Introduction
We are in the process of looking at the first six fishing-for-men expeditions of Jesus. We are doing this for two reasons. Do you remember what they are? His aim was both to train the ministry team and to reach the masses. Although the previous expedition (at the synagogue) was well executed, today’s fishing expedition may surprise you. When we left, Jesus had healed a demon-possessed man of an evil spirit and, immediately, news about Jesus spread into all the surrounding district of Galilee (Mark 1:28). Jesus leaves the synagogue in Capernaum and heads to Peter’s house. Yes, Peter owned a house and he was even married. Check it out.
Reading [You can read as much as you can, depending on your availability]
Luke 4:38-44
(or)
Matthew 8:14-17
(or)
Mark 1:29-39
Meditating [Use these questions to start your thinking]
- Where is Jesus fishing?
- Who is Jesus fishing for?
- What is Jesus modeling about fishing for men in a house setting?
- How is Jesus fishing?
- What other questions do you still have?
Sharing: Text ONE of your answers to the questions above to your team. Each team should post a sharing from a team member in the comments below.
Today, we are at Peter’s home for a very different kind of fishing expedition — a home outreach, beginning in the evening after sunset. Because of the news of what had happened in the synagogue in Capernaum, word of Jesus’ authority, power and message had carried to the surrounding area and people came to bring their sick and demon-possessed. The first outreach was in a synagogue and the second in a disciple’s home, two very different places to reach people with the Good News about Jesus. Another huge difference in this outreach event was that it was a spontaneous event that probably lasted long into the night, judging by the amount of people who showed up. Notice once again that Jesus does not heal everyone or cast out every evil spirit (Mark 1:34).
Once again, let me remind you that although Jesus may have wanted to heal everyone He came in contact with, He only healed those the Father allowed Him to. He always said and did what the Father told Him to. I think many times Jesus did not heal people because the Father was more glorified in the sickness than in the healing of the person. I know this is a tough truth to wrestle with, especially when you are face-to-face with a parent or someone you love who has cancer or some deadly disease. Yet, we must understand, as Jesus did, that it is about bringing glory to the Father and not about earthly, temporal comfort. Every person Jesus healed eventually died.
Another thing I do not want you to miss is what happens the morning after this great night of ministry. Look back and check it out. What does Jesus do and when does He do it (Mark 1:35)? Jesus, after a long night of ministry, gets up before dawn and slips out of the house to get alone with His Father. Wow! How cool is that? A quiet time with His Father was not just a once-in-awhile thing for Jesus. He modeled a lifestyle of getting alone with His Father, to hear His voice, to find out the next steps in life and ministry, and just to commune with Him (Luke 5:16). Do you have this passion in you to know God as Father and commune with Him? Notice that after meeting with His Dad, Jesus’ disciples come looking for Him. That is because they had already gotten excited about these fishing expeditions and had gone ahead and seemingly planned one on their own (or at least Peter did). “Come back, Jesus,” they called to Him. “Everyone is looking for you and we need you to go!”
It sounds a lot like a few events I have tried to organize. I did all the planning and, at the last moment, asked Jesus to show up. And he would say, “Not now, my son. Maybe next time you should talk with the Father beforehand.” Jesus, in this case, shocks them all by telling them no because they needed to leave to preach in the next towns. I can only imagine the looks on their faces. How did Jesus know it was time to move on? Remember, He had just spent the early hours with His Father, getting the next steps. So, acting in obedience, Jesus does the will of God and not the will of men. As you plan your event, do so with the Father and not without Him. Ask for His guidance from the beginning. He so wants to be included in every part of your life and not be an add-on in the end.
Jesus loved getting away to be with His Dad, to hear His voice, to get His next steps and to commune with Him. How about you? Do you have this Jesus lifestyle of making time to be with your Father? This is such an important part of your walk with Christ. Your discussion today with your disciples is about having a lifestyle of meeting with God. Share honestly about how hard this is in the busy world in which you find yourself. Satan will do everything he can to keep you from spending time with your Dad. Don’t let him win.
It is time to start thinking about a date for your fishing expedition, if you have not already. You must immerse yourself in prayer. Ask the Father to identify the people you are to reach out to and who will join the fishing team. Pray for them and involve them in planning the expedition.
Where is Jesus fishing?
Jesus is fishing in the different synagogues of Judea in various cities as well as in the house of his disciple (Peter).
“How is Jesus fishing?”
Jesus is fishing by healing others and allowing people to witness the miracles & spreading awareness of Himself. Every healing Jesus made was intentional. Many people were finally starting to believe He was the Messiah & even the demons that he cast out knew Him by name. The more people witnessed Jesus’ miracles, the more people understood that Christ had finally arrived & was alive.
Today’s passage was interesting because throughout the whole expedition Jesus maintained energy and not once did he show any kind of burnout. I read that Jesus arrived at Peter’s home on the same day he left the synagogue, I wonder how far in distance were the two places. Regardless, I read that Jesus has gained a lot of attention due to his ability to heal and perform miracles. At one point, I read how some of the demons that were cast out at Jesus’ command shouted that he is the Son of God. But little does anyone know that Jesus is also God.
We see Jesus mirroring a lot of obedience in the next paragraph where right after that day he would leave the next morning to continue preaching the Good News. Jesus is on a mission and even though he might have wanted to stay for the people he had to continue on living out what God had commanded him to do.
Jesus fishes where the needed are brought to His attention. For Peter’s mother-in-law, Jesus came and healed her once the disciples told Him of her ailment. Afterwards, they continued to bring to Jesus all who were sick or possessed of demons and Jesus went to heal each and every one that was brought to Him. And when the good work was done, Jesus didn’t stay as He had no reason to since He helped all those who needed and were brought to Him. But the main takeaway here, for me, is that Jesus didn’t start the healing process until it was brought to His attention. Which reminds me of the importance of prayer and appealing to God on ours and others behalf. Though God knows our ailments and difficulties, He wants us to acknowledge His sovereignty and come to Him for our needs. And much like how Peter appealed to Jesus on behalf of his mother-in-law, we need to appeal to God on behalf of those who need Jesus.