Fish for People

Fish for People

Posted by Chad Langdon on Sunday, January 22, 2017

LUKE 5:1-11

NRSV

1 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 
2 he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 
5 Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 
6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 
8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 
9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 
10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 
11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

NLT

1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 
2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 
3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 
6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 
7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 
8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 
9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 
10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 
11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.