Luke 5:1-11
Chapter 5 of Luke’s gospel commences with three incidents introduced by the formal expression, “And it came to pass” (vv1,12,17), and each recording a miracle. In the first incident (vv1-11), Peter is brought to realise and to confess his sin and is made a fisher of men. In the second (vv12-16), a man is cleansed of his leprosy and sent as a testimony to the priest. In the third (vv17-26), a man is forgiven his sins, cured of his palsy and made an object lesson to the teachers of the law.
These three incidents hang together as a group. In each we find Christ in relation to a reputed expert authority in some field:
- Fishing – Peter is the expert, a master fisherman;
- Ceremonial cleanness and uncleanness – the priest is the expert;
- Biblical interpretation – the Pharisees and doctors of the law.
In each field, to the amazement of all, the Son of man does better than the experts can do, better than they could imagine is possible:
- “for he (i.e. Peter) was astonished, and all that were with him” (v.9)
- “but so much the more went there a fame abroad of him” (v.15)
- “and they were all amazed” (v.26)
Simon Peter had been brought to Christ by his brother, Andrew, who had heard the testimony of John the Baptist (John 1:35-42), but evidently had returned to his earthly calling. The account of the call of Simon and the rest of his companions at the Lake of Gennesaret is not only given more fully in Luke than in any other gospel, but in a totally different connection. In Matthew and Mark we find it mentioned immediately after the Lord Jesus began to preach. Both in Matthew 4 and Mark 1 the account is given in general terms, but we find far more detail in Luke.
“He stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake” (vv1,2). So there were two ships and the Lord chose the right one for results. He knew to whom the boat belonged, “he entered into one of the ships which was Simon’s” (v.3). The people had been pressing upon Him to hear the word of God, so in order to speak more advantageously to the multitude, He used Peter’s boat as a pulpit, albeit He “sat down and taught the people out of the ship” (v.3).
The Lord Jesus desired that those to whom He spoke might easily hear Him. He was a model preacher in every way, whether matter, manner or method be considered. He arranged circumstances for all to hear, both as to His position and His voice. The boat would be a vantage point for preaching; the water would serve as a sounding-board. The Lord quietly took control of possessions and occupations. However, as we shall see, though taking control, the Lord is no man’s debtor. He will not be beholden to any man, so He is going to pay Peter for the use of his boat with the draught of fishes.
Yet, if in John 1, the Lord Jesus sought to teach Peter one lesson, namely, “Peter, you belong to me”, now He has a further lesson to teach him, “Peter, you and all that you have belong to me”. The words “Launch out into the deep” (v.4) were addressed to Simon as master of the craft. The words “let down your nets for a draught” were addressed to the whole of the boat’s crew. To “let one’s nets down for a draught” is a typical command to an evangelist. Remember that the Lord Jesus later says to Simon, “from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (v.10). “The deep” refers to the peoples of the world, the “nets” to the spiritual means for gaining souls and the “draught” to the fruit of spreading the word of the gospel.
“Simon answering said unto him, Master” (implying authority), “we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing; nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (v5). Peter’s answer is at once a confession of failure and of faith, failure as regards his own efforts and faith in the One who now bids him. Feeble as his faith might have been at this time, it was real and Simon bows to One who is omniscient.
“And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes” (v.6). The Lord knew where the fish were: here was One who had dominion over the fish of the sea. Christ worked a miracle well suited to those whom He would call and made them realise that everything was at His disposal. “When Simon Peter saw it” (v.8), he realised that a miracle had taken place. The divine presence made known by the miracle showed Peter his own condition. “I am a sinful man, O Lord”. There was conviction of sin; he was not referring to any particular sin, but to his sinful nature; true conviction has regard to what one is, not so much to what one has done.
“He fell down at Jesus’ knees” (v.8) – falling down is a sign that repentance is genuine. Along with conviction of sin, there was a mighty power of attraction. But Peter felt that he was utterly unfit to be near the Lord. “Depart from me”, yet he could not do without Him. His actions and his words are strangely contradictory. “And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not” (v.10). Grace raises Simon up. Christ banishes the fear so natural to the heart where sin is. The Lord, on the ground of the great redemption which He was about to bring in, was entitled to say, “Fear not”. “From henceforth” – the Lord thus implied that there could be no going back – “thou shalt catch men” – this is Luke’s equivalent for “I will make you fishers of men” (Mt 4.19).
“They forsook all and followed him” (v.11). The Lord had need of Peter’s boat, and it was given; but then He also had need of Peter, James and John and they gave their all. What a challenge to ourselves in this present day!
David E West.