When Peter met Jesus...
(Introduction: This passage is probably the first time Peter meets Jesus. The section in Luke 4:38-44 seems to be out of chronological order. Matthew and Mark arrange the order differently. It is my conclusion that this passage corresponds to Mark 1:16-20 and Matthew 4:18-22 which occur before Jesus went to Peter’s house and healed his mother-in-law).
Luke 5:1 Luke 5:1 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret,
Here the Bible says that people were crowding around Jesus listening to the Word of God. And the crowds who come to hear God’s word are still growing all over the world. I wonder how many hundreds and thousands and even millions of people have gathered today to worship and hear the Word of God? Jesus’ popularity has continued to grow throughout the years. There is an attractive power about him that draws people to him. Would you like to see more people gathering to hear God’s word at this church? Let’s consider a few questions. Why don’t more people come out here God’s word here with us? Maybe they don’t think God is speaking through us today. Maybe they haven’t seen God working in our lives enough to believe he would have much to say through us. Maybe they haven’t been invited to come hear God’s word. When we invite people to come to church what should we invite them to hear? Do you ask them to come hear preacher so-and-so? No! We need to invite people to come hear God’s Word.
What draws a crowd today?
People crowd into a stadium to see a championship game or hear a band. People crowd into a theater to watch a new movie. People crowd around a politician to hear a speech. All of these things come and go, but the Word of God continues to draw people.
I praise God when I see people who are hungry for the Word of God. May we never be a people who are satisfied with worldly messages that do not challenge us to grow in Christ. It’s great to be a part of the church blessed with an open heart wanting to receive the Word of God. With the Bible so available to us today, let us take full advantage of the opportunity to be filled with the eternal Word of God.
Luke 5:2-3 Luke 5:2 he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Picture this scene: Jesus walks over to a boat, and asks the owner to push it out of away from the shore. Then he sat down in the boat and taught the people. This is Simon’s boat. Jesus gave Simon the nickname, “Peter.” We don’t know if Simon knew much about Jesus at this point or not, but he is about to learn some great things! Before we look at what he learned, let’s notice something in these details. Jesus used Peter’s boat to teach people about God… Jesus can use things in our lives in the same way. What are some things in your life that Jesus can use to teach others from? What is your boat? Will you let the Lord sit in it and teach others from it?
Peter could have asked Jesus to please get out. Peter may have been embarrassed or said he was too busy or too insecure. He could have said, “That’s my boat that I use to fish with. It’s not a pulpit. I believe in separation of church and fishing boats.” But no, Peter willingly allowed the Lord to use his humble fishing boat to spread the good news of God’s kingdom. In another sense you and I are like this boat. When the Lord comes into our lives and into our hearts, we allow him to teach others his word from us. You are not going to be able to let Jesus do this unless you spend time learning the Word of God for yourself. Over and over in scripture, Christians are commissioned, commanded, and exemplified as telling others God’s Word. Are you and I willing to obey that part of God’s will for our lives? Peter later wrote in his letter to the churches, “But set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts, always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you concerning the hope within you.” And it was Peter who also said, “If any man speaks let him speak as the oracles of God.” God’s Word in, God’s Word out!
Luke 5:4-5 Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
Peter has just been cleaning his nets from the weeds and trash, and now Jesus asks him to throw them out again. Notice also, Peter has been out all night already. He is probably ready to go home and go to bed. And notice this, his buddies James and John are over there waiting for him. All three of these men may be very hungry. They may have plans of stopping by McDonald’s on their way home for breakfast. Now Peter doesn’t want to mess up the schedule, besides they have already fished all night and caught the zero. So what’s the use? Peter could have said, “Hey, I was nice enough to let use my boat, now I need to go.” Good sermon preacher, but church is over!
But if Peter had refused, he would have missed what was probably the biggest catch in his life. Peter did object, but then he consented. Peter consented with these powerful words: “Because you say so, I will let down the nets.” NKJV “nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."
Did Peter want to do this? No!
Did Peter feel like doing this? No!
Did Peter see how it would do any good? No!
Then why did Peter do it? He did it for this reason and this reason only, because Jesus said so.
One of the highest reasons to ever do anything is because the Lord has said so. Why do you get up out of a comfortable bed on a day off and come to church? Why do you take communion? Why do you sing these songs? Why give your money that you have worked hard for when we take the collection? Why do you love your enemies? Why the pray for those in our government? We have learned to respect God’s Word.
You may not want to do it, you may not feel like it, you may not see how it will do any good, but if God says to do it, do it! Among the many reasons to obey God, this one is a foundational one.
Through the years there have been times when I had to tell my kids, just do it because I said so. You know something? A lot of troubles in the church would be taking care of if the people would only abide by this principle. The Word of God can clear a lot of smoke away. Once we know what God has said, if we are God’s children, we had better listen to what our Father says and obey him. Why? Because God said so!
Luke 5:6-7 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
What happens when you and I simply obey because God said so? Even when we don’t really understand why? Even when we don’t feel like it? Even when we may not think it will do any good? But we know the Lord has spoken, and we simply obey out of reverence for him… What happens? What becomes of the person who will obey simply out of reverence for God? The Bible is packed with examples of people who did just that.
Think about some of these. What about Noah? Build a boat, Lord?
What about Abraham with Isaac? Offer him as a what, Lord?
What about Moses? Go tell Pharaoh what, Lord?
Or Joshua and the wall Jericho… walk around the walls and do what, Lord?
All these people and many others heard the Word of God and were obedient out of reverence for him. Because of their reverent obedience they received abundant blessings. Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly.”
Let’s get back to Peter and the boat. Look at the double blessing Peter received. First, he caught a record-breaking load of fish. And second, he was caught by the conviction of sin and was rescued from its deadly clutches.
Luke 5:8-11 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men." 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
You will never be able to catch others for Christ until Christ catches you. Peter was captured by the presence of Christ. He was called to follow Jesus Christ the very Son of God. His life would never be the same. Notice this process:
He heard the teachings of Jesus.
He submitted to the Word before he was convinced it would do any good.
He experienced the power of Jesus.
He recognized his true condition and confessed it.
He gladly accepted the call of Jesus leaving all to follow him.
What happens to the church today when all its members… not half, not 85 percent, but all its members encounter God this way?
May God give us the faith so that we will truly listen to what he says. And having listened, let us put it into practice. Let us all strive to have faith like Abraham who believed God, was willing to do anything God said and so received great blessings from the Lord. Let’s be like Peter who even though he didn’t feel like it, or want to do it, or believe it would do any good, answered the call of Jesus and said, “Because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
