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Fishers of Men
Matthew 5:1-11

The scene opens with 2 boats and 3 fisherman, Simon, James, and John ``toiling throught the night''. They throw their nets and haul them in over and over again, but they catch nothing. Finally, exhausted, they row their boats to shore, get out, and start washing their nets.

Enter Jesus followed by a crowd of people ...

5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

5:3 And he entered into 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.

Jesus enters Simon's ship, followed by Simon. Simon rows out just off shore. Jesus teaches the people (the beatitudes, various parables, etc.).

5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

Simon rows out to deep water and lets down his net. He hauls it in. It is full of fish!

5:6 And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

5:7 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.

James and John come in the other ship. Each boat is filled (one fish per boat) with fish so that they start to slowly sink under the load.

5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Peter turns into a skunk to make visable his stinking sinful nature.

5:9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

5:10 And so was also 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.

5:11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

Exit Jesus followed by Simon, James, and John.



 
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Robert J. Brown
9/16/1997