I wonder if you are one of those people whose talent has been spotted, and you are doing something because someone has spotted you and earmarked you for a job. In the secular world of work it is called ‘head hunting.’ In the world of sport it is essential if titles are to be won. Think of football and our pathetic demise in Germany – the talent scouts are already on the job for 2110 looking for another Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, George Best or David Beckham. Once seen, beady eyes are on them – the talent will be spotted, the head hunters will pounce, and they will shoulder the responsibility for England in the next World Cup.

Jesus spent his early days in Galilee looking for talent. He was calling people to follow him – he had a job for them to do, and he needed the right men. He had his eye on one man in particular, not the sort of man we in our wisdom would choose, but he had seen him and was waiting for his opportunity. He had seen a rough, earthy fisherman, whom he wanted. He had seen Peter, and he wanted Peter at the centre of his team.

We heard the story in our reading from Luke 5. It’s a story about change – the change that Jesus makes to situations and people’s lives. As we read the story today the catch of fish is irrelevant, but Jesus is relevant.

Jesus is out there, by Galilee preaching, we are told in v 1, the Word of God. His early ministry was very much a preaching ministry, as he began to introduce people to the concept of the Kingdom of God. As Luke records it, his preaching ministry began in his home town of Nazareth in Ch 4, and when we get to the end of that chapter we read: He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea (although it should read Galilee).

So here is this great scene with Jesus preaching at the lake side to the large crowd around him listening, including one of his new friends Simon Peter. When things began to get too tight he climbed into Peter’s boat, and put out from the shore. He preached from there and taught the people v. 3.
Pebbles for pews; the boat for a pulpit; and Jesus the preacher. We don’t know what Jesus taught them, but teaching was an important aspect of the ministry of Jesus. He wanted people to know and understand.

As a teacher Jesus was unique. Here in person was literally the Word of God, and so he taught with the authority and power of God. Yet it was simple teaching, using illustration and story. He taught about the Kingdom of God – about the Word of God – about practical living – and he taught about himself, seeking to draw people to himself so that in coming to him they would come to know God. But alongside his words were his works (actions) as Jesus changed people and their situations. Don’t forget that this story is about Peter, who needed to change.

1. There was A CHANGE OF STORY. The story was: Fished all night, caught nothing. Not the kind of story to get into Fishermen’s Tales. But here was a way to get through to Peter.

The only problem was that Jesus was the teacher, and Peter was the fisherman. A yokel from Nazareth would know nothing about fishing. But here we find Jesus crossing over the boundary and advising the fisherman about his fishing – it would be like me advising Tim how to play the viola or arrange a worship song for instruments. Can you imagine Peter’s attitude to Jesus’ suggestion in v 4 – Put out into deep water and let the nets down for a catch.

Peter the fisherman protested v 5 MASTER we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything and concluded grudgingly, But because you say so, I will let down the nets. He’s really saying, He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but he’ll learn that he can’t tell me my job. The rest of the story we know – they had such a catch of fish that they had to get help.

What makes the difference here is the presence of Jesus – he changes the story. He did it, you remember, at Cana when they ran out of wine – Jesus got involved – the miracle happened – the story changed. Here it is no fish – Jesus gets involved – the miracle happens – the story is changed. All because Jesus was there.
Just look at the story: v 5 (1) worked hard all night…….(2) caught nothing…….
(3) net empty. But see the change in the story when Jesus takes over – (1) such a large number of fish……(2) the boats were filled……….(3) they were all overcome with astonishment.

What is your story? Does that story need to be changed? The principle is always the same: Jesus makes the difference – the difference in our homes, relationships, work.

2. There was A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE. We have wandered away from Peter a little, but we focus on him again. It was he who was moved to respond to what happened in a particular way. Peter who was the expert – Peter who knew it all – Peter the master of the sea and the boat – but no longer. His story was changing.

Perhaps this is best seen through the change in the way he spoke to Jesus. In v 5 it is MASTER. In v 8 it is LORD. For Peter to get it right he had to begin to see Jesus more than a mere Rabbi.

Again, compare the response of v 5 which is reluctant and begrudging: Because you say so (but you’re wrong, you’ll see) with v 8 when he fell down before Jesus and said: Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man. Here was a man aware of the Divine presence in Jesus, and he was not worthy to be in his presence. Jesus should not be there amongst the sin and degradation of western Galilee.

What had happened was that Jesus had broken into Peter’s private domain – his world where he was master. Suddenly Peter was no longer the master fisherman – Jesus the Lord knew even more than he did. In a sense Jesus was still preaching on that boat – and his word came to Simon, and the miracle happened – the story changed – Peter’s attitude changed. And Peter responded with penitence.

It is our attitude to Jesus that determines where we stand. We can name him as a great teacher, but he is more than that because he is Lord, he is God, and we are unworthy in his presence. Just remember that when you come unprepared and carelessly to worship – we are unworthy and nothing will happen.
3. There was A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. Jesus has seen the talent in Peter; he has pin-pointed him in a particular way and has got a response out of him. No enormous transfer fee here, and no pay for the job. But he was the man.

Jesus had already called Peter to follow him in a general sort of way, but here Jesus is being specific and personal: from now on you will catch men. The master fisherman was being called to his real task of fishing in this call to find and catch people for God.

At this point there were to be no half measures – following Jesus was to be seen for real – it meant leaving everything, whatever that meant in v 11. But for Peter and those who went with him there was also the powerful Don’t be afraid from Jesus. Not an empty platitude, but an assurance that they would not be alone.

This is a simple story, but what we see is the difference Jesus makes. He can still change our circumstances, as we allow him in to effect the miraculous. He can change our story, if it needs changing, but like Peter, it involves a change of attitude and a change of direction, to follow Jesus. Peter was still a fisherman, but he had a greater ministry in the service of Jesus to win people. When we choose to follow Jesus, we are still the same people, with the same jobs, but with that added dimension of a new master and Lord. The call of Jesus is terrifying, but he still says to us, Don’t be afraid, as we look into his face and ask him to change us and use us to win the lost generation around us.

As we pray at the end of this Service that God will send us out in the power of the Spirit to live and work for him, may it take on a personal meaning, as we, like Peter, continue to follow Jesus and allow God to change us for his praise and glory. AMEN.