Christian Art | Fishers Of Men | King James Audio Bible | Daily Gospel Verses | KJV
Luke 5: 1-11 – Week 22 Ordinary Time, Thursday (King James Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
1 AND it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
Luke’s Gospel places the calling of the first disciples after the fame of Jesus has already spread across the region. Simon Peter listens to Jesus’ words, then he experiences the miraculous catch of fish, and then he throws himself down before Jesus, acknowledging his sins and placing his life in Jesus’ hands. This is Simon Peter’s call. He gives away everything he has to follow Jesus.
The Church Fathers saw in Simon’s boat a symbol of the pilgrim Church on earth. ‘This is the boat which according to Saint Matthew was in danger of sinking and according to Saint Luke was filled with fish. Here we can see the difficult beginnings of the Church and its later fruitfulness.’ (Saint Ambrose.)
Jesus has taught in the synagogues. Now he gets into the boat to teach the crowds. We can imagine just how many people must have flocked to listen to Jesus, all wanting a piece of him. Jesus gets into the boat in order to be able to satisfy the hunger of the people, to teach the crowds. Here is an image of Christ’s preaching to us now through the Church, the barque of Peter, reaching out across the whole world to call all humanity to God through Jesus.
There is a sense of commission and of perseverance as Jesus tells Simon to take the ship out into the sea again and to drop the nets. Simon’s response expresses exhaustion, disbelief and also obedience. He does what Jesus tells him to do. Now here is a miraculous catch of fish! This is what happens when we are disheartened, as must be so often the case, and as we keep going with Jesus. Suddenly, just when we feel we have reached the limit, there is a miraculous catch! This is our sharing of faith.
Perhaps it might be good for us to recall that, when we experience difficulty in prayer, when our prayer is dry and we feel we are getting nowhere, God doesn’t mind. What matters to God is that we are still praying, even as we experience no immediate reward. Difficult as it may seem, when it seems to us as if our prayers are not communicating, God still hears our prayers, and their work is done.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes
What Did Jesus Mean By Fishers Of Men?
Luke 5:1-11 tells the story of Jesus calling his first disciples, who were fishermen by trade. As they were cleaning their nets by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus got into one of their boats and asked Simon (later called Peter) to push off from the shore. Jesus then taught the crowds from the boat and told the fishermen to cast their nets into the deep water, where they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. This miraculous catch of fish led the fishermen to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and to follow him.
The phrase ‘fishers of men’ comes from Jesus’ words to the fishermen after the miraculous catch of fish, when he tells them: ‘Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.’ (Luke 5:10) In this phrase, Jesus uses the imagery of fishing to describe the disciples’ new mission of spreading the Gospel and bringing people into the kingdom of God.
The imagery of fishing is not unique to the New Testament, however. In the Old Testament, fishing is often used as a metaphor for judgment and destruction. For example, in Amos 4:2, the prophet warns the people of Israel that they will be ‘drawn away with hooks’ like fish, and in Jeremiah 16:16, God tells Jeremiah that he will send fishermen to catch the people of Israel and bring them back to their land.
In the New Testament, the image of fishing is used in a more positive sense, as a metaphor for evangelism and discipleship. In Matthew 4:19, Jesus calls his first disciples, who were also fishermen, and tells them: ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Similarly, in Mark 1:17, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew and says to them: ‘Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.’
Throughout Christian history, the phrase ‘fishers of men’ has been used to describe the work of evangelism and discipleship. Saint Augustine, in his work The City Of God, writes: ‘Thus, the apostles were sent as “fishers of men”, not to kill them, but to catch them alive for salvation.’ Similarly, in his sermon ‘The Fishers of Men’, Charles Spurgeon says: ‘The apostles became fishers of men because they had been caught themselves by the Gospel net.’
In the Catholic tradition, the image of fishing is often associated with the papacy. Saint Peter, the first bishop of Rome, was a fisherman before he became a disciple of Jesus. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus tells Peter: ‘Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ This passage is often interpreted to mean that Peter was the rock upon which the church was built, and that the papacy is therefore the spiritual successor of Peter.
Herbert’s poem focuses on themes of divine grace, human frailty, and the role of a preacher as a vessel for God’s light and truth. The poem is built around the metaphor of a preacher as a glass window through which God’s grace and truth can shine. It explores how the preacher’s life and message must be unified effectively to convey God’s word to others [ … ]
Christian Art | Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible KJV The Gospel Of Saint John 14: 1-7 | King James Audio Bible YouTube: Connection With The Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible The Gospels are not just a collection of stories or teachings, but a window into the life of Jesus. By reading and reflecting on the Gospels, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus was and what he came to do. As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a man of great compassion and love. Jesus showed mercy to the outcasts and the marginalized, and he offered healing and hope to those who were in need. He also taught with authority, challenging the religious leaders of his day and offering a new way of living based on love and service. But the Gospels are not just a history lesson. They are also an invitation for us to enter into a relationship with Jesus. By reading and meditating on the Gospels, we can come to know Jesus more personally and deeply. We can learn from his example and seek to follow in his footsteps. So we may be encouraged to read the Gospels, perhaps starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, as we read paying attention to how Jesus interacted with others and how he responded to different situations. We may ask ourselves what you can learn from his words and actions, and how we can apply them to our own lives. And as we read, we can allow ourselves to be drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus. There truly is an historical Jesus. May the Gospels be a source of guidance, inspiration, and transformation for us all. How Much In The Gospels Is Historical, And How Much Is Myth, Legend, Trope, Figurative Thinking? It is difficult to say with certainty how much of the Gospels is historical in the modern sense of the word and how much is myth, legend, trope, or figurative thinking. The Gospels were written some years after the events they describe, and they were written from the perspective of the early Christian community. This means that the Gospels may contain a mix of historical facts and interpretation, as well as elements of myth, legend, and figurative thinking. That being said, scholars believe that the Gospels contain a good deal of historical information. For example, the Gospels describe specific places and events, such as the places where Jesus preached and the events of his trial and Crucifixion. These details suggest that the writers of the Gospels had access to historical information and intended to provide an accurate account of what happened. On the other hand, the Gospels also contain elements that are not seen by all as historical, howsoever this goes to the root of the faith, such as the miracles performed by Jesus and the accounts of his resurrection. Some see these as legends or myths that were added to the Gospels to help convey the message of the early Christian community. The question of how much of the Gospels is historical and how much is myth, legend, or figurative thinking is complex. What is important is that we approach the Gospels with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the stories and teachings they contain. We are in the Gospels in conversation with God – and with the many people who have had such faith and conversations – as with the historical Jesus. Why Do The Gospels Say Were People Afraid Of Jesus? There are several reasons why people may have been afraid of Jesus, according to the Gospels. One reason is that Jesus was a powerful and charismatic figure who challenged the religious and political authorities of his time. He spoke out against corruption and injustice, and he called on people to repent and turn to God. This type of behaviour was seen as threatening by those in positions of power, and they may have been afraid of losing their influence or authority. Another reason is that Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. These miracles were seen as evidence of his divine power, and they may have made people afraid of him. Some people may have been afraid of being healed or possessed by Jesus, while others may have been afraid of what would happen if they did not believe in him. Finally, some people may have been afraid of Jesus because of the prophecies and expectations of the coming of a messiah. The Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for a saviour who would deliver them from oppression and establish a kingdom of God on earth. When Jesus arrived on the scene, he may have been seen as a threat to the status quo, and some people may have been afraid of what he might do. Might The Fear Be Related To The Fear Of God – The Injunction To Fear God? Yes, it is possible that the fear of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels may be related to the fear of God. In the Old Testament, the fear of God is often used to describe a deep reverence and awe for God, as well as a sense of humility and obedience in the face of his greatness. This fear of God is seen as a positive and necessary quality for a faithful believer, and it is often linked to the idea of fearing God’s punishment or judgement. In the New Testament, the fear of God is also mentioned, but it is often portrayed in a more positive light. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his followers not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to fear God, who can destroy both body and soul (Luke 12:4-5). This suggests that the fear of God is not just about punishment, but about a deep respect for […]
Psalm 78 is a compelling narrative recounting the historical journey of the people of Israel, their encounters with God’s miraculous wonders, and their recurrent acts of rebellion. Asaph, the psalmist, takes on the role of a storyteller, urging the people to listen and learn from the lessons of their forefathers. The psalm serves as both a historical reflection and a cautionary tale, emphasizing the importance of remembering God’s deeds and remaining steadfast in obedience [ … ]
