us in this life. No, it doesn’t speak directly to every circumstance we face in life, but it directs and shapes our attitudes and in turn directs our decisions. God’s word sets down principles for us to use – principles which direct our priorities and direct and shape our thoughts.

 Jesus isn’t likely to give us specific directions for our life or business as he did with Peter. We may never be provided for in a miraculous way. We may not enjoy great physical wealth. But the Lord has promised that he will provide and give us everything we need. Finally he knows what is best for us, and we can trust him to provide. Remember, even if all we have is the physical necessities, we are rich because of the countless spiritual blessings which we have been given. Trust the powerful words of Jesus, our Savior - he will bless you spiritually and physically.

 Now this miraculous catch of fish had quite an effect on Peter and his partners. When Peter saw this miracle, he fell at Jesus’ knees and confesses, “Go away from me, Lord; for I am a sinful man.” May Jesus’ words and blessing have a similar effect on us. May we receive all of Jesus’ blessings in humble faith and thankful service.

 We may be tempted to think that as Christians, God owes us something. But the fact is we too have to fall down before Jesus like Peter and confess that we are sinful. We have no right by ourselves to be in the presence of the holy Son of God. We too, might pray with Peter, “Go away from me, Lord for I am a sinner.” And yet if Jesus did that we would be doomed. 

 Jesus has not gone away from us. Instead the very reason that Jesus came into this world was to draw us to himself. Through his death on the cross Jesus paid for all our sins; he removed that barrier between us and God, so that now by faith we are children of God. Now, clothed with Christ’s righteousness, we can stand before our holy God.

 Jesus points to that gospel promise when he says to Peter, “Don’t be afraid.” And then Jesus tells Peter, that he is going to be the Lord’s instrument to carry the gospel message to others; he would catch men alive with the gospel. The effect of Jesus’ miracle together with his words and promise – Peter, James and John “pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” By the faith worked in them by the Holy Spirit, they were moved to leave behind everything for the sake of Jesus and the gospel.

  Jesus has not asked us to give everything to follow him. And yet how often aren’t we reluctant to give up the little bit that the Lord does ask us to give. But as we continue to listen to, and to study and grow in his word, the Holy Spirit will work an increase in trust of our Savior’s powerful words; we will recognize more and more all of the many, countless blessing both spiritual and physical, which the Lord gives to us through that word. And be moved to more freely give of ourselves and all he have in service to the Lord.

 With Peter, the Lord has also called us to tell his gospel to others. You may not be called into the full time ministry, but to every Christian Jesus gives the command to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” And he has given to us the greatest, most powerful tool with which to fish for men. He has given us his gospel. That simple message of the gospel is foolish to the world. It might seem to us at times as though it won’t work unless we do the right things, or have the right programs. But the gospel “is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” “For the Word of God is living and active.” That word is a most powerful tool. We don’t know when or where Christ may grant us a miraculous catch, so be faithful in sharing the message about Jesus.

 As we recognize our failings and shortcomings, as we recognize and confess our lack of trust in our Savior’s powerful words; our Savior Jesus also comes to us with words of comfort and encouragement. Jesus, even as he comforted Peter, also says to us - “Don’t be afraid.” “Don’t be afraid because as your Savior, as your substitute, I died on the cross to pay for all your sins. My righteousness is yours. I have won eternal life for you. Heaven is yours.” “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus says to us, “because I am with you, I will bless your work, I will bless you.” “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus assures us, “because I have prepared a place in heaven for you.” Trust the powerful words of Jesus, our Savior. Through that saving gospel Word, he has given us tremendous blessings.