The Time Is Fulfilled, The Kingdom of God Is At Hand, Repent Ye, And Believe the Gospel - Part 1501

Simon Peter said unto them, "I go a fishing." They said unto him, "We also go with thee." They (being Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples) entered into a ship immediately, and that night they caught nothing. At the time, Jesus had just been crucified, and not knowing what to do, these disciples of Jesus decidedly returned to fishing -- the place where Jesus originally found them. In this example, the "risen Christ" was about to shew Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias -- as explained in John 21:1-15.

But what I would like to focus on this day is the transition herein. The stark contrast that was taking place from the time the Lord first called these fishers to follow Him, and their return to fishing after Jesus gave up the ghost on the cross. The change that occurred in these disciples' hearts from when the Lord Jesus first came preaching the Kingdom of God, saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye, and believe the gospel" to their latter response. (Mark 1:15)

And also the "nothing" that once again was in their nets.

Both Mark and Luke share how Jesus initially called these very same fishers to follow Him. Therein, as we read and meditate,  we understand that these straightway forsook their nets to follow Him. There was no hesitation on their part in making this decision. Indeed, some even left their father with the hired servants in order to follow Jesus. 

Mark's account: "After being tempted of satan in the wilderness forty days, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." As Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, "Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men." And straightway they forsook their nets and followed Him. And whence He had gone a little farther, thence, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after Him ..." (Mark 1:1-20)

Luke's account: "And it came to pass that as the people pressed upon Him [Jesus] to hear the Word of God, by the lake of Gennesaret, there were two ships standing nearby. The fishermen were gone out of them and were washing nets. And Jesus entered 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.

Now when He had left speaking, Jesus said unto Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught." And Simon answering unto Him, "Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing; nevertheless, at Thy word will I let down the net." And when they had done this, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes to the point that the net broke.

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. When Simon Peter saw what was happening, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

For he was astonished, and all that were with him at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so also was 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." And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed Him." (Luke 5:1-11)

In Matthew, Jesus said to them, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." And they straightway left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:17-23)

Why? Because as did so many others, these wanted to hear the Word of God.

"... came almost the whole city together to hear the Word of God." (Acts 13:44)

"And early in the morning, He came again into the temple and all the people came unto Him and He sat down and taught them." (John 8:1-2)

And, as Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people, His disciples were continually astonished and amazed at the miracles Jesus did. (Mark 5:42; Mark 7:37; Mark 6:51; Mark 1:27)

In fact, these said, "We never saw it on this fashion." (Mark 2:12)

"And they were astonished at His doctrine; for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes." (Mark 1:22)

In other passages, we read that these same disciples were "exceedingly amazed." (Matthew 19:25)

Just like David the psalmist wrote, "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. For He spake and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast. The Lord brings the counsel of the heathen to nought; He makes the devices of the people of none effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance." (Psalm 33:8-12)

So what happened to their "first love" along the way? After all, these disciples had forsaken all for Jesus. These had followed Jesus when He first called them to become fishers of men. Peter so much as said so to Jesus in Matthew 19:27.

Peter said to Jesus, "Behold, we have forsaken all and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?"

These same disciples who after Jesus' death on the cross returned to the world of "nothings" -- yielding once again "no fish" in their nets; these same disciples who had never before seen a holy One such as Jesus -- to the point that these were "exceedingly amazed" at the miracles and His doctrine exchanged the heavenly for the earthly when it seemed to them that they had lost their friend; these same disciples who (like the two blind men sitting by the wayside) needed their eyes to be opened to the things of God turned back to their old way of life; these same disciples with so willing hearts at one point in their lives -- who immediately followed Jesus forsaking all when He called them -- were now asking the Lord, "What shall we have therefore?"

What did Jesus say?

"Verily, I say unto you. That ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My Name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life ..." (Matthew 19:27-30)

These disciples had a purpose that the Lord placed in their hearts whilst they were still in their mother's womb, and herein, the Lord was reminding them of His higher calling. To reach for the heavenly in their endeavours, forsaking the world of nothings. In the full circle of this text, we see that returning to the world for their sustenance only resulted in more nothings because at the end of the day, all the world has is nothings.

But when we lift Jesus up, He will draw all men unto Him. The same Lord who gives us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness -- He is our hope. The living God wherein the vanities and passions of this world no longer hold meaning because He has placed His purpose in our heart. He will lift us into the heavenly when we focus on Him.

"There comes One after me, whose shoes of His feet, I am not worthy to loose." (Acts 13:25)

The Lord Himself coming forth as a mighty man to bring us salvation. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23) His Name in this current dispensation of grace is Jesus. (Acts 4:12) Therefore, like these same disciples discovered when the scales had fallen from their eyes, don't let the nothings of this world entice you into a place whereby your nets will never be full.

Rather, "be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things .... those things which ye have both learned and received, and heard, and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:6-8)

And rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. Don't let the nothing of this world take away the blessing that our Lord God and Saviour has set aside just for you. Instead, step into the purpose that the Lord Jesus has given you. Advance His Kingdom through the preaching of His Name in everything that you do. Stand in the offering plate.