Luke 5 - The Day Peter Didn't Let His Expertise Get in the Way!
Link to Enduring Word Commentary
Verses for the Day - Matthew 5:1-7
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.
Commentary
The "Lake of Gennesaret" is also called the "Sea of Galilee". Jesus became so popular the crowds started following him. Jesus had taught on the Sabbath in Nazareth with great knowledge, wisdom, and authority. Then, he backed up his teaching with many miracles. He cast out a demon, healed Peter's mother in law from a bad fever, and at sunset people brought all kinds of people to him to be healed. Jesus healed each on of them and also delivered people of their demons. Ironically the demons knew who Jesus was as they said, "You are the Son of God". Isn't interesting that the demons were the first to recognize who Jesus was.
As the people crowded around him, he decided to use a boat to teach the people. This particular boat belonged to Peter, also called Simon. Simon was his Jewish name. After teaching the people, Jesus had another kind of lesson he was going to teach Peter. Jesus asked Peter to put his boat into the deeper water for "a catch".
Peter had just witnessed Jesus heal his mother in law the day before, so this probably helped Peter to trust in Jesus to get in his boat. Peter had heard about Jesus from his brother Andrew, who had met Jesus through John the Baptist. Andrew took his brother Peter to Jesus, and Jesus looked him square in the eye and said,
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:42. Simon's nicknames were "Cephas in Aramaic" and "Peter in Greek". Both of those meant "rock".
Peter was a little bit taken back, after all he was the fisherman. not Jesus. Jesus was a carpenter. He should stick to his trade. But Peter also had seen what Jesus had done. We see Peter's faith in Jesus when he says in response to Jesus' request,
“Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
We get two clues as to Peter's relationship with Jesus at this point. First, he calls him master.
The particular ancient Greek word Luke used for Master (epistata) is unique to Luke’s Gospel. The word has the ideas “commander,” “leader,” or perhaps even “boss.” With this title, Peter showed he was willing to take orders from Jesus. - Guzik
Second, he says, "If you say so, I will let down the nets."
Peter could have come up with a whole bunch of excuses based on his expertise and local knowledge, but instead obeyed Jesus' request. Another version says,
"At Your word I will let down the net." (NKJV)
Peter is trusting in Jesus' word at this moment. The Greek word used here is "rhema" not "logos". Logos means the "Word of God", as in the bible. Rhema means a specific word given by an individual. It is more of a "personal or living word". Or you might say, "Peter took Jesus at His Word!"
Peter was rewarded by hauling in such big net of fish that he needed to call over another boat, and the two boats were barely big enough to hold all the fish. I guess in the end Jesus knew a little bit more than Peter about fishing.
Application for Today
1. When you sense you are getting a word from the Lord, do you obey it even if it may not make sense in the moment?
2. Do you sometimes let pride get in the way of what Jesus might want you to do?
3. How does the incredible catch Peter made that day encourage you to trust in Jesus more?
Prayer
Jesus, help us to lay down our nets and follow you. Help us to step out in faith even when it doesn't make sense to our human minds. Thank you that you can do much more than we ask or imagine when we completely trust in you! Amen.
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