Peter and a Disciple's Conviction (Luke 5:1-11)

Children's Lesson (click here)

 I. “Wondrous Things”

As we continue our study in God's word this morning in light of Our Bible Reading Plan, our prayer should be the same as that of the psalmist in Psalm 119:18. To adapt his words there, “Open [our] eyes [O Lord], that [we] may behold wondrous things out of your [word].” Specifically, let's look together at Luke chapter 5, verses 1-11. Let's discover, let's behold, the “wondrous things” revealed by God in this passage. 

II. The Passage: “For I am a Sinful Man” (5:1-11)

Listen to what Luke tells us in this scene, this incident from the ministry of Jesus. Verse 1...

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 [i.e., the Sea of Galilee], [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.

At the outset of Luke 5, it seems clear that we are at the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry. How do we know that? Because it's recorded in the previous chapter; in chapter 4. After being baptized in the Jordan, then tempted in the desert, Jesus begins his public ministry in 4:14-15. We read in 4:15 that “he taught in their synagogues”(7x in chp. 4)(including in his hometown of Nazareth), and 4:40–41 describes how, “all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to [Jesus], and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many...'”. As one moves out of chp. 4, Luke provides his readers with this summary statement (4:44): “And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”

But as we just heard in our main text, in chapter 5 the teaching venue shifts from the synagogues to the seashore. And even though Jesus is absolutely central in this opening account, as we heard, a man named Simon is also a key figure in this story. Verse 8 makes clear that this Simon is none other than Peter, the best-known of all Christ's apostles. But as we'll see in this study, and in upcoming messages this month, more fundamental to his identity than his apostle-ship was Peter's discipleship to Jesus. And keeping this particular disciple and that particular relationship in mind, the Gospel of Luke provides every disciple of Jesus with instruction and encouragement through Peter's example. So what do we learn here from Peter, our fellow disciple?

The first thing I'd like to point out is the fact that Peter is compliant. In verses 3-5, Peter complies with two specific instructions given to him by Jesus. Instruction #1 (in verse 3) involves the position of the boat from which Jesus is planning to speak. Jesus wants it moved further out. So Peter complies. He puts the boat out a little ways from the shore, so that Jesus is not crowded by the crowd, and therefore, is able to be seen by the large amount of people who have come to hear his teaching. Instruction #2 from Jesus also involves the position of the boat, but the placement of the nets as well. Let's go back and look at verses 4 and 5...

And when [Jesus] had finished speaking [i.e., teaching the crowd] 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.”

Now think about the exchange here. It sure sounds like Peter is telling Jesus, “Rabbi, maybe you should stick to the teaching and let me handle the fishing... the very thing I've been doing all night with no success.” But he doesn't want to be disrespectful to Jesus, because I believe he thinks very highly of Jesus. Why would I say that? Not only does he refer to Him as “master” (a word that in the Greek OT could refer to anyone in a position of authority, but used only by Luke in the NT and only of Jesus)(so not only does he refer to him as “master”), but we know Simon Peter had witnessed the miracle-working power of Christ firsthand. Look back at Luke 4:38–39...

And [Jesus] arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. [39] And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

This is Luke's first mention of Simon Peter, and it seems like the writer just assumes that his readers are already familiar with him. So in light of the text, Peter knows Jesus, but as a teacher and a miracle worker; specifically, he knows him to be a holy man who has already blessed Peter's family. Therefore, he complies with this instruction to make one more attempt at fishing.

This sets up the scene for the second thing I'd like to point out in this passage: the fact that Peter is convicted. When, according to verses 6 and 7, this second instruction of Jesus results in a huge catch of fish, Peter (in v. 8) experiences a deep sense of conviction in regard to his identity as a “sinful man”. But why this response? In light of all those fish, you would think Peter would be jumping up in excitement and not falling down in conviction. In light of all those fish, you would think he would be shouting about his blessedness and not confessing his sinfulness. Why has this thrilling moment all of a sudden become so serious; so heavy? Because as full as that net may have been, even fuller was Peter's new understanding of the identity of Jesus.

Peter may have been a seasoned fisherman who grew up on these waters, or at least on the lake's shoreline. He may have been incredibly experienced and knowledgeable when it came to the Sea of Galilee. And he may have earned his livelihood from its waters. But he was not the Lord of those waters. The Lord of those waters was presently sitting in his boat! Again, don't miss how Luke is stressing that this catch of fish was not the result of a lucky hunch by Jesus. Verse 6: the catch was so big “their nets were breaking”. Verse 7: the catch was so big, men “in the other boat [had] to come and help them.” Verse 9: the catch was so big that “all who were with [Simon Peter] were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken”. You see, it was the experience of these men as fishermen, it was their experience on those waters, that told them something incredible was happening; something miraculous. And that was the very thing that opened Peter's eyes to the true identity of Jesus. Here was the Holy One of Israel sitting in the boat of an unholy man like Peter. And so Peter does what? He falls “down at Jesus' knees”.

But the story doesn't end there, does it. In addition to be being convicted, we also see here that, surprisingly, and wonderfully, third, Peter is [also] commissioned. Though Peter rightly sees himself as one who is sinful, and therefore, unworthy of the Lord's presence, Jesus doesn't remove himself. No. Instead, He reassures Peter. (v.) 10: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 'Not only am I staying with you, Simon, but I'm also going to use you in my work.' Isn't that an amazing response? Isn't that an encouraging response? And as we see from the closing verse of this account, v. 11, Peter's partners, James and John, were also radically impacted by how Jesus revealed himself here. How do we know that? Because we read how all of them (v. 11), “when they had brought their boats to land, left everything and followed him.”

III. A Right Vision of Jesus

So think with me for a minute about how you and I should be changed by this story about Peter. Let me offer two reflections:

First, discipleship to Jesus is more than compliance. In general, being a disciple (or apprentice) does involve compliance leading to conformity; that is, you obey a teacher or a tradesman in order to become like him or her. But when it comes to being a disciple of Jesus, the compliance we see here means nothing without the conviction we see here. Like Peter, we can attempt to do everything Jesus asks us to do, but if we do not begin with a clear sense of our own failings, of our own guilt, of our own uncleanness and moral poverty, of our own neediness, if we do not begin with an acknowledgment of what we truly deserve (“Depart from me”), then we cannot be his disciples. Why? Because we cannot truly be remade unless we are first truly undone. And... it's foundational for us to see that it's only by the mercy and grace of Jesus that we can follow.

Second, a disciple's conviction (or convicted-ness) results from a right vision of Jesus. One of the reasons this passage really bothers me is because I don't see myself in Peter when he falls down at Jesus' knees and says “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.” Can I admit I'm a sinful man? Absolutely. But do I feel the reality of my sin, do I feel the weight of my sin, the ugliness of my sin, the destructiveness of my sin, to the degree that I would fall down like this? When has a sense of my own sinfulness, when has a sense of your own sinfulness, ever driven you to your knees... to put your face in the dirt? Even the impulse to do so? And when we experience that mercy/grace from Jesus, even when we rest in his finished work, his atoning work, his cleansing work on the cross, even when we rest in his free gift of righteousness, shouldn't we continue to follow Christ with a clear sense of our own sinfulness? Wouldn't Peter once again feel this kind of conviction... for example, when he later denied even knowing Jesus?

What this passage should inspire in our hearts, or should 'fan into flame' within us, is the deep desire and faithful practice of seeing Jesus for who he truly is; to recognize him more and more as the Holy One and Lord of all things. Maybe this is why Peter ends his second letter with this encouragement and praise: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18) When we see Jesus for who he truly is, we see the truth about ourselves, don't we? And as we learn in this passage, when we see His power displayed in our blessings (!), we should be humbled as any false notions about our efforts or our goodness or our competency or our merit, are sunk by his grace. Brother, sister, friend, building on this passage, what might you do this week to see Jesus more clearly? How should this passage shape your prayers as a disciple? Finally, let's embrace this morning and keep encouraging one another in those precious words from Jesus in response to the reality of our sin: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” His finished work is sufficient for every sinful man and woman; a finished work so sufficient that He now uses us in his ongoing work of reaching others; so we can rejoice together in overflowing nets.