2026 Luke 5, "Are You Fishermen Or Fishers Of Men?"
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2026-03-08 16:26
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Are You Fishermen Or Fishers Of Men?
Luke 5:1-11
Today we meet a young fisherman, Simon. In this world of survival of the fittest, he worked hard but caught nothing. However, when he let Jesus come into his life and obey Jesus’ instruction, he caught huge fish and lived a meaningful and glorious life. What was the fish he caught? How can we live an abundant and meaningful life?
First, an empty boat
While many people were listening to sermon from Jesus, Peter was washing the nets. He was depressed and discouraged after catching no fish. Verse 5 says. “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” Peter’s boat is empty. It is a boat of a failure.
A student studied very hard, but he got poor grades. A senior submitted his resume to 50 IT companies, but no interview. Morning is a time of hope. But for Peter, it is time of despair and emptiness.
At that time, Jesus got into his boat and asked “Would you put out your boat a little from shore?” It means, “Can I use your boat?" Out of tiredness, he could have given Jesus the side-eye, saying “No.” But he said yes. This is a amazing response. An eternal friendship between them sprang up and took shape. It was a moment of divine providence. This is a turning point to Peter.
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Today, He asks us, "Can I get on your boat?" How would you respond? “Oh, sorry, I'm busy. I have exams this week. Oh, I plan to travel after finals. Oh, I have to make money.” However, if you open your heart and let him come to your life, he will do great things for you to catch abundant fish.
Jesus came to Peter when his boat was empty. Likewise, he comes to us when our boats are empty with failure or suffering. Therefore, when your boat is empty, that is a good opportunity to experience the grace of Jesus. Is your boat empty? Do you think you're weak? The world calls it failure, but in God, it's an opportunity to receive Jesus’ grace. I pray that you may welcome Jesus when he comes to you.
Second, a boat full of fish
After finishing his sermon, Jesus said to Peter, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Jesus knew Simon’s failure and pain. Jesus wanted to make up for his failure. Jesus wanted him to challenge again to experience victory. And Jesus wanted him to know who Jesus was. So, Jesus invited him into deep water.
The deep sea is a world beyond man’s common sense and reason. While shallow sea is transparent, the bottom of deep sea is not visible. Therefore, it seems nothing is there. However, if you dive into the deep sea, you discover all sorts of rare and exquisite treasures.
Peter had been fishing in shallow sea until then. Based on his common sense, experience and reason, he believed the deep sea had no fish. Now Jesus leads him into the deep water.
The deep water is a spiritual world. This is the world of God that transcends man’s understanding and imagination. Here are love, grace, forgiveness, restoration, healing and eternal life. Here are true satisfaction and joy that we cannot experience in this world. Jesus invited Peter, who was splashing in the shallow water, into the deep water. However, To Peter, it was never easy to obey.
First, Peter is physically very exhausted after all night’s hard toiling. Now with tiring body and depressed mind, he is washing nets to go home and sleep. Not a few students are like Peter. They are tired and busy with continual exams and assignments. Some students are working as well. Then they easily say, "Oh, no, I don't have time to study the Bible. Prayer meeting? Bible retreat? Oh, no.” I know they are busy. However, if I just let them live according to their circumstances, they will remain in this mundane world and their souls will be ruined. So, I must be cold-blooded and merciless. But, to me, it is not easy.
Moreover, Jesus’ word contradicts Peter's common sense. Night was the time for fishing and it was now bright morning, unfavorable for fishing.
Peter's situation and Jesus' words are now in conflict. So he could have rejected, “No. sir.”
However, he made a tremendous leap. Look at verse 5. “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” “Because you say so,” he relied not on his common sense or situation but the word of Jesus. Then he experienced a miracle.
Folks, have you worked hard all night? Then, have you caught big and lots of fish? Have you got good grades and good career? Have you been promoted? Have you been recognized? Have you found joy, meaning and mission of your life?
Many students come to the sea named a university. They work hard doing papers, assignments, quizzes, presentations and exams. But many see their boats little fish, small fish or even empty. Once they graduate, they go into another sea named the world. Here they struggle to catch job, marriage, health and security. From morning and night, they work hard but nothing seems to be progressive and they become weary and tired by the burden of life, aging and finally death.
Folks, what kind of fish do you want to catch? Ask King Solomon and Mr. Hemingway. And do not waster your precious life for anything in the world that is like wind and sandcastle.
Hemingway was talented, intelligent and hard working. He caught many huge fish such as the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Pulitzer Prize and the love of America and many women. However, as depicted in his novel, ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ the magnificent and great fish he caught was viciously attacked and torn to pieces by gigantic and bloody sharks, leaving only skeleton. Unable to overcome his despair and emptiness, he shot himself. Sadly he caught fish only in the shallow water. What if he put into deep water? Then he would have caught fish named (eternal) life, resurrection, mission, many souls and power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus beyond sin, death and eternal hell of judgment.
“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets.” To some (many), deep water looks scary. They're afraid of going there thinking they would be drowning. They just want to fish in the shallow water. “Here is safe. I want to build my own castle here. I do not lose anything.” So, going to church once a week is enough. No more. Weekly testimony sharing at the prayer meeting, Bible retreat, giving an offering, mission trip…Oh, no!
Now, Jesus tells you to put out into deep water. This is a huge adventure. Deep water is a place you've never been before. How long will you remain in the shallow water of your own thought and circumstance? To some, come to Sunday worship service faithfully is a deep water. But would you just attend Sunday worship service? Some like Bible study. Would you just do Bible study? Shouldn’t you obey and put out into deep water?
When Peter heard from Jesus, “Put out into deep water,” humanly it was ridiculous. But he said, “Because you say,” He obeyed. He denied himself. He overcame himself. He took a drastic and big adventure. (shepherd life) What happened?
Verse 6-7 says, “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” What a great catch! Peter's obedience brought blessings to others. If you obey Jesus, your friends and neighbors are also blessed. Peter experienced great success. Then, is this the end of the story? No, in Jesus, this isn't the end.
Third, back to an empty boat
Excited by a great catch, Peter could say, "Master, let's work together and conquer the Galilee fishing industry." But he fell down at Jesus’ knee, saying, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” In verse 5, Peter called Jesus, “teacher.” But now, he called Him, “Lord.” From teacher to Lord. His spiritual eyes were opened.
In a teacher-student relationship, the initiative is I. However, after confessing Jesus as "Lord," the initiative shifts to Jesus. It means that I am no longer ‘the owner or lord’ over myself but Jesus. It means that my ego died. The reason you are still bound by this mundane world and live according to your own circumstances is because your ego hasn't died.
"That person is quite gentle. He has faith.” But there's no growth in that person. That person is always the same. That person always falls into the same test or temptation. When that person feels tired or busy, do not come to worship service or Bible study. (prayer meeting, tithe) That is normal and natural because that person has not met Jesus as the Lord.
"Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man." Peter thought he was a decent man. Yes, he is hard-working. He is generous to lend his boat to Jesus. Even in time of failure, he mends and arranges the nets for a new day’s work. He has friends to call on when he needs help. He is a man of great character. Who would call him a sinner? Then why did he confess, “Lord, I am a sinful man?”
Generally people define sin in a moral sense. So they feel offended when they hear that they are sinners. “I am not that bad guy!” However, sin is separation from God. Sin is the state of missing the target, the glory of God. Sin is to live not by the word of God but by man’s desire and greed.
When Peter saw Jesus, he saw God, the Creator who created everything including sea and fish. Then he saw his own sin before Jesus. He knew that he did not live for the glory of God. Instead, he lived a selfish life. He was nothing but a man who worked extremely hard only to solve his petty life problems. He was a man of narrow vision, who had seen only his family, the Sea of Galilee, fish and the market place. He had no spiritual insight through which he could have seen what God’s great purpose for him. In light of Genesis 3:17-19, struggling , toiling, and perspiring endlessly day after day to survive is a cursed life and a life of sin. Peter’s life was no exception. He was nothing but a descendent of Cain who wandered on earth in fear and frustration in the course of competing with others and in order to survive. When Peter met Jesus, his spiritual eyes were opened and he could see himself before God. He realized that he was a sinful man. Nobody knows he is a sinner before meeting Jesus personally. Those who do not meet Jesus live a cursed life and die in their sins only to someday face eternal condemnation.
“Lord, I am a sinful man! This is a profound confession.” This confession was a greater miracle than the miracle of a full catch. The fish will be rot, but this confession remains forever. I pray that you may stand before God and know who you are and confess like Peter. Then, you will be separated from sin. This is salvation.
Look at verse 10. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid.” This is a proclamation of forgiveness. “From now on you will fish for people.” Jesus tells Peter what he must truly do. It was to catch men. It was to rescue man dying of sin and Satan and raise them to become disciples of Jesus. He finally organized his life with clear life direction and purpose.
If the self-seeking ego in you takes control of you, no matter how hard you try, your life will not be organized. You won't know what to live for. No matter what you do and achieve, you'll still feel anxious, empty, thirsty and regretful. I tell you clearly, God has already given you the correct answer, “put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch..”” But some people are not going there, not in a million years. (Worship, prayer, missions, offering, forgiveness, love, devotion...)
Folks, you work hard, don’t you? You study hard, prepare for your career and meet your friends. Then is your life organized? Do you see the meaning and mission of your life? Would you just study, travel, drink with your friends, make money and then die?
“Peter, put out into deep water. Then you will catch lots of fish. However, I didn't call you for lots of fish, success, money, real estate, bit coin or nice resort but man’s soul.” Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Peter's life was perfectly organized here. When you put out into deep water and find Jesus as your Lord, your life will be organized. “From now on, you will catch men.” When you follow Jesus, life is easy than you think. So peter began to follow Jesus. Verse 11 says, “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
Moody was a poor shoemaker. At the age of 23, he gained the deep trust of a Chicago prominent businessman Henderson. Moody was happy, "I serve God wholeheartedly. Then God sent me Mr. Henderson. Now I can live a great life with Mr. Henderson, a man of dignity and wealth.” But when Henderson died, he was devastated. Soon, he received a letter, saying, "Moody is the successor of Mr. Henderson." However, Moody realized when he saw Mr. Henderson’s death, "God called me not to be a businessman, but to save souls." So he gave up his hugely profitable business and followed Jesus to live as an evangelist.
You catch big and many fish today that break your net. Then, would you say, "I will catch even more tomorrow with a bigger boat and thicker net?" Then you'll become rich with a fancy car, a big house, gorgeous resort and delicious food. But God hasn't called us to live that way. He's called us not for materialistic value, but for spiritual and eternal value. I am not saying that you should become pastors. Joseph and Daniel were civil servants. Luke was a doctor. The people in Romans 16 were all lay men and women. Still, their aspirations weren't for positions or money. In their job areas, they lived as disciples of Jesus and fishers of men. They did not seek position or money, but spiritual and eternal value. May God bless you to put out into deep water and live a life of saving souls.
Luke 5:1-11
Today we meet a young fisherman, Simon. In this world of survival of the fittest, he worked hard but caught nothing. However, when he let Jesus come into his life and obey Jesus’ instruction, he caught huge fish and lived a meaningful and glorious life. What was the fish he caught? How can we live an abundant and meaningful life?
First, an empty boat
While many people were listening to sermon from Jesus, Peter was washing the nets. He was depressed and discouraged after catching no fish. Verse 5 says. “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” Peter’s boat is empty. It is a boat of a failure.
A student studied very hard, but he got poor grades. A senior submitted his resume to 50 IT companies, but no interview. Morning is a time of hope. But for Peter, it is time of despair and emptiness.
At that time, Jesus got into his boat and asked “Would you put out your boat a little from shore?” It means, “Can I use your boat?" Out of tiredness, he could have given Jesus the side-eye, saying “No.” But he said yes. This is a amazing response. An eternal friendship between them sprang up and took shape. It was a moment of divine providence. This is a turning point to Peter.
Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Today, He asks us, "Can I get on your boat?" How would you respond? “Oh, sorry, I'm busy. I have exams this week. Oh, I plan to travel after finals. Oh, I have to make money.” However, if you open your heart and let him come to your life, he will do great things for you to catch abundant fish.
Jesus came to Peter when his boat was empty. Likewise, he comes to us when our boats are empty with failure or suffering. Therefore, when your boat is empty, that is a good opportunity to experience the grace of Jesus. Is your boat empty? Do you think you're weak? The world calls it failure, but in God, it's an opportunity to receive Jesus’ grace. I pray that you may welcome Jesus when he comes to you.
Second, a boat full of fish
After finishing his sermon, Jesus said to Peter, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Jesus knew Simon’s failure and pain. Jesus wanted to make up for his failure. Jesus wanted him to challenge again to experience victory. And Jesus wanted him to know who Jesus was. So, Jesus invited him into deep water.
The deep sea is a world beyond man’s common sense and reason. While shallow sea is transparent, the bottom of deep sea is not visible. Therefore, it seems nothing is there. However, if you dive into the deep sea, you discover all sorts of rare and exquisite treasures.
Peter had been fishing in shallow sea until then. Based on his common sense, experience and reason, he believed the deep sea had no fish. Now Jesus leads him into the deep water.
The deep water is a spiritual world. This is the world of God that transcends man’s understanding and imagination. Here are love, grace, forgiveness, restoration, healing and eternal life. Here are true satisfaction and joy that we cannot experience in this world. Jesus invited Peter, who was splashing in the shallow water, into the deep water. However, To Peter, it was never easy to obey.
First, Peter is physically very exhausted after all night’s hard toiling. Now with tiring body and depressed mind, he is washing nets to go home and sleep. Not a few students are like Peter. They are tired and busy with continual exams and assignments. Some students are working as well. Then they easily say, "Oh, no, I don't have time to study the Bible. Prayer meeting? Bible retreat? Oh, no.” I know they are busy. However, if I just let them live according to their circumstances, they will remain in this mundane world and their souls will be ruined. So, I must be cold-blooded and merciless. But, to me, it is not easy.
Moreover, Jesus’ word contradicts Peter's common sense. Night was the time for fishing and it was now bright morning, unfavorable for fishing.
Peter's situation and Jesus' words are now in conflict. So he could have rejected, “No. sir.”
However, he made a tremendous leap. Look at verse 5. “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” “Because you say so,” he relied not on his common sense or situation but the word of Jesus. Then he experienced a miracle.
Folks, have you worked hard all night? Then, have you caught big and lots of fish? Have you got good grades and good career? Have you been promoted? Have you been recognized? Have you found joy, meaning and mission of your life?
Many students come to the sea named a university. They work hard doing papers, assignments, quizzes, presentations and exams. But many see their boats little fish, small fish or even empty. Once they graduate, they go into another sea named the world. Here they struggle to catch job, marriage, health and security. From morning and night, they work hard but nothing seems to be progressive and they become weary and tired by the burden of life, aging and finally death.
Folks, what kind of fish do you want to catch? Ask King Solomon and Mr. Hemingway. And do not waster your precious life for anything in the world that is like wind and sandcastle.
Hemingway was talented, intelligent and hard working. He caught many huge fish such as the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Pulitzer Prize and the love of America and many women. However, as depicted in his novel, ‘The Old Man and the Sea,’ the magnificent and great fish he caught was viciously attacked and torn to pieces by gigantic and bloody sharks, leaving only skeleton. Unable to overcome his despair and emptiness, he shot himself. Sadly he caught fish only in the shallow water. What if he put into deep water? Then he would have caught fish named (eternal) life, resurrection, mission, many souls and power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus beyond sin, death and eternal hell of judgment.
“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets.” To some (many), deep water looks scary. They're afraid of going there thinking they would be drowning. They just want to fish in the shallow water. “Here is safe. I want to build my own castle here. I do not lose anything.” So, going to church once a week is enough. No more. Weekly testimony sharing at the prayer meeting, Bible retreat, giving an offering, mission trip…Oh, no!
Now, Jesus tells you to put out into deep water. This is a huge adventure. Deep water is a place you've never been before. How long will you remain in the shallow water of your own thought and circumstance? To some, come to Sunday worship service faithfully is a deep water. But would you just attend Sunday worship service? Some like Bible study. Would you just do Bible study? Shouldn’t you obey and put out into deep water?
When Peter heard from Jesus, “Put out into deep water,” humanly it was ridiculous. But he said, “Because you say,” He obeyed. He denied himself. He overcame himself. He took a drastic and big adventure. (shepherd life) What happened?
Verse 6-7 says, “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” What a great catch! Peter's obedience brought blessings to others. If you obey Jesus, your friends and neighbors are also blessed. Peter experienced great success. Then, is this the end of the story? No, in Jesus, this isn't the end.
Third, back to an empty boat
Excited by a great catch, Peter could say, "Master, let's work together and conquer the Galilee fishing industry." But he fell down at Jesus’ knee, saying, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” In verse 5, Peter called Jesus, “teacher.” But now, he called Him, “Lord.” From teacher to Lord. His spiritual eyes were opened.
In a teacher-student relationship, the initiative is I. However, after confessing Jesus as "Lord," the initiative shifts to Jesus. It means that I am no longer ‘the owner or lord’ over myself but Jesus. It means that my ego died. The reason you are still bound by this mundane world and live according to your own circumstances is because your ego hasn't died.
"That person is quite gentle. He has faith.” But there's no growth in that person. That person is always the same. That person always falls into the same test or temptation. When that person feels tired or busy, do not come to worship service or Bible study. (prayer meeting, tithe) That is normal and natural because that person has not met Jesus as the Lord.
"Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man." Peter thought he was a decent man. Yes, he is hard-working. He is generous to lend his boat to Jesus. Even in time of failure, he mends and arranges the nets for a new day’s work. He has friends to call on when he needs help. He is a man of great character. Who would call him a sinner? Then why did he confess, “Lord, I am a sinful man?”
Generally people define sin in a moral sense. So they feel offended when they hear that they are sinners. “I am not that bad guy!” However, sin is separation from God. Sin is the state of missing the target, the glory of God. Sin is to live not by the word of God but by man’s desire and greed.
When Peter saw Jesus, he saw God, the Creator who created everything including sea and fish. Then he saw his own sin before Jesus. He knew that he did not live for the glory of God. Instead, he lived a selfish life. He was nothing but a man who worked extremely hard only to solve his petty life problems. He was a man of narrow vision, who had seen only his family, the Sea of Galilee, fish and the market place. He had no spiritual insight through which he could have seen what God’s great purpose for him. In light of Genesis 3:17-19, struggling , toiling, and perspiring endlessly day after day to survive is a cursed life and a life of sin. Peter’s life was no exception. He was nothing but a descendent of Cain who wandered on earth in fear and frustration in the course of competing with others and in order to survive. When Peter met Jesus, his spiritual eyes were opened and he could see himself before God. He realized that he was a sinful man. Nobody knows he is a sinner before meeting Jesus personally. Those who do not meet Jesus live a cursed life and die in their sins only to someday face eternal condemnation.
“Lord, I am a sinful man! This is a profound confession.” This confession was a greater miracle than the miracle of a full catch. The fish will be rot, but this confession remains forever. I pray that you may stand before God and know who you are and confess like Peter. Then, you will be separated from sin. This is salvation.
Look at verse 10. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid.” This is a proclamation of forgiveness. “From now on you will fish for people.” Jesus tells Peter what he must truly do. It was to catch men. It was to rescue man dying of sin and Satan and raise them to become disciples of Jesus. He finally organized his life with clear life direction and purpose.
If the self-seeking ego in you takes control of you, no matter how hard you try, your life will not be organized. You won't know what to live for. No matter what you do and achieve, you'll still feel anxious, empty, thirsty and regretful. I tell you clearly, God has already given you the correct answer, “put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch..”” But some people are not going there, not in a million years. (Worship, prayer, missions, offering, forgiveness, love, devotion...)
Folks, you work hard, don’t you? You study hard, prepare for your career and meet your friends. Then is your life organized? Do you see the meaning and mission of your life? Would you just study, travel, drink with your friends, make money and then die?
“Peter, put out into deep water. Then you will catch lots of fish. However, I didn't call you for lots of fish, success, money, real estate, bit coin or nice resort but man’s soul.” Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Peter's life was perfectly organized here. When you put out into deep water and find Jesus as your Lord, your life will be organized. “From now on, you will catch men.” When you follow Jesus, life is easy than you think. So peter began to follow Jesus. Verse 11 says, “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”
Moody was a poor shoemaker. At the age of 23, he gained the deep trust of a Chicago prominent businessman Henderson. Moody was happy, "I serve God wholeheartedly. Then God sent me Mr. Henderson. Now I can live a great life with Mr. Henderson, a man of dignity and wealth.” But when Henderson died, he was devastated. Soon, he received a letter, saying, "Moody is the successor of Mr. Henderson." However, Moody realized when he saw Mr. Henderson’s death, "God called me not to be a businessman, but to save souls." So he gave up his hugely profitable business and followed Jesus to live as an evangelist.
You catch big and many fish today that break your net. Then, would you say, "I will catch even more tomorrow with a bigger boat and thicker net?" Then you'll become rich with a fancy car, a big house, gorgeous resort and delicious food. But God hasn't called us to live that way. He's called us not for materialistic value, but for spiritual and eternal value. I am not saying that you should become pastors. Joseph and Daniel were civil servants. Luke was a doctor. The people in Romans 16 were all lay men and women. Still, their aspirations weren't for positions or money. In their job areas, they lived as disciples of Jesus and fishers of men. They did not seek position or money, but spiritual and eternal value. May God bless you to put out into deep water and live a life of saving souls.