Knowing The Word in Luke 5:1-11

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Comments

Luke’s use of the phrase “the word of God” means “the word that comes from God” or “the word that tells of God.” What Jesus says comes from God and tells of God. When he points to God, he points to himself. He understood himself to be God.

Luke recorded that Jesus was teaching at the lake of Gennesaret. He is the only gospel writer to call it that. Matthew and Mark call it the Sea of Galilee and John Lake Tiberius. This lake is a body of water 700 feet below sea level 13 miles long north to south and 7 miles wide east to west. The Jordan River flows south from the Sea of Galilee into the Dead Sea. The Sea of Galilee is 700 feet below sea level and the lowest freshwater lake on earth and the second lowest lake in the world after the Dead Sea, which is a saltwater lake 1,400 below sea level and the world’s saltiest body of water. One lake is full of life and fish and the other lake is so salty that nothing can live in it.

How did Jesus know Simon so well that he could use his boat like this? When you read the Gospel of John, you find out that Simon met Jesus right after Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordon River just north of the Dead Sea. Then Simon, whom Jesus renames Peter, may have walked north with Jesus to the Sea of Galilee. At least we can say this is not the first time they met.

Jesus had Peter pull out from the land so people could see him and hear him better. After teaching, Jesus directed Simon to go fishing. Fishing was done during the night. Simon must have thought, “Who does this carpenter think he is?” But Simon complied, calling Jesus “Master,” a word found in this gospel only and used seven times in addressing Jesus. Jesus’ words have power over those who believe in him. There were so many fish that both boats began to sink. This was no normal fishing trip.

Luke is the only gospel writer to tell us of the business relationship of Peter to James and John. Andrew, Peter’s brother, was a fisherman as well. The tense of “catching” used by Jesus was continuous, meaning a habitual practice for Peter from this day forth. Ironically, these men just caught the largest catch they ever had, and they walked away.

Application

Jesus’s primary concern is for individuals to come to faith in him. Who in your life have you brought to Jesus? What is the total of your catch of fish?

Prayer

Jesus, you call us to be fishers of people—all kinds of people who come into our lives. Help us to remember our primary call in life to work for you at all times and in all places, by pointing people to you.