What A Catch!

Luke 5:1-11

Many of us have heard people say that God cannot, and should not be bothered with small or common, everyday problems.  They feel that God is too busy with the major problems of the world, and shouldn’t be bothered with our small, personal problems.  That thinking is wrong on two levels. First, God is omnipotent, and does not get overwhelmed with any number of problems in the world, whether big or small.  Secondly, God cares about each of us personally, and is concerned about everything in our lives. Our problems, large or small, are important to Him. Today’s passage from the Gospel of Luke highlights this.  Peter and his companions had been having a bad time at work, and we’ll see how Jesus steps in to the situation.

Peter, along with his brother Andrew, was a professional fisherman. They were fishing partners and good friends with the brothers James and John.  These men would fish in the Sea of Galilee (also called Lake Gennesaret in our passage), which was a large, freshwater lake in northern Israel.  They typically would fish with nets at night when the fish would come closer to the surface, and would be easier to catch with nets. During daylight hours the fish would migrate into the deeper levels of the Sea of Galilee, not easily reached with nets.  As our passage begins, the four fishermen had come in from a night of toiling on the sea, and they proceed to wash out their nets, cleaning them from any tangled weeds, and checking for any tears. They are discouraged because they did not catch anything. Fishing was not a hobby or pastime for them. This was their livelihood, and too many nights with no catch of fish meant less income to provide for their families.

Jesus is on the shore, and He asks if He might sit in one of their boats in order to teach the people who had gathered.  After He is done, Jesus speaks to Peter, telling him and his companions to take their boat out again into the deep water and cast their nets once more(vs. 4).  Peter probably thought Jesus didn’t know what He was talking about. Peter was an experienced fisherman who did that for a living, and Jesus wasn’t. However, he obeyed (vs 5), and look at the results!  They took in so many fish that the nets were starting to break from the weight of the fish, and the boats were even in some danger of sinking, so great was the catch! (vs. 6-7).

Peter realized that he was in the presence of the Messiah, the Son of God, who had shown His divine power.  Because he had initially doubted and questioned Jesus, Peter was overcome with shame over his sin (vs. 8). As we look closer at that verse, notice that it said that Peter fell at Jesus’ knees.  It didn’t say he fell at Jesus feet, which would seem to be more likely.  If someone comes up to you, and falls down before you, where do they usually prostrate themselves, but at your feet.  Here it says “at Jesus’ knees”. I am thinking it was at His knees because there was so many fish in the ship that the catch came up to over their knees!  When Jesus brings a miracle, He doesn’t scimp!

Jesus didn’t chastise Peter when his faith had faltered at their being able to catch any fish.  He told Peter to not be afraid (vs. 10). Jesus doesn’t rebuke us either. Our faith is not based on us, but on the Lord.  When these fishermen experienced this miracle catch they left everything and followed Jesus (vs. 11). They heard His call to become fishers of men, to win souls for God’s Kingdom, and they responded, leaving everything else behind.

Jesus cares about our daily routine, and understands our needs.  He cared that Peter and his fishing companions had worked all night with nothing to show. Jesus not only wants to save us, He wants to help us in all of our daily activities. We need to bring everything to Jesus in prayer, whether big or seemingly small.  In addition, we need to be listening for Jesus’ call on our life, and to respond as these men did.