Fisher of Men - The Gospels

In this Bible Story, we see Jesus through the eyes of Peter. His mighty works of healing and acts of compassion bring Peter to his knees. He truly sees that Jesus is a man worth following, and he would soon come to the understanding that Jesus is God himself. This story is inspired by Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:22-38, Luke 4:31-44, Luke 5:1-11. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.

Today's Bible verse is Luke 5:10 from the King James Version.

Episode 181: After a long night of no catches, Peter and his brother Andrew were getting ready to go ashore. Just as they were getting ready to turn in, Jesus came to them asking to use their boat as a platform to teach from. After He was done, Jesus told Peter and Andrew that if they went back out into deeper waters they would catch fish. Though there may have been some reluctance, Peter obeyed and to his amazement, they took in a catch so big that the nets began to break. This got Peter’s attention. Later that week, as Jesus was walking around Galilee, a leper approached Him and begged Jesus to cleanse him. Breaking all convention Jesus touched the man and he was made clean!

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Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max Bard

Producer: Ben Gammon

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Music by: Andrew Morgan Smith

Bible Story narration by: Todd Haberkorn

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let us pray. And so also James and John, the
sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon, and Jesus said,
unto Simon, fear not from hence thou shalt catch men
Luke five ten. Dear Jesus, in the same way that

(00:22):
you provided for Peter in his boat and provided a
large catch of fish, I also thank you that instead
of fish, your allowing me to draw all men and
women to you and to your purpose for their lives.
Increase my influence, enlarge my reach, and give me the

(00:47):
ability to be a magnet for all whom I come
in contact with. As you increase the influence I have
with others. I also thank you that you will give
me the ability to supernaturally heal the areas in their
lives that is robbing them from experiencing community purpose and fulfillment.

(01:12):
Like the leper in today's reading, I pray that they
will spread the word of how good you are and
that you are always willing to heal and uplift those
in need. Today I acknowledge that I am a fisher
of men in Jesus' name. Amen, Listening to these daily

(01:39):
prayers strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the
Lord by listening to today's Bible in a Year, brought
to you by Bible in a Year dot Com of Men.

Speaker 2 (02:01):
In our last story, the ministry of Jesus began to
take on form. Jesus would preach with authority, heal with compassion,
and cast out demons with power. His fame began to
grow rapidly. Now we learn about Jesus's individual ministry. He
did not just preach to crowds. He would connect with

(02:22):
individuals and change their lives forever. Inspired by the Gospels.

Speaker 3 (02:29):
Hello, and welcome once again to the Bible in a Year.
This is Jack Graham. In our last episode, we heard how,
despite the miracles that Jesus performed and the wisdom and
insight with which he spoke, Jesus was not accepted by all,
and was even run out of his own hometown of
Nazareth under threat of death. Still, Krauss continued to flock

(02:51):
to Jesus to hear him speak and to catch a
glimpse of the marvelous miracles wonders that he performed. Today,
we'll hear how Jesus encountered men and women at a
very personal level. Healing not only their physical illnesses, but
opening their eyes to a life of abundance and joy,
and changing their hearts forever. So let's listen now to

(03:12):
the word of God. In the Gospels of Jesus Christ.

Speaker 2 (03:17):
Peter leaned his head against the mast of his boat.
An entire night wasted and the water had yielded no fish.
He had toiled relentlessly, only to come up empty. Andrew
was washing the nets beside him. He too was disappointed
at the lack of fish. Peter looked up at the
clouds and listened to the seagulls fly out to sea.

(03:38):
Perhaps the birds would have better luck than him, He
sighed and began to close his eyes and rest. The
gentle breeze rolled in from the water and gently rocked
his boat. Peter's moment of peace was quickly interrupted by
the sound of people. Peter opened his eyes and saw
hundreds of people following Jesus. They were so desperate to

(03:58):
hear him that they were nearly trampling him to get closer.
Jesus could see Peter and Andrew from a distance. He
waved and jogged over to them. Would you mind letting
me use your boat to teach from the crowds will
trample me if I don't get above them. Peter agreed
his boat might as well get some use for that day.
Jesus spoke for a while. Peter listened from behind, half listening,

(04:23):
half daydreaming. After Jesus was finished, he turned back to
Peter and Andrew. Why don't we go out into the
deep and put your nets out for a catch, Jesus asked.
Peter gave a condescending laugh. Master, we have toiled all
night and have nothing to show for it. He looked
at Jesus. He was earnest and clearly wanted Peter to

(04:44):
take the boat out. Peter shrugged, Fine, that's your word,
we will go out, So Peter and Andrew reluctantly took
the boat out. Peter gathered up the nets and tossed
them to the side of the boat. Then Peter sat,
knowing that nothing would catch. Just as Peter was getting comfortable,
he could hear the sound of stretching rope. The net

(05:07):
was tightening on the side of the boat. Peter leaped
to his feet and looked overboard. His net was completely
filled with fish, so much that the nets seemed like
it was about to break. Peter, Andrew, and Jesus tugged
on the nets and hurled in the largest catch Peter
had ever witnessed. The nets on the other side of
the boat were overflowing as well, so Peter gestured for

(05:29):
James and John to bring out their boats as well.
The men rejoiced with their catch. This bigger catch would
provide for their families for months. All the men danced
in place and shouted for joy, but not Peter. He
looked at Jesus and fell to his face. He was broken.
He felt unworthy of Jesus's gift. Depart from me, Lord,

(05:52):
he said, I am a sinful man. Peter bowed his
head before him. Jesus knelt down and placed his head
on Peter's shoulder. From now on, I will teach you
how to be a fisher of men. So the two
of them departed with Andrew, James, and John. Later that evening,
Jesus was able to heal Peter's mother in law. Peter's

(06:14):
entire world was being transformed by Jesus. Jesus was walking
among one of the cities, observing the needs of the
people around him. As he was pacing the city, Jesus
stumbled upon a man stricken with leprosy. The entire left
side of his face was mangled, and he could barely
lift his arms from the pain of rotting flesh. The
man approached Jesus gently. The men who were following Jesus

(06:37):
stepped back, but Jesus stepped forward. The leper fell at
Jesus's feet. Please Lord, have mercy on me. The man
began to weep. If you are willing, I know you
can make me clean. Jesus's eyes began to water as
he listened to the man's cries. He knew how much
pain he was in. He knew how lonely leprosy had

(06:59):
made him. Jesus knelt down and hugged him. He held
him in his arms as he wept.

Speaker 3 (07:05):
I am willing.

Speaker 2 (07:06):
Jesus whispered, be clean, And as Jesus spoke, the leper's
limbs and face began to show color once again. The
leprosy had left him. The man leapt for joy. He
wiggled his arms and kicked his feet. He was a
new man. Jesus instructed him to tell nobody of what happened.
He was to go into the temple and give thanks

(07:27):
to God. However, the man did not listen. He shouted
Jesus's name in the city streets. As a result, droves
of people came to him with their infirmities. Jesus would
spend all day helping them. Then, when the sun set,
he withdrew to a secret place to meet with God
in quiet.

Speaker 3 (07:48):
In today's scripture, we find Peter and Andrew tired and
disappointed after a fruitless night of fishing the Sea of Galilee.
For them, fishing was not a pastime that took them
away from the stress of ward. It was work and
life itself, and the previous night had been frustrating as
they were turned to shore empty handed. While they were

(08:09):
washing their nets, Jesus approached them, followed by a large
crowd of people wanting to hear him speak. This was
becoming very common at this point, as droves of men
and women follow Jesus everywhere, hanging on his every word.
Jesus asked the fisherman if he could set off in
their boat and speak to the crowds from the water. So,

(08:29):
with the prow of a boat for a pulpit, Jesus spoke.
The Son of God would have known the practical benefit
of speaking from that place, as his voice would carry
well over the water and into the crowd. And as
I think of this scene, I can't help but be
reminded of Psalm twenty nine, which says, the voice of
the Lord is over the waters. And here we find

(08:51):
that the Lord's voice literally went out over the waters
to those who came to hear him, it was loud
and clear. When he was done teaching, Jesus asked Andrew
and Peter to put out into the water again and
throw their nets out again to catch some fish. The
experienced and exhausted fishermen scoffed. They just tried all night

(09:12):
and returned with empty nets. So naturally Peter doubted the
likelihood of having any different results at this hour. But
still he replied, as we read in Luke five, but
because you say so, I will let down the nets. Now,
that is a very important lesson for all of us.
Because you say so, Peter was doubtful, and yet he obeyed.

(09:37):
You see, doubt is not the opposite of faith. Unbelief is.
Peter had some doubts and reservations. Even his past experience
gave him some pause, but he did trust in Jesus,
and so they lowered their nets in faith and obedience,
And when they tried to pull the nets back in,
they were astounded. Amazed, the nets that had returned empty

(09:59):
time and time again just hours ago, were filled with fish.
The catch was so big that their nets nearly broke
and their boats nearly sank. Peter's response to this was
to fall at the feet of Jesus and acknowledge his
position a sinner unworthy of such grace and blessing. Whereas
the religious leaders of the day walk with their heads high,

(10:20):
feeling entitled to God's blessing because of their rule following
and strict living, Peter knew he was undeserving and fell
in humble worship, depending upon the grace of the Lord.
Rather than go away, as Peter asked him to do,
Jesus gently graciously took Peter and told him that there
was still much fishing to be done, only now he

(10:43):
would become a fisher of men. Surely the words must
have been puzzling to Peter, how does one fish for people?
And still again, Peter followed by faith, along with Andrew,
James and John. Three of these men would become closer
to Jesus than any other the inner circle of disciples,
and they were all fishermen. Later that evening, Jesus healed

(11:07):
Peter's mother in law, bringing healing and transformation into the
apostle's household. But jesus healing ministry was not reserved for
those closest to him or a chosen few. As we
hear next, Jesus went into the city, seeing the deep
physical and spiritual needs of those around him, He encountered
a leper, a man whose physical illness and social ostracism

(11:29):
painted a picture of the condition, the spiritual condition and
disease of all mankind without God. His flesh was consumed
with the disease, leaving him unfeeling and exposed to all
kinds of injury, and because of his sickness, he was separated,
separated from all others. As Jesus approached him, the man
also fell at the feet of Jesus, asking to be

(11:52):
made whole, to be made clean, And with just a word,
Jesus spoke and healed the man, who went full of
joy into the city to tell all the things that
Christ had done for him, leading more and more crowds
to seek the Lord out. This was Jesus ministry, speaking
healing into people's hearts and bodies and to strengthen and

(12:15):
sustain him. In that ministry, we see that Jesus never
neglected to seek the presence of his heavenly Father, retreating
often into solitude to speak to God. If that's what
Jesus himself needed, oh how much more you and I
need to seek God's strength through prayer and fellowship. Dear God,
we thank you for the presence of Jesus, the power

(12:38):
of Jesus. Thank you for the healing ministry, especially the
ministry of healing the deepest longings and needs of the
human soul. May we live in the joy of this salvation,
the joy that Jesus gives us. We thank you for
today's reading and the examples of faith and the opportunity
to this very day that we can also seek God

(12:58):
by faith and follow Jesus and become fishers of men.
Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a Year podcast.
I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. You can download the
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(13:20):
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