Luke 5:1-11
February 9, 2025
A few weeks ago when the snow storm of 2025 hit us with about one-half inch of snow, I saw several pictures on social media of children having fun playing outside in the snow. For many of them it was the first time they had played in snow as I don’t think we’ve had any significant snow in the area in several years. Seeing the children play reminded me of when we actually had a large snowfall on Christmas in 2010. Sue and I went outside with our daughter, Sarah, who was about 12 years-old at the time, to play in it and as we walked around the yard I encouraged Sarah to walk behind me in my footprints so she wouldn’t fall. But, she did not want to do that. She wanted to make her own tracks, her own footprints, by herself, even if that meant slipping and falling a few times in the process. When we finally finished and went inside, you could see footprints all over the backyard. However, on one half of the backyard there were two sets of footprints – hers and mine – but on the other half of the backyard there was just one set of footprints – mine – because that’s where Sarah got a little tired, especially from falling a few times, and I carried her on my back as we ran around the yard.
I think the Christian life is that way. In our daily walk we ought to be following Christ’s example. But the question is, when we are struggling or suffering, and when we are healthy and happy, if someone were to observe the snow-covered fields of our lives, would there be one set of tracks – those of Jesus; or would there be two sets, one belonging to Jesus going one way and the other belonging to us going in another direction?
It may be difficult to comprehend that God would look for people who may not be interested in following where His footsteps lead, but that’s exactly what we have in our Gospel lesson for today. In the chapters leading up to this text, Jesus had already changed water into wine, He had healed many people, and last week we saw how He drove an evil spirit out of a man by simply speaking a few words. Word about what Jesus had done and said, with such authority, spread throughout the area, so large crowds came to see Him and to hear what He taught. Seeing a few boats at the edge of the water that had been left there by some fishermen, who had come in from a hard night of work and were cleaning their nets after failing to catch any fish, Jesus interrupts their cleaning ritual by sitting in one of their boats (the one belonging to Simon Peter) and asks Peter to please push Him out a little from the shore so He could teach this crowd.
When He had finished speaking to the crowd, Jesus told Peter to get into his boat and to go out again into deep water and let down their nets in order to catch some fish. Now I am not a fisherman, but I would think that the last thing a professional fisherman wants to hear from someone who is not involved in this trade is, “Did you think of trying to catch some fish in some deeper water?” So in response to Jesus’ directive, Peter, an experienced fisherman, appears to rebuke Jesus a little by saying in verse 5, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!” Meaning, “Lord, this is what we do for a living. My men and I know where to catch fish and right now we are tired as we just spent the whole night fishing and we did not catch anything. But at your word I will let down the nets.” Earlier, Peter had seen Jesus heal his mother in-law from a high fever, so my guess is Peter agrees to follow Jesus’ instructions knowing that Jesus spoke and acted as one with a mysterious authority.
But what Jesus really does here is He walks right into the lives of these fishermen and basically asks them, “Who are you going to follow – your desires or mine?” Following Jesus’ command Peter and the others moved out into deep water and let down their nets. And all of a sudden their nets were full of fish – so full that their nets began to break. Peter, knowing he had just suggested to Jesus that he knew better, was so overwhelmed with this miraculous catch, said to Jesus in verse 8, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” At this moment Peter realized that he was in the presence of the almighty God and he felt terribly embarrassed and unworthy. In other words, Peter was saying to Jesus, “I am not the kind of person who deserves such generosity. I doubted you. I am not good enough or worthy to have you in my boat.”
With these words, Peter follows a long line of people from the Bible who felt terribly inadequate when God called them to follow Him and to lead others. For example, Abraham, when called by God said, “Lord, I’m too old.” Jeremiah, in the Old Testament, was called by God to be a prophet said, “Lord, I’m too young, no one will listen to me.” Moses said, “God, I don’t speak very well, surely you want my brother instead of me.” And the virgin Mary said, “I am only a woman.” But God never listens to excuses.
Jesus immediately looks at Peter and says in verse 10, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” And with those words, Peter and the others pulled their boats to shore, left everything and followed Jesus. That’s an impressive story, but what about us? Has God asked you to move out into deep water recently, into a new and unsure surrounding? Perhaps God has called us to become more patient, more loving, more accepting of our neighbors or our own shortcomings. And how have we responded? Have we made excuses like, “Lord, I’m too busy, I’m not prepared, I’m not good enough, I’m too shy, I’ve made too many mistakes in the past to change.”
The good news is that our God is always with us in the boat of our lives. And when it feels like your sins are about to catch up with you and you wonder if God could love a person like you, He says, “Do not be afraid, not only are you forgiven, but I want you to join me in fishing for people.” God knows we are not perfect, He knows all of our failures and shortcomings. And yet, the One who calls us in the midst of our inadequacy is the same One who ultimately judges us as being adequate for His work and His kingdom.
Several years ago there was a movie that portrayed the true account of several hundred Jewish refugees who were permitted by the Nazis to leave Germany aboard an ocean liner in 1939. The passengers believed they had bought asylum in Cuba from the persecution that had begun in Germany. The boat trip was for them an escape from the concentration camps and a journey to freedom and a new life. However, unknown to them even before they had left Germany, is it had been planned that they would be refused entry to Cuba. So when they approached Cuba and were denied entry, they sought entry into the United States. While government leaders debated the political ramifications of the situation, the ship hovered between the American coast and Cuba. Finally, with fuel running low, the captain of the ship had no other choice but to head back to Germany, where they were eventually killed by the Nazis.
The film is truly a parable of our own life without Christ. Everyone sets out in life with high hopes, but before we leave port, our fate is decided. There will be pain, anxiety, suffering, and finally death. No matter how hard we try, we cannot avoid it. But we have a Savior, named Jesus, who came to rescue us. Therefore, it is no accident that the church is often pictured as a ship that is heading to the eternal port of life. It is no accident that Jesus invites us to enter the boat. And it is no accident that those who board do not turn their back on the world, instead they become fishers of people. It is an amazing task and an incredible opportunity that Jesus calls us to work with Him in catching people.
And when we realize that we have been accepted and surrounded by the net of His love, then our response of faith puts us in the same position as Peter – ready to do whatever Jesus says and ready to go wherever He takes us. Through these simple words of our text, Jesus says to Peter, the disciples, and to you and me, “Do not be afraid. I have forgiven your failures, your fears, and all of your excuses. Now, join me in fishing for others.” What a great way to be reminded that God wants to use us to bring others into His net of love. What a joy it is to be sought by Him; and what a privilege it is to go fishing with Him.
