A Simple Way to Fish- Andrew told his brother Peter

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I am not a great fisher of fish. I did not grow up in a family that did a lot of fishing. When I and my wife were blessed with a family I tried to at least teach my children the basics. I didn’t get into all the fancy baits just a worm or a minnow. I have not caught a lot of fish but I have enjoyed going fishing and teaching my children to fish. If nothing else there is great joy to see a child get a fish or in the case of one of my children almost get a musky with a ten pound test line. It is fun and rewarding. Today we look at a Simple Way to Fish. The fishing assignment for today is not to fish for fish but to fish for people.

The word of God for our fishing lesson is simple and straight forward. The context of our text in the gospel of John 1 is the ministry of John the Baptist who came to point people to see Jesus of Nazareth. In the verses before our text John the Baptist pointed to Jesus. “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) !’”  John understood the need of all people. They had fallen short of God’s standard of perfection. They were carrying around the guilt of those sins. Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of all the sacrifices that had been offered as a part of Jewish worship. Jesus was the perfect unblemished Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The words of our text focus on the work of John the Baptist the day after he spoke those words. He was still pointing to Jesus as he directed his own followers to see Jesus of Nazareth for who he really was. “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’ They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ ^39’Come,’ he replied, ‘and you will see.’ So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus.  Jesus looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas’” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Andrew a follower of John the Baptist had heard the message to repent and be baptized. As an Old Testament believer he understood the promises God had made in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah who would suffer, be born of a virgin and be glorified. Andrew followed Jesus after John the Baptist pointed out that Jesus of Nazareth was that Messiah. Andrew along with John the writer of the gospel of John spent time with Jesus that day. Andrew a fisher of fish took very little time to be a fisher of men by going to his brother Simon whom we know as Peter.

Andrews’ invitation to come and see Jesus was more than an invitation to church. He was quick to point out who had discovered Jesus to be. He was the Messiah the Christ who had been promised by God in the Old Testament Scriptures. Simon came to see Jesus and as a result followed Jesus and became one of his Apostles.

Think of the people God has used in your life to bring you to Jesus not just to Eastside but to a knowledge of your sins and your Savior Jesus Christ. He has through the teaching of other people enabled you to know that Jesus died on that cross for your sins of apathy about God’s Word and for all the times you have not put God number one in your life.

Today our Lord God is giving us a simple way to fish for people that is to share the good news about Jesus the Son of God our Savior. As we have looked at God’s desire for us to go fishing we have been reminded that he too gives us the “guts” the desire to do it as we look at his promises in the Bible and the need of the people all around us.

What promises does God give to us as we reach out with the gospel?What does he teach us?

Jesus promised his disciples to give them the words. “Do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, ²⁰ for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you (Mt 10:19-20).”  The Lord through the prophet Isaiah promised that the Word of God  would never come back empty. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11)” Hebrews 4 tells us the Word is powerful. “ For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart ( Hebrews 4:12)..”Jesus reminded us that the road is narrow and we shouldn’t expect to always be applauded/accepted. Jesus taught us about the reality of heaven, hell, and an eternal destination.

Remember one person makes a difference. Andrew went to his brother Simon. The Lord used Simon Peter to reach thousands on the Day of Pentecost alone. Chris wanted to tell his whole school about Jesus.Unfortunately, he graduated without reaching that goal.A year later, however, Mark (one of Chris’s “converts”) had a chance to speak to the whole school…and he mentioned Christ!

One day an older gentleman was strolling down the beach and saw a young boy frantically picking up stranded starfish and throwing them back into the ocean. Noticing hundreds, if not thousands, of displaced starfish washed up on shore, the polite gentleman laughed softly as he approached the eager boy. “Hey there, youngster,” he said compassionately. “You shouldn’t really waste your time. There’s too many of them.You’ll never make a difference.” Looking up, the boy held up a single starfish in his palm and suddenly hurled the creature full force back into the ocean. “I made a difference to that one!” he said and continued on his mission. You can’t change the world but by the grace of God you can change a life.

When you break out of the normal mode and allow your burden to grow, chances are good that it will feel futile at times. “You’ll hear a voice chiding you, “You might as well give up. You can’t change anything. What difference is this going to make?” When you hear this voice of doubt, remember, you can’t do everything, but you can do something. Every starfish matters. More importantly every person matters.

Remember you may not have the gift to debate with angry or complacent skeptics.  That’s really okay.  But there are people whom you will meet, not in moments of controversy but in moments of hurt.  I speak of the ‘low hanging fruit’ so dear to God.  They do not put up bitter resistance; they reveal a place beneath their surfaces where they are not doing nearly so well as they let on.  Think of plaintive eyes looking to you, wondering if you have anything to say.  1—Open your eyes.  See the people all around you who are actually people who need Jesus, people who will spend eternity somewhere.  2—Pray.  Ask God to open a door for you to talk.  3—Love.  Imitate Jesus in the way you speak to and live with those people.  That will teach them that you truly are his disciple.  4—Speak the truth.  “Clearly articulate the clear message of Christ.  There is no need at all for arm twisting.  There is no pressure to close the sale.  You just tell what you know.  You are simply a plain-spoken witness of the way God saved the world in Christ.

There is great joy in fishing for fish and catching a fish and seeing that joy on the face of a son or daughter.

There is even greater joy to simply fish to be like Andrew who told his brother Simon to “Come and See.”

You have such an opportunity for our Friendship weekend to continue to talk about Jesus to your friends, relatives, associates and neighbors.

Go and Tell them to Come and See Jesus!