The Catch and The Call

Hello everyone,

We are now ready to jump into Luke 5. We will look at Luke 5:1-11. This section of Scripture includes the miraculous catch of fish and the call of Simon Peter to follow Jesus. 

Jesus in now becoming very popular and people were crowding around him and pressing upon him in an attempt to hear him speak.  Jesus gets into a nearby boat and sets out a short distance from the shore.  He sits in the boat and begins to teach the crowds. That boat happened to belong to Simon Peter.  Jesus and Simon were at least acquaintances by this point, as Jesus has been to his house to heal his mother-in-law. 

It appears that Jesus is looking for a way to get away from the crowd that is pressing in on him so that he can effectively teach.  It’s a great idea, as the crowd has to remain on the shore and listen to the message.  

Darrell Bock puts out the idea that Jesus goes out of his way to include Simon Peter in this plan. (Bock, 454) It’s possible. After he finishes teaching the crowds, Jesus initiates a miracle.  He, a carpenter and teacher, directs the fishermen on where to fish. Peter and the others had been working hard all night and had very little to show for it.  When Jesus directs Peter to go back out into the deep water and put out his nets again, Peter is respectful, calling Jesus ‘Master.’ And he does do as Jesus requests.  However, Peter does seem a little skeptical.  Peter, not Jesus, is the expert on fishing.  Jesus’ request would be more back-breaking labor at the wrong time of day. So Peter is exhibiting some faith here. Otherwise, he would have refused. 

According to Bock there is debate as to the nature of this miracle.  (Bock, 457) Did Jesus have miraculous knowledge of where the fish were? Did Jesus, through his own will power, summon the fish into the nets?  I would not take a side in the debate, because I don’t think it matters.  Either way, it is a great miracle. The catch is so enormous that the nets begin to break.  They call over the other boat for help, and soon both are so full of fish that they begin to sink. 

Bock, in describing this miracle, uses the word guidance alot.  Jesus has guided the fishermen to the right spot for fishing.  He knows their job, even better than they do.  He understands their needs, and our needs, even better than we do.  He is one who will guide us through the difficult times. Bock says, “Even in the chaos and strain that following God often means, there will be opportunity if one depends on Him.” (Bock, 458)  Certainly listening to Jesus on this particular day paid off well for Peter and his associates.  Listening and obeying Jesus will pay off for us too, even when we don't understand it. 

Simon Peter responds immediately to the miracle, recognizing his own unworthiness.  Bock says, “In the presence of God’s agent, the chaos becomes secondary to sorting out where he stands with the one who has made himself known." (Bock, 458) Bock is right.  Peter is so blown away by what he had just witnessed, that he falls down in front of Jesus, understanding himself to be in the presence of God’s greatness. Peter recognizes that he is a sinner and completely unworthy.  The truth is that it is those kinds of confessions that lead us to being accepted by God.  We must recognize our own unworthiness. 

Peter also correctly identifies Jesus as Lord. He had called him Ἐπιστάτα (Epistata) or master before. Now he calls him Κύριε, (Kyriay) or Lord. Bock states that the word Ἐπιστάτα can be used in the place of rabbi, or teacher, by that rabbi’s disciples. (456).  So Peter is upping the game a little bit, here.  Jesus is no longer just his teacher, now, he is his lord. 

Peter’s response ultimately leads to a call to service.  Peter’s humility is what God is looking for.  That kind of openness can allow Jesus to transform us.  And Peter is not the only one who is amazed by the catch.  Everyone else is too.  He is also not the only one that Jesus calls to follow that day.  Luke specifically identifies James and John here.  They are identified as Peter business partners. They are also amazed and they also follow.

In his call to follow, Jesus uses what has just happened and turns it around.  They would no longer catch fish that would in turn die, and be eaten.  Now they would catch people, who would in turn come to know God and live. The boats return to shore and these new disciples leave it all behind to follow Jesus.

Tom