Introduction
The entry of one person into another person’s life is not a small thing. It can change the entire life. The person may be a friend, a colleague, a relative, a lover, a life-partner, or a stranger. One person can change our life for good or bad. It may lead to either joy and success or sadness and disaster. We ourselves willingly allow some persons to enter our lives. Others enter into our lives even if we don’t want them to enter. We may want some persons to enter our lives, but they may not. We may not want some persons to enter our lives but they may. What happens when Jesus enters into a person’s life? Today, I am going to talk to you from the Word of God on the theme “The Entry of Jesus into a Person’s Life”. What is the method of the entry of Jesus into a person’s life? What happens when Jesus enters into a person’s life? With what purpose does Jesus enter into a person’s life? What will be the result of the entry of Jesus into a person’s life? We will see the answers in Luke 5:1-11. It is the story of the entry of Jesus into the life of Peter.
1. The Method of Entry (vv. 1-4)
1.1. Entry into a person’s life is connected to a wider ministry setting (v. 1)
People were pressing upon Jesus to hear the Word of God. We are not separate from the rest. Jesus enters our lives as part of His wider ministry. Therefore we should not neglect the larger ministry happening in the world. Though Jesus may meet us in loneliness, it is only through the larger ministry happening around in the world. If we miss connections with the larger ministry going on around us we may miss Jesus. Therefore do not stay alone. Go to church fellowship. Go to meetings. Attend prayers. Jesus may enter your lives during those times.
1.2. Entry happens by a deliberate choice of Jesus (v. 2)
Jesus saw two boats. There may be many other boats on the shore. But the sight of Jesus fell on two boats only. Jesus did not choose the other boats. This shows that Jesus had made a choice of whose lives to enter in. We have to remember that Jesus has chosen us to enter into our lives out of all the other people around us. This is His grace upon us and we have to be grateful to Him for choosing us out of many to enter into our lives.
The fishermen were washing their nets. By the time Jesus saw the two boats the fishermen have come from work. But their work was a failure because they were not able to catch fish even after toiling whole night. We know this from the words of Peter in verse 5, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” Jesus enters into the life of the fishermen at this time. Jesus enters into the life of those people who work hard and get little or nothing. A daily-wage laborer, who works hard in the scorching heat of the sun from morning to evening without proper food gets only Rs. 100 per day. He became a daily-wage laborer because his father did not have money to send him to school. But a software engineer, who works for a multinational company in air-conditioned rooms from morning to evening, having best quality food, gets Rs. 1000 to Rs. 3000 per day. He became a software engineer because his father was able to send him to top institutions where he was able to get the best quality education. A Pastor or a God’s servant, who sacrificed his whole life for the service of the Lord, who works hard for the welfare of the Church, does not get even Rs. 50 per day. The rich look down upon the poor, even though the poor work as hard as or even more than the rich. This is the unjust situation of the world today. But there is good news for those who have not received the just reward for their hard work. Jesus wants to enter into the life of such people. It is a deliberate choice of Jesus to enter into the lives of those people who have failed in their lives. Today you may be thinking about your life and saying to yourself, “My life is a failure. I have worked hard but not able to achieve anything”. But know that this is the time for Jesus to enter into your life.
1.3. Entry starts with a personal fellowship (v. 3)
Jesus gets into the boat of Simon and asks him to put out a little from the land. By doing this Jesus is shifting the attention of Simon towards Himself, away from Simon’s failure. Until Jesus called him, Simon was thinking about his failure in catching fish. He was tired and dejected. But entering into the boat alone with Jesus helped to shift his concentration from that failure to Jesus. We need to get into the boat along with Jesus, away from the land of our own business, so that we can hear Him speak. When he was in the boat with Jesus, Simon got the opportunity to observe Jesus from near, seeing Him and hearing Him. This increased Simon’s respect for Jesus.
As a result of this entry of Jesus, something new happened in the life of Jesus. This is described in verses 4 to 10a.
2. The Work of Entry (vv. 4-10a)
The entry of Jesus into a person’s life transforms the life-situation as well as the life of that person. Jesus enters by doing glorious acts in a person’s life, which changes the life of that person forever.
2.1. Entry transforms life-situation (vv. 4-7, 9-10a)
Jesus asks Simon to put out into the deep and let down their nets for a catch. Considering the situation, it should be recognized that this is not an easy command to obey. Firstly, the fishermen were already tired after a whole night of toiling. Secondly, they were not able to catch any fish even after toiling so much. Thirdly, the fishermen were not at all under obligation to obey Jesus because they were not yet under His authority. This shows that it is not easy to follow Jesus. Some think that after believing Jesus we can get everything very easily since He can do miracles. But on the contrary, Jesus makes us to work hard. In spite of being tired, unsuccessful, and not under obligation to obey Jesus, what made Simon to obey Jesus?
Simon says to Jesus, “But at your word I will let down the nets”. What gave Simon the strength to obey Jesus even after toiling whole night? What gave Simon the willingness to obey even though he has no faith that he can catch fish? What made Simon to obey Jesus even though he was not under any obligation to obey? In Luke 4:38-39 we see that Jesus heals the mother-in-law of Simon. Because of this Simon had already a high regard for Jesus. That is why he addresses Jesus by the title “Master”. That is why when Jesus commanded him to do a very difficult thing, Simon obeyed without any resistance. You may be tired. Situations may seem impossible and you may not have any faith at all. Some of you who are new may not feel any obligation to obey Jesus. But in spite of your tiredness in life, in spite of your lack of faith, in spite of your lack of any kind of relationship with Jesus, the astonishing works of Jesus will lead you to obey Jesus.
When Simon obeyed Jesus, a miracle happened. They were able to have such a great catch of fish that their boats began to sink. For the same fishermen who were not able catch any fish even after toiling whole night, catching such a great number is certainly an astonishing thing. This miracle has manifested the glory of Jesus. It changed the situation of the fishermen. It transformed the situation from that of failure and dejection to that of astonishing success. Jesus knows well that these fishermen had toiled whole night in vain. They were badly in need of a good catch of fish, so that they can sell them and earn money for their livelihood. Jesus knows our needs and wants and He wants to fulfill them. Therefore, we need not be anxious and wonder whether God cares about our desperate situation. Surely, God has a way for us.Yes. The entry of Jesus transforms our life-situation. But it also transforms life itself as we see next.
2.2. Entry transforms life itself (v. 8)
When Simon Peter saw this astonishing thing he fell down at the feet of Jesus. It was certainly an amazing thing that was happening in the sea. But a more amazing thing was happening inside the heart of Peter. This is because the entry of Jesus brought newness into the life of Peter. This newness is a transformation of his life. This is the first time the word “Peter” is used in this gospel, identifying Simon with Peter. Peter is the new name given to Simon by Jesus. The author of this gospel, Luke, was careful not to use the name “Peter” in the first seven verses; there he was using the name “Simon” alone. The sudden use of the new name “Peter” indicates that Luke wants to convey to his audience that something new was happening in the life of Peter at that particular point of time. The entry of Jesus into the life of Peter brought newness of transformation to him. What is this new transformation which happened in the life of Peter?
2.2.1. Entry makes us to confess our sinful nature (v. 8)
Confessing before Jesus, Peter says, “I am a sinful man”. Peter was observing Jesus from the beginning. He already had a high regard for Jesus after He healed his mother-in-law. Now after the astonishing catch of fish, he has an elevated sense of his sinful nature. It is not that Peter never before realized that he was sinful. The new transformation that happened is the confession of his own sinfulness before another person, Jesus. What Peter experienced here is similar to what Isaiah experienced in his heavenly vision in Isaiah Chapter 6. Whether the Lord is on the throne in His full glory with heavenly angels surrounding Him or whether He is beside a lake in human form with ordinary fishermen surrounding Him, the affect is same – sinners confess that they are sinners.
2.2.2. Entry makes us realize the holiness of Jesus (v. 8)
When Peter becomes convicted of his sins, he says to Jesus, “Depart from me”. A sinner can never say to another sinner, “Depart from me, for I am a sinner”. A sinner can say like this only to a holy person. Peter has now realized that Jesus is holy. When Jesus enters our lives we will realize that He is holy. The miracle of the great catch of fish helped to fulfill the physical needs of the fishermen. It also made them astonished. But along with these, for Peter, the miracle helped to realize the character of Jesus. Miracles are not only to satisfy us and to save us from perishing but also to realize the character and nature of the Miracle-Worker, Jesus. We should not be carried away by the miracles. Miracles should not become the centre of attraction, but the Miracle-Worker. We should not stop with wondering at the greatness of the miracle. It should lead us into wondering at the greatness of the Miracle-Worker: His power, authority, love, and holiness. Entry helps to transform our view about Jesus.
2.2.3. Entry makes us realize our unworthiness to be with Jesus (v. 8)
The words, “Depart from me”, also show that Peter realizes that he is unworthy to be with Jesus. Jesus astonishingly healed Peter’s mother-in-law. Jesus’ teachings were unique. Peter was able to get a great catch of fish when he did according to the word of Jesus. Peter realized that Jesus was not an ordinary man. Peter realized that Jesus was not like one among them. So the feeling of unworthiness came upon Peter. How can a sinner like him be with Jesus? But here lies the glorious grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though it is true that Peter was unworthy to be with Jesus, Jesus came to do exactly the same thing. Jesus came to be with Peter and Peter did not know that. Jesus wants to be with sinners even today. When Jesus enters into our lives, we will realize that we are unworthy to be with Jesus.
2.2.4. Entry makes us afraid of judgment/punishment (v. 8)
The words, “Depart from me”, also show that Peter was afraid of some kind of judgment or punishment. He was afraid that if a man like Jesus stays with him, some harm might come upon him on account of his sins.
2.2.5. Entry causes a gradual increase in our understanding of the identity of Jesus (v. 8)
In verse 5, Peter addresses Jesus as “Master”. But in verse 8, he addresses Him as “Lord”. “Lord” is certainly a greater word than “Master”. In the beginning, Peter saw Jesus only as a “Master”. But as time passed by, as events happened, Peter’s understanding of Jesus was modified. He held Jesus worthy to be called as Lord. No one can understand Jesus fully in the beginning itself. As time goes by, as we see the works of Jesus, as we spend time with Jesus, our knowledge of Jesus’ identity increases and we can worship Him better.
We have seen that the entry of Jesus into a person’s life transforms that person’s life as well as life situation. For what purpose does Jesus transform a person’s life as well as life situation? We can find the answer to this question in Jesus’ words to Peter in v. 10b.
3. The Purpose of Entry (v. 10b)
Verse 10b shows two purposes for which Jesus entered the life of Peter.
3.1. Entry is not for punishment but salvation (v. 10b)
When Peter falls down at the knees of Jesus with fear, Jesus says to him, “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men”. Peter thought that some harm might happen to him on account of his sins. But Jesus, fully knowing the fear of Peter, says to him, “Do not be afraid”. Jesus came to save sinners, not to punish them. The entire gospel is hidden in these words: “Do not be afraid”. Why Peter need not be afraid, though being a sinner? It is because the punishment, of which Peter is afraid of, will be taken upon by Jesus himself on the cross after a few years from then on. Jesus was going to die for the sins of Peter. Jesus was going to shed His blood for the forgiveness of the sins of Peter. Jesus was going to rise again for the salvation, resurrection and eternal life of Peter. Though Peter did not understand the words of Jesus in this way, it was nevertheless, the truth. No one else, except Jesus, has the authority to say, “Do not be afraid”, to a sinner who is afraid of the punishment for his sins. If Peter had not been afraid of the punishment for his sins and had not fallen at the feet of Jesus with that fear, then surely, Jesus would not have said to Peter, “Do not be afraid”. Salvation is free – we need not shed our blood for our sins or die for our sins. But we should confess our sins, recognize the holiness of Jesus and fall down at His feet in fear to receive that free salvation.
3.2. Entry happens with a purpose to commission (v. 10b)
After saying, “Do not be afraid”, Jesus further says to Peter, “henceforth you will be catching men”. The purpose of the entry of Jesus into our lives is not only to give us salvation, but also to commission us – to appoint us for some responsibility related to the work of God. “Catching men” refers to the bringing of people into the Kingdom of God. Peter was caught by Jesus to catch others for Jesus. We need not necessarily be a Pastor or a Preacher to catch others for Jesus. Only qualification to catch others for Jesus is to be caught by Jesus. We should keep in mind that Jesus entered our lives to bestow us with the responsibility of catching others for Jesus.
What was the result of the entry of Jesus into the lives of these fishermen?
4. The Result of Entry (v. 11)
The entry of Jesus into the lives of these fishermen resulted in their leaving everything and following Jesus. Entry makes us to leave everything for Jesus and follow Him.
Because of their special encounter with Jesus, the fishermen left everything for Him. They left the business of fishing. This gravely affects their livelihood. Their families will be in severe trouble. They sacrificed themselves and their families for Jesus. This is not an easy thing to do. This shows how much they were attracted to Jesus. This shows the powerful impact of Jesus on them. For them, Jesus became more meaningful, more purposeful, and more real than their own families. Should all Christians leave their families for Jesus? Is it necessary for us to “leave everything” for Jesus, just like Peter and the other fishermen did? It is not needed to literally “leave everything” for Jesus. And God does not require all believers to literally “leave everything” for Jesus. God demands a few believers to do like that. But for the rest of us, how does “leave everything” make sense? In what way must we apply it in our lives? I John 2:15 shows us how we can “leave everything” without literally leaving everything. Here John says, “Do not love the world or the things in the world”. This is the way we can leave everything without literally doing that. This means that in our hearts we are not attached to anything in this world. This we do because in Jesus we have found the one who is more desirable, more real, more meaningful, more purposeful, and more enjoyable than this world and everything in it. The world is temporary, but Jesus is eternal. The world is deceitful, but Jesus is faithful. The world is sinful, but Jesus is holy. The world is sorrowful, but Jesus is the source of joy. That is why it is not difficult for us to leave everything for Jesus. We leave everything willfully and joyfully. That is what Peter, Paul, John and others did. That is what the martyrs throughout the church history did. They followed Jesus unto death. Today many are following Jesus but without leaving everything. This type of following is neither fruitful nor useful. We cannot carry love of Jesus and love for the world at the same time. We cannot go in two opposite directions at the same time. We cannot get ahead in our journey with Jesus until we stop loving the world and the things in the world. Jesus is travelling along, meeting people, serving them, and attracting them towards Him. When we meet people, serve them, and make them to be attracted to Jesus, then we are following Jesus.
Conclusion
Entry of any one into a person’s life is special. If the one who enters is Jesus then that is the most special thing. He enters into our lives by a deliberate choice at a time of crisis and spends time in personal fellowship with us. He does miracles and reveals His glory. He makes us realize that He is holy and we are sinners and unworthy to be in fellowship with Him. When the fear of punishment for sins comes upon us, He gives us confidence by giving the promise of salvation. Even though we are in a low position in this world, he gives us royal and priestly responsibilities of His Kingdom. He wants us to leave everything and follow Him. The entry of Jesus changes our lives forever and sets us on an exciting and adventurous journey with Him.
