The Plowman

Introduction
We all have those folks in our lives who have been there challenging us to better ourselves.  To do more, to achieve greater success.  They say, “Great.  Way to go!  Now let’s really do it.”  Bless their hearts – they mean well but they tick me off!  Do you remember those “president’s physical fitness test” in school?  They said they were intended to promote physical fitness – I know they were intended to humiliate those of us who were “gravitationally challenged.”  So many sit-ups, chin-ups and so forth.  I hated those days.  Mr. Robinson would say, “Okay Rodney it’s your turn.”  “Do I have to?”  As if wearing those “husky” jeans were not enough – I was paraded in front of the class to once again fail.  After considerable effort to getting me up to the bar – he would step back and say, “go!”  I would hang there for a few tenths of a second and then drop to the floor.  He would say, “Good effort.  I thought you were going to do one.  It was better than last time.”

Coaches who would slap you on the back and encourage you – then challenge you to reach a little higher – work a little harder.  Teachers who saw untapped potential and sought to bring it out.  Parents who knew you were capable of more.  But the great encourager is the Lord Jesus himself.  Who not only challenges to greater heights but enables us to reach them!

As we follow our Lord through the Gospels we find Him lovingly leading the disciples deeper in the walk of faith.  As He sets before them the great truths of the kingdom – He calls them to a deeper understanding and a more demanding commitment.  That is what I want us to note in our text this morning from Luke chapter 5.

Text: Luke 5:1-11

Doctor Luke is writing an orderly account of the life of Jesus for his friend Theophilus. Stories are already circulating and Luke wanted his friend to have an accurate account. So Luke the historian carefully researched the facts. His goal – demonstrate that Jesus is indeed the Messiah – the Savior of the world. Jesus is the savior of both the Jew and the Gentile. Luke spends the first two chapters giving us the background information. Information that demonstrates that this Jesus is indeed unique. Chapter 4 recounts the wilderness temptations and His early days in Galilee.

• His rejection in His hometown synagogue.
• That action-packed Sabbath in Capernaum.

As we approach our text we find a crowd around. There is nothing unusual about that.  Crowds followed Jesus everywhere in those days. This crowd was so large and people were elbowing and pushing their way so much so that the people were “pressing” in on Jesus.

The word literally means to “press down.” They were crowding Him – pushing Him into the water. He saw a couple of fishing boats – got into one and used it for a pulpit. We already know that He taught like no other man. People were amazed at His teaching. They could not believe what they were hearing from Him. But this text is not about His preaching – it is about what happened after the sermon.

Thesis: The Lord Jesus lovingly, graciously calls His followers to greater levels of love and commitment.

1. Our Lord lovingly challenges us to believe in spite of our doubt.  (5:1-5)
2. Our Lord graciously rewards our obedience with remarkable results.  (5:6-9)
3. Our Lord graciously calls us to a life of total commitment.  (5:10-11)