Prelude
Do we experience Jesus while we’re working? Are we ready for church growth? Do we see daily miracles? Let’s find out in Luke 5:1-11.
Fishermen
“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.” (Luke 5:1-2 NKJV)
Lake of Gennesaret was named after the town of Gennesaret on the lake’s northwest corner. It is also called the Sea of Galilee and Lake Tiberias. Today it is the largest body of freshwater in Israel and is the world’s lowest body of freshwater at 200 m (700 ft) below sea level. At the time of Jesus’ ministry it was a wealthy fishing area filled with boats. Today there are few boats to be seen.
Taught the Crowd
“Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’” (Luke 5:3-4 NKJV)
Notice Jesus sat down to preach, the customary teaching position for Rabbis at the time. This miracle is repeated, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and as a reminder to the disciples at the end. After teaching on this weekday, Jesus encouraged Peter to get back to work, even telling him where.
Perhaps the immediacy indicates Jesus’ disappointment in the response from the crowd. Humbly, Peter the expert fisherman, follows the Rabbi’s instructions. Would we be so humble as to follow directions from someone not of our profession? Jesus now wants to bless Peter’s work, as He wants to bless our weekday work.
Great Catch
“But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” (Luke 5:5-6 NKJV)
The word Peter used for master was overseer, superintendent, or in our slang “boss.” Is Jesus asking us to let down our nets? What are fishnets for? How is evangelism like letting down our nets? We provide the nets and the effort, but it is God who fills the nets.
The nets were so full that they almost ruptured. This can happen to churches too, during a sudden growth spurt. It can threaten to rupture the fabric of the local church. Most churches would probably prefer slow growth, so that newcomers can assimilate, but God doesn’t always work that way.
Depart from Me
“So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” (Luke 5:7-8 NKJV)
Was the hand-signal not to frighten the fish, or not shout in front of Jesus? Sometimes when God performs a miracle, there’s no time for thinking, just time for work.
Peter immediately recognized the source of the miraculous blessing. Blunt and truthful, Peter realized his own unworthiness to be in Jesus’ presence. When God blesses us, are we also grateful and embarrassed by our sinfulness?
Catch Men
“For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’” (Luke 5:9-10 NKJV)
Slowly, after the work was done, it dawned on them how amazing this blessing was. Do we meditate on God’s amazing creation from the smallest DNA, to the enormity of the Universe? Does God’s design amaze us?
As fish are borne out of water, so are we from the waters of baptism. Anciently, Christians used the symbol of a fish to identify a safe house in the midst of persecution.
They Forsook All
“So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” (Luke 5:11 NKJV)
They forsook all for Jesus, but then for a moment after the crucifixion, returned to their fishing. After His resurrection, Jesus used a similar miracle to remind them who He is. Do we hold something in reserve, or have we left ALL our sinful life behind to follow Jesus?
Postlude
As with the crowd, the best subject matter is what Jesus taught. As with the fish, so with church growth, Jesus provides the catch. Jesus provides even as we work. We should not fear our sinfulness. As with Peter, Jesus provides unexpectedly despite our sinfulness. Are we ready for our church to almost break at the seams as we cast our nets?
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
