The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 129

HOMILETICS. Yer~. 1-11.-The oo1l t-0 be fishers o/ men. Ench or the missionary circuits of ChrisL has it, special features of iuterest. The first of these circuits is distinguiahed L_, three miracles significant of his work as the Christ of God. Look at the miracle of the draught of fishes, with the narrative to which it is related, as a record illustrative tirst of personal conve1·sion, and secondly of the ministry ef the New Testament. I. AN ILLUSTRATION OF PKRBONAL CONVERSION. 1. There is already a faith. The four men whom the Lord calls had heard his voice on the banks of Jordan (John i. 35-4-3), and had followed him. They had journryed with him in Judma, and even, it would seem, had baptized in his Name. But, after the return of Jesus to Galilee from the Passover-keeping noticed in John v., they had gone be.ck to their homes and their usual callings. They believed in him, but they did not realize the constraint of n supreme influence. They did not hold themselves e.s solemnly engaged to him. It was this en_'.!:agement to be his, going where he went, and dwelling· where he dwelt, which was the work of the day by the Lake of Gennesaret. Now, see in this a reminder that there may be a belie1; sincere and true so far as it goes, which prepares for, but which is not, the faith unto salvation. It establishes a certain intellectual relation to Christ, but nothing more. The effectual call is still wanting-the call, i.e., to an entire self-surrender, leaving all and following him. 2. There is a sovereignty of grace in this call. Of this sovereignty there is much to remind us in the passaae under review. The great crowd is before the Teacher e.s he stands by the lake. Of the many boats drawn up on the beach, he selects two; of the two he chooses Simon's. Another evangelist reminds ns that out of the multitude he saw two brethren, and again he saw other two brethren. He saw and he spoke; there is the look and there is the worn. "The Lord looked on Gideon, and said, Go in this thy might." All that is done is done so easily. Almost a chance, it might be said. There is he, and there are they ; he at his work, and they at theirs. It was no chance. It was Christ's opportunity; it was their opportunity. "Follow me In is the command of his royalty. Such was he then, such is he still. In the crowd he individualizes. The soul found by him asks, " Whence knowest thou me?" He knows his sheep, and is known of them. He calleth his own sheep by name. 3. There is an instant response. Christ's call is "Now;" "To-day if ye will hear his voice." The answer is "Now;" "To- day ; " "Lord, here am I; send me "-an unreserved, uncalculating surrender, body, soul, and spirit, to Jesus. The net is left, and, mark, the net that has just been or is just being cast into the sea-the net on which so much had been spent. Net and father tuo. He will not come with them. " Farewell, then ; not less do we love yon; but he is nearer tl,an father and mother, and his word is, 'Follow me!'" 'I'his is conversion -the turning of the face of the life to the eternal Lord; the acceptance of God's Beloved, in the consciou8ness of acceptance in the Beloved; the election, as the mark towards which to press, of the calling of God in Christ Jesus. "Thy people offer themselves willingly in the day of thy power.'' II. But, second1y, see in the miracle which follows A PICTURE OF THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. 1. .A conviction which gives intensity to it. Simon Peter, in the light of Jesus' presence and power, falls down at his knees, crying, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord!" 'l'he cry in its matter was foolish, but the spirit which prom1,te•l it was true. For the first time he had realized h;s own unworthiness. Had he not all but given Jesus up? Had he not lived a poor, dull, earthly life? Who was he, that tbe Lord of glory should have sat in his boat, that he should have been in any way identified with him? It is not the "depart" of a will that refuses the Lord; it io the self-loathing heart-cry, "Lord, I am vile; what canst thou see in me?" The same heart-cry as that which burst from Isaiah when he saw the Lord and heard the antiphon of the seraphim, "Woe is me! . . . for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.'' It is io such prostration that the lips are touched by the ser8;fb, and the live coal is laid on them, and the " Fear not; thine iniquity is taken away is spoken, and the hitherto unprophetic tongue is loosed. In the service which springs out of this humility there ii always the sign of the baptism with the Holy Ghost o.nd witr. fire, 2. ..d..n incident which cleclarea tM secret of ministrv, (1) Its inspiratiOfl. llB, t. 1-39.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 121