Luke 5 Calling the Disciples

Luke 5 Calling the Disciples

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, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 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. (Luke 5:1-3 ESV)

Why is Jesus about to make Simon (Peter) a disciple? Was it because of his looks, his brains, his talent. . .maybe?  But I think it's for this one reason: Peter doesn't say no. When Jesus asks him to do something, he does it.  Peter sometimes obeys clumsily, sometimes imperfectly, but Peter doesn't say no.  

Think about what will happen to Peter (and James and John, his fishing buddies) who witnessed the transfiguration - Jesus in his epic, glowy, heaven-like state of being. What if Peter said no?

Think about the confessions we make during Church - the apostle's creed, the Nicene creed. Calling Jesus by his name and position is a cornerstone to the Christian faith: Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:13-18 ESV). We believe that the rock on which the church is built is confessing that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. Only by God's revelation can we understand who Jesus really is, and like Peter, we are so blessed that God would show us this much love to reveal himself to us. What if Peter had said no?

What else did Peter do? Walking on water, the rooster crowing, cutting Malchus' ear off, discovering Jesus' resurrection, get behind me Satan, Pentecost. . .
James and John, Peter's buddies, Jesus called them the Sons of Thunder. John writes several books of the New Testament. James is a church father in Jerusalem and tells these stories to Luke, who writes them down for us. Isn't that crazy - if Peter didn't let Jesus borrow the boat, half the New Testament would be missing, our understanding of Jesus, his character, and power would be severely limited.

Last thought, these three men were far from perfect - some of their most famous moments were their stupid mistakes - Peter taking his eyes off Jesus and sinking in the lake; Peter saying that Jesus shouldn't talk about dying - From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man." (Matthew 16:21-23 ESV); Peter saying he will never forsake Jesus; James and John asking to sit at Jesus' left and right hand in heaven. Peter, James, and John are very imperfect, but they aren't the sort of men who say no when someone asks to borrow their boat.

Has God ever asked or called you to do something? How did you respond?

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:4, 5 ESV)

What a fantastic answer - Lord, I don't understand but I trust you. I have tried on my own, and produced no results, but I will do what you say. This is a very good foundation for our faith - Jesus said it, so we believe it and do it. Peter had no idea what amazing things are in store, a net breaking with fish, the dead raised, sick healed. . .but he took Jesus at his word and saw the most amazing miracles from God.

And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 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. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." (Luke 5:5-8 ESV)

Right on, Peter! I'm a dirty, grubby, sinful fisherman - you are holy, and I don't deserve to be in your presence. He pulls a Wayne's World moment - "We're not worthy, we're not worthy."

Which people in the New Testament had a similar response to Jesus?

John the Baptist - I am not worthy to untie his sandals (Luke 3:16)

The Centurion - Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed (Matthew 8:8);

The weeping woman with the Alabaster jar of perfume (my favorite - it's a synopsis of church in 5 minutes, confession, absolution, praising and loving on Jesus, the blessing - pretty rad)

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher." "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7:36-50 ESV)

Bernard beautifully says: "Thanks to thee, most blessed sinner: thou hast shown the world a safe enough place for sinners - the feet of Jesus, which spurn none, reject none, repel none, and receive and admit all. Where alone the Pharisee vents not his haughtiness, there surely the Ethiopian changes his skin, and the leopard his spots" (cit. by Trench, "Parables").

Check out this great quote by Luther:
If you are a preacher of Grace, then preach a true, not a fictitious grace; if grace is true, you must bear a true and not a fictitious sin. God does not save people who are only fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly. For he is victorious over sin, death, and the world. As long as we are here we have to sin. This life in not the dwelling place of righteousness but, as Peter says, we look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. . . . Pray boldly-you too are a mighty sinner."

(Here is a different translation)
If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that through God's glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins? Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.

Like the sinful Peter, like the woman with the Alabaster jar, like Wayne and Garth, we are not worthy.  But if we fall down on our knees, confess our sins, "God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse our unrighteousness."  Then like Peter, James, and John, he will take us and make us into fishers of men!  

For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 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." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:9-11 ESV)