Dear Christian friends:

When I was pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church for the Deaf in St. Paul, Minnesota one summer Sunday morning one faithful member did not show up for the church service. So I asked a friend of his, "Where is Lyle?" The friend smiled and replied, "He went fishing!" I was surprised to hear that because Lyle was not know as a sport fisherman. His hobby was photography. The friend could see my perplexity and explained, "He went fishing for a wife." Then I understood that he had gone to attend the South Dakota Association of the Deaf Convention being held that weekend in Sioux Falls. He was a bachelor already in his forties so he probably was getting desperate. By the way he did manage to catch one.

The deaf understand what Jesus meant when He told His disciples, "I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17) I think that we all know what Jesus means by that analogy. Our problem is that we often are not eager to do it. How many people have you tried to catch for Jesus during your lifetime?

As you know, since your Pastor is a delegate, the LCMS is at this time meeting in convention at St. Louis, Mo. In his report to the Convention President Gerald Kieschnick stated these rather depressing statistics: "Annually 35% of the congregations in LCMS gain not one adult by Baptism or confirmation. Annually, 47% of the congregations of LCMS gain one adult or less." In view of these sad reports President Kieschnick asks these two pointed questions: "Could it be that, in our zeal to retain our steadfast confession of the faith once delivered to the saints by our forefathers, we have become under-concerned with the demonstration of the faith in our lives?" "Could it be that we have become less than passionate, if not lukewarm with the proclamation of the faith to the unbelievers of the world who literally surround us at the beginning of the twenty-first century?"

I'm sure that you will agree with me when I say that we Lutherans need a lot of encouragement to become passionate fishers of men. So, on the basis of our text, which is the Gospel Lesson for this Sunday let me give you some:


We should be encouraged because it is the most important work we can do. Fishing for fish is important because it provides us with food and recreation. But fishing for men is much more important because through that activity the Holy Spirit can touch men's hearts and win them for Jesus. All men are sinners and in desperate need to receive the forgiveness of sins that is found only through faith in Jesus Christ.

Take Peter, for example. When he saw the miracle which Jesus performed, the catch of fish which filled two boats, he fell down at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man." (verse 8) When Peter saw the power and goodness of Jesus and compared himself with Jesus, he felt afraid and uncomfortable. He wanted to escape from the holy One. But Jesus said to him, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." (verse 10b)

That was Jesus' way of saying to Peter: "Your sins are forgiven and to assure you of My love and forgiveness I am going to let you work for Me in My kingdom." No doubt, Peter now felt great relief, peace and joy. Our text tells us that Peter and his partners, James and John, "Pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him." (verse 11)

When you analyze what happened here you see that these four men now realized that fishing for men was much more important than fishing for fish. No doubt, they liked their vocation and it earned them a good living, but they gave it up to become "fishers of men".

Now of course, Jesus doesn't expect all of us to become full time fishers of men as a profession such as a pastor, teacher, or missionary, although some may be led to take that course. It is common to see that happening today. But Jesus does expect you to be a fisher of men along with your profession or vocation whatever that may be as we learned from the Epistle Lesson this morning. Peter told us: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (1 Peter 3:15)

We are to live in such a way that people are led to ask us, "How is it that you, so differently, have such love, kindness and helpfulness?" So we see that we are encouraged to fish for men because it is the most important work we can do. It saves men from eternal death, and gives them eternal life. We should be encouraged also because Jesus our Lord and Savior enables us to do this most important work.

According to Matthew and Mark, who also relate this miracle and the calling of these four disciples, Jesus said to them, "I will make you fishers of men." Only Jesus Himself can change us and give us a heart that loves sinners, that feels sympathy for the lost.

An expert on personal evangelism at a meeting I attended some time ago said that before a person can be a fisher of men he must be a true believer in Jesus. He said that false Christians don't care to fish for men. But a true believer will feel responsible to win others for Christ.

If you, like Peter, have really experienced the terrors of conscience because of your sinfulness and sins and then, like him, have heard the Savior say to you, "Don't be afraid, your sins are forgiven; from now on you will catch men," you will receive the Holy Spirit and be empowered to fish for men.

After his conversion St. Paul felt that way. He said, "I am a debtor to all men." St. Paul felt sure that Jesus had forgiven him because He immediately chose him and honored him by sending him to be His apostle to the Gentile nations. Jesus' enabling Word of forgiveness encourages us to fish. We are encouraged also by Jesus' commandment to do it.

Here in the text, verses 4-6, we see how wonderfully Jesus blessed Peter when he obeyed and trusted Jesus' command to row out to the deep water and let down the nets for a catch. Although Peter had a good excuse for not obeying Jesus' command, he put that aside and said to Jesus, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." (verse 5) And of course we all know the results of Peter's obedience and trust.

So we need to trust and obey Jesus and "let down the nets for a catch." We let down the nets when we go where the lost are to be found and tell them the story of Jesus and His love. If we obey Jesus and let down the nets, he will see to it that there is a catch, just as He provided the catch that day on the Sea of Galilee for Peter and his partners long ago. (Tell the story of Elmer Francisco and Butte, Montana.)

We should be encouraged to fish for men because Jesus commands us to do it and because He provides the catch.

We should be encouraged to fish for men because it is the most important work, because Jesus enables us and because Jesus commands us to do it and promises to bless our fishing. May Jesus be gracious and merciful to us and forgive our lukewarmness of the past and then warm our hearts to become passionate fishers of men.

Amen.