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. Luke 5: 1-11 ESV
Luke 5: 1-11
On one occasion - Luke continues his investigation into the life of Christ under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
…20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1: 20-21
While the crowd was pressing in on Him to hear the word of God - They had never heard teaching with authority like this, and He had also performed miracles so His fame was spreading quickly throughout the land.
Standing by the lake of Gennesaret - The Sea of Galilee.
Were washing their nets - It was day time and the fishing was over so these men were preforming the maintenance following the prior evening's fishing and in preparation for their next trip. There is often debris in the water which tears your net, and so there is mending to do. Weed and other things that don't necessarily hurt the net will still encumber your throw and cause the fish to see the net, so it has to be cleaned.
Taught the people from the boat - This was Jesus' crowd control. It allowed more people to see and hear Him as well.
Let down your nets for a catch - He doesn't say, "let's go fishing, try our luck, see what's out there", no, He is inviting them to go catching.
We toiled all night and took nothing - They were fishermen, and they already went out at the appropriate time, done what they had done all their lives, and they came up empty handed. There are pelagic fish that will dive deep during the day time, and then at night, the small organisms, plankton that they feed on start moving toward the surface, and the fish follow them. I have watched long line fishermen, who go for sword fish, and they can still catch them during the day, but they have to let their lines down much deeper. At night they follow the smaller fish who are following the even smaller fish and plankton to the shallower water columns. Night is also good for other types of fishing because it conceals your line more, and the fish aren't as concerned about Ospreys and other things from above.
But at your word I will let down the nets - It's like saying, "Jesus, I know You mean well, and you healed my mother in law, you are a good teacher, but now you are in my venue, on my stage, so I will do what you ask, but I'm telling You, as an expert, we already got skunked and now it's day time." The thing about fishermen is that they always know why they didn't catch fish in retrospect. He was probably taught the same things my great grandmother and old timers told us, "wind from the north don't go forth, wind from the south blows bait in their mouths; wind from east fishing the least, wind from the west fishing the best. Fishermen also look at the lunar cycle, and while that can be helpful remembering a day when you did well, where the moon was, yet your expectations can be crushed on the next New Moon because of a cold front that shuts everything down. This is Peter's life though, and sometimes you go out not even expecting to do well, but it's fishing, and this is what he knows, this is what he turns to when everything else is stressful. He's tired though and doesn't expect to catch anything, but how do you turn down your Master.
Their nets were breaking - This is totally unexpected, and this isn't something even the best fishermen can predict, not even with the sonar and other technology they have today. I said fishermen always know why they didn't catch fish, but we all think were experts describing why we did catch them when we do as well. Even Peter though, as loud and proud a rooster as ever there was, can't believe what he is seeing, has no earthly explanation for this. Certainly there are patterns that one can follow, things that improve your performance as a fishermen or a hunter, knowing when, where and how an animal feeds, but this instance goes against all that Peter knew. The sun is up which should put these fish down, out of the reach of their nets, and all they did was cast out because Jesus told them to. Go ahead, explain this?
Signaled to their partners - The catch was so large they couldn't handle it, and so they called in their fishing partners. This shows a closeness between these men, and that there is more than one boat means they have a decent sized business, a wonderful life out on the water.
Depart from me for I am a sinful man, Oh Lord - Peter doesn't have a box in his head for this. Like we have been talking about, there are good days and bad days fishing and Jesus says, "catch", and they let their nets down and it's the mother load. Who, without sonar can see a group of fish that densely packed out in the deep water? Who, when they shouldn't be there can bring them there? How is it that this man can tell these fishermen to do what they know to be unfruitful and then almost sink their boat with the amount of fish they hall in? This goes beyond the moon phase, the wind direction and beyond the ability of a person that spends their whole life out on the water, watching, listening, asking questions, marking and mapping weigh points. This is so otherly, Holy, that the disciple ask Jesus to leave. You would think he would offer Jesus a partnership with them, but no, Jesus doesn't need that, doesn't need them. The problem is the same as it was for those who saw the demoniac changed, not just a question of financial loss or increase, but of the impossible. Who is this? Who commands nature like this? Who do demons tremble in the presence of? The action is a huge statement of Christ's deity, His omniscience and power, to know where the fish are, to call the fish, to tell them where and when to cast their nets. Peter was somewhat reluctant in his initial words, letting the Lord know that it was pretty much a waste of their time, for they had been out all night and caught nothing. It's like with people, "God, I have already tried with them, I talked to them, I offered friendship and they abused it, I helped them and they took it for granted, I confronted them about their problem and they just lied to me. It's a lost cause; Lord, I can't do any more and nothing can change them, they're hopeless." What a lesson Peter learned here, and how humbling, when you realize you are standing before God the Son and that nothing you do is ever hidden before God, you want him to go, it's an overwhelming sense of deficiency. When He returns those who refused to believe will be met with no choice but to believe, yet they cry out for the rocks to fall on them and bury them out of the sight of the Holy One of God.
…10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight. 11On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another route.… Matthew 2: 10-12
…25As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. 26But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27As Peter talked with him, he went inside and found many people gathered together.… Acts 10: 25-27
18When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sounding of the ram’s horn, and the mountain enveloped in smoke, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19“Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” 20“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”… Exodus 20: 18-20
Spurgeon on go away - Not knowing what he said, though he knew what he meant; feeling as if he, so sinful, had come too close to the Lord who was so gracious, so he must not dare to keep near to him. Have you never felt the same as that? If not, methinks you have neither known your Lord, not yet yourselves for the knowledge of Christ, combined with the knowledge of ourselves, is sure to produce this holy shrinking, in which we have no need for anyone to say to us, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet,” for we are almost ready to put off our very body, for we can scarcely bear the glory of the presence of the Lord. (Luke - exposition) - Precept Austin
Do not be afraid - He comes in peace. Angels have to say this to men because they are so very different and constantly in the presence of a Holy God, yet they themselves will not receive worship like this.
…8And I am John, who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. 9But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!” 10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.… Revelation 22: 8-10
From now on you will be catching men - And just like this, where the situation seemed most hopeless, God will provide these men with the message of the gospel, the seed to throw, and He will till the soil of men's hearts. It does not rely upon my wit or your cunning, and whatever talent you or I may possess comes from God anyhow, but it is God who saves with His gift of faith in the Lamb that He provided.
…17Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”… Matthew 16: 17-19
