Luke 5:1-11

     It’s a simple scene. Jesus is standing by the sea of Galilee talking to a crowd of people. Two boats are riding close to shore, probably tied to keep them from drifting, although we’re not given that detail. The fishermen are on shore washing their nets. We’re not told whether they had ever heard Jesus before his, but it’s often thought that they did.
     One of the boats belonged to Simon (Peter), which means that the other boat possibly belonged to James and John, the sons of Zebedee, for they were partners in the fishing business. It’s hard to know, since someone, unnamed, was later in the boat with Simon. The men were tired; they’d fished all night without any luck, now they were washing their nets. They probably listened as Jesus talked with the people.
     The people were probably crowded close. It was hard for everyone to see him. So he got into Simon’s boat and asked him to push off a little from shore. Since the lake shore probably rose a little from the water, this would let the people see him as he talked. He sat down and continued.
     When he was finished, Jesus told Simon to go into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Simon is doubtful. They’d worked all night to no avail. But he’ll do it if that’s what Jesus wants. This time the net is so full the nets begin to tear, so he signals for the other boat to come and even the two boats can hardly contain the catch.
     At this, Simon Peter falls down at Jesus’ and asks Jesus to depart because Peter is a sinful man. Matthew tells about a similar event with Peter, when Peter grabs Jesus around the knees and asks him to leave.) Peter here isn’t the only one who feels the awe at the catch (and likely at the wise teachings they’d overheard), James and John experience the same wonder.
     Jesus tells Simon that from now on, he’ll be catching people.
     When they come to shore, they leave their boats and nets and fish and follow Jesus.
      Luke doesn’t actually say that the catch of fish was a miracle. As Barclay points out, the Sea of Galilee (also know as Tiberias and the Lake of Gennasaret) could have vast shoals of fish. With a keen eye, Jesus might have spotted one of these. Of more significance is Peter’s decision to do as Jesus suggested. Peter was a strong man. The tradition passed down about him is that he was the best fisherman on the lake. He was also impulsive and didn’t always think things through. (For example, telling a man on a boat to “depart from him,” –where was Jesus going to go? Or hanging onto the knees of a man who he’d asked to leave. Nonetheless, Peter was strong and able. He probably was not the most highly educated man in town. Most Jewish men at the time could read and write to some extent, but as a fisherman, Peter would have had little opportunity or purpose in being a scholar. To follow Jesus was a huge step. It meant leaving a thriving business and venturing out of his comfort zone of ability and financial success.
      In Simon Peter, Jesus must have seen qualities of leadership. Luke doesn’t tell us there was a specific word to James and John, but they felt the pull nonetheless, for they all went together to follow Jesus—and all became part of the twelve with whom Jesus spent particular time teaching.
      Barclay makes another interesting point. When Peter agreed to let down the nets, the night was past, and night was the best time for fishing. He still gave it an effort. Barclay reminds us that if we spend our time waiting for the perfect opportunity, we will never begin at all.
     This is reminiscent of a story about a mission group who sent word to a missionary. They said, “Are the roads built yet? We have workers ready to join you as soon as the road is finished.” The missionary wrote back and said, “Don’t send them. We only need people who are willing to come even if there isn’t a road.”

Are there things in your life that you are using as a reason for holding back on Jesus?
Since Jesus eventually gave all his followers the call to fish (make disciples), in what ways are you fulfilling the call?