What A Catch! - Luke 5

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 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.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.” 6 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. 8 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 fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

This is one of the great stories in the bible.  From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus knew he could not go it alone.  He knew that if the movement he started were ever to survive, he would need people to pass on the Good News.  The crowds had started growing as Jesus began to do many types of miracles, including healing Peter's mother in law from a serious fever.  

In this case Jesus used a boat as his pulpit. The boat was owned by two fishermen whose names were Peter and Andrew. After his mini sermon, Jesus makes an interesting request.  He asks Peter and Andrew to throw out their nets into the water.  Peter is a little reluctant, as they have been fishing all night and have nothing to show for it.  But Peter has seen what Jesus has been doing, and has utmost respect for him, which is why he calls him, 'master"  

You can read between the lines and it is as if Peter is saying, "Okay Lord I am the expert here, but whatever you say you're the miracle man. But we haven't caught any fish so what's to lose."  Sure enough Peter and Andrew pull in their nets and the catch is so prodigous they can barely get the multitude of fish into the boat.  Luckily they had their two partners, James and John nearby so between the two boats they could barely haul in all the fish.  Peter is so overwhelmed and in awe of what just happened, he gets on his knees and calls Jesus "Lord".  He knew he was in the presence of God.  Jesus comforts them by saying, "Do not be afraid, for now on your will fish for people."  

Jesus could have recruited anyone to be the ones that would carry on the gospel to the whole world. He chose four fishermen.  "Salt of the earth" type of guys who might be the last ones we would think of to carry on Jesus' mission to reach the world.  They weren't necessarily the best and the brightest, but they had one quality which Peter exhibited that day.  It's when he says, "Because you say so, I will do it."  

Peter showed something to Jesus that day.  He denied his pride as the expert, he overcame his doubts and fear, and acted in faith.  Jesus realized he had the right guy to pass on his mission. How about you?  When Jesus asks you to do something can you say, "Because you say so I will do it!"  It is those words which just might lead to the greatest catch of your life.