Dear Christian friends:

I think all of you have seen the movie or read the book about the wooden boy named Pinocchio. Every time he told a lie his nose would grow about one foot longer.

Well, when you and I tell a lie or do wrong or bad things our nose does not grow one foot longer, but worse things happen to us. We feel ashamed, guilty, depressed, worried, afraid and not good enough. And that makes us not able to live and serve rightly. Guilt bothers us a lot and makes us feel unworthy and not good enough to accept office and serve in the church, too. We need to learn what to do about our guilt, and how to deal with it.

In our text we read about Peter and his fishermen friends who felt like that. But Jesus accepted them anyway and helped them to become great servants and leaders in His Church, Jesus can help us in the same way.

First Jesus helped Peter and his friends, James and John, and his brother Andrew to become aware of their sinner nature. That is necessary and important that we become aware of our sinner nature, and confess our sins.

Many people are not aware that they are sinners. Even people in prison can't understand their evil deeds often and don't know why they are in prison. A few years ago someone questioned the boys in a youth prison. He asked them this question: "Why are you here?" The boys answered: "Because the cops lied about me." "Because I didn't plan my escape good enough." "Because someone ratted (told) on me." The warden of the prison: said, "My hardest job is to convince (prove to) the young delinquents (law-breakers) that they have done wrong." Many criminals can't see their wrongs and that they are sinners. They blame others: their parents, the police, the system. Judges and wardens have a hard time to help people know their wrongs.

Preachers also have a hard time to teach people that they are sinners. How did Jesus teach Peter and his friends and brother to become aware of their sins? He showed them His glory. They had fished all night and caught nothing. Now it was noon when people catch no fish. Nevertheless, Jesus told Peter and Andrew his brother to "row out to the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." (verse 5) They obeyed Jesus and you know what happened. When Peter saw the miracle which Jesus had done He knew that He was standing before the holy Son of God. Peter then realized how sinful he was compared with the holy Son of God and he fell on his knees and said, "Lord, leave me because I am a sinner man." (verse 8) Peter wanted to hide.

In the Old Testament lesson we read how God made Isaiah become aware of his sins. Go let Isaiah see Him in a His glory and holiness sitting on His throne in heaven. Then he realized how sinful he was and he cried out, "Woe is me (I will die)! I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among people of unclean lips: because I have seen the King, the Lord of heaven." (Isaiah 6:1-5)

Both Peter and Isaiah realized their sinner nature when they stood before the holy, almighty God. We, too, need to stand before the holy, almighty God often. Then we will realize and know our sinner nature. How do we today stand before the glory of God? Come to church! Attend to His Word! See His goodness, love, power and glory! Study the Ten Commandments! Compare yourself with God's goodness and you will know how sinful you are. Then you, too, will fall on your knees and cry, "Woe is me! I am a sinner and I live with sinners."

First Jesus prepares us for service in His Church by making us aware of our sinner nature. Then, He helps us to believe in Him and trust His mercy for forgiveness, so that we can serve with joy and eagerness. How does He help us believe in Him? (verse 10) Jesus said to Peter and his sinner friends, "Fear not!" They should not fear God any more.

Why? Although they are sinners and worthy to suffer God's anger and punishment, God has mercy, and forgives sinners. That's why Jesus is in the boat with them. God's Son is in Jesus so He can accept all people's sin and suffer their punishment. Jesus did that when He died upon the cross.

In the Old Testament lesson we read how God forgave Isaiah's sin. One angel flew from the altar with a red hot coal and touched Isaiah's lips with it. The angel said to Isaiah, "See, the red, hot coal has touched your mouth; you sins are taken away; you are holy." (Isaiah 6:6-7)

As God forgave Isaiah, Peter, Andrew, James_and John, so He shows love and mercy to us sinners today and forgives our sins and makes us His holy people. How? Does He touch our lips with a red, hot coal from the temple altar? No! But He touches our lips with the bread and wine from this holy altar! He gives us Jesus' body with the bread and Jesus' blood with the wine, the body and blood He gave and shed upon the cross to take away our sins and declare us holy.

Jesus helps us to serve in His Church because He forgives our sins. He gives us faith and joy in God. Jesus said to Peter and His friends, "Fear not! From now on you will catch men." Now they will stop catching fish and go catch men, people, other sinners, and win them for Jesus. Jesus means they will now go and preach the Good News that God loves sinners and has forgiven all sins!

Peter, Andrew, James and John, accepted that new life and service. When the boat arrived at the shore they left their fish nets, their boats and everything with their assistants and followed Jesus.

In the Old Testament we read how Isaiah also accepted to serve after the Lord forgave His sins. Isaiah heard the Lord ask, "Whom shall I send who will go preach for us?" Isaiah answered quickly, "Here am I! Send Me! (Isaiah 6:8)

Jesus today wants us to catch people for His Kingdom. When God asks today, "Who will go for us?" We will quickly volunteer and say, “Here am I! Send me! Here am I! Use me !"(Isaiah 6:8)

Jesus helps us to serve Him, He makes us aware that we are sinners worthy to die; He forgives our sins and gives us faith and joy in Him; He makes us eager to catch people for His Kingdom.

Amen.

Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying - Hymn

Hark, the voice of Jesus crying,
"Who will go and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvests waiting;
who will bear the sheaves away?"
Loud and long the Master calleth;
rich reward he offers thee.
Who will answer, gladly saying,
"Here am I, send me, send me"?

Let none hear you idly saying,
"There is nothing I can do,"
while the multitudes are dying,
and the Master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly,
let his work your pleasure be;
answer quickly when he calleth,
"Here am I, send me, send me!"