Smoodock's Blog

In Luke 5:1-11 we read that the crowd pressed upon Jesus to hear him speak. I get a picture of Jesus being thronged by the people who wanted to touch him or to be near him, as he was pressed toward the lake. This behavior does not necessarily indicate one’s love for Jesus. On the contrary, people have been hurt as a crowd thronged celebrities in our own time. I have read of celebrities themselves being in jeopardy as their fans tore clothing from them to gain the smallest memento of their hero.

Jesus got into Simon’s boat and requested that he go out into the lake a short way. This did two things. First, Jesus put some distance between the crowd and himself. Secondly, as a master fisherman, he lured Simon in as they both drew away from the shore and the people.

Jesus taught the people from Simon’s boat (v.3). However, it seems that Jesus was there not so much for the crowd that pressed upon him as he was for Simon and his partners. Yet, up to this point they hadn’t shown as much interest in hearing Jesus speak, as the crowd did. Simon was a fisherman by trade, and both he and his partners had labored all night without a catch and were cleaning their nets, when Jesus arrived with the crowd of people.

It is interesting to see how Simon received the word of God. Up until this point, he seemed to have shown little, if any, interest in what Jesus had to say. Jesus seemed to be preaching to others, but Simon had to listen, since Jesus was using his boat. Simon had been busy in other matters when Jesus asked a favor of him. Indeed, there was an apparent need, because there was no place for Jesus to stand. Simon agreed to take Jesus a safe distance from the crowd, but close enough to shore that the people would still hear him. Doing this had the effect of attaching Simon to Jesus, just as the soldier who was chained to Paul (Acts 28:16). There was nowhere else to go for either of them, because they were both performing a needed service. This was Simon’s first introduction to the Gospel. He had to listen, because he could not get away!

In verse-3 Jesus made a request, but in verse-4 his words are more like a command to Simon: “Launch out into the deep…” I want you to go deeper with me, Simon. “…let down your nets.” I know that you thought your labor was over for the day, but I want you to work a little longer.

Consider a few things found in this Scripture. First of all, Peter is referred to four times using the name Simon, and only the fourth time is he called Simon-Peter. I believe this is significant. Only a few days earlier the Lord told Peter when his brother, Andrew, introduced them (John 1:42), that he would change Simon’s name to Cephus or Peter meaning “stone.” In chapter five Luke mentions the name Simon three times as one serving Jesus, albeit he is either in unbelief or just being polite. Simon saw himself as the helper/teacher of Jesus, not the other way around. After all, it was Simon’s boat that Jesus needed, and Simon knew more about fishing than this young itinerant preacher. When Simon went out into the deep to cast out a net, it was to show Jesus, in a polite way, that Jesus may have a way with words, but Simon and his partners knew the fishing business. There just wasn’t anything to be caught at that time of day.

Another thing to realize from this account is the placement of the singular and plural forms of the word “net” in Luke 5:2, 4-6. Jesus told Simon to let down the “nets” (v.4), which Simon and his partners were cleaning (v.2) when Jesus arrived. Tired and discouraged, Simon, as politely as he could, patronized Jesus by agreeing to launch out into the deep and let down the net (v.5). Suddenly, the net began to break (v.6) and Simon had to summon his partners in the other boat to help him take in the catch, which brought both boats to the point of sinking.

Upon witnessing this, Simon-Peter (v.8) spoke confessing that he was a sinful man. He confessed that he should have obeyed Jesus explicitly, and considered himself unworthy to be in Jesus’ company. Jesus, however, had no intention of leaving Simon-Peter (v.10). This whole episode was conducted not for the crowds, but for those few fishermen. Jesus began to build their trust in him. He didn’t rebuke their unbelief, but he did acknowledge their ever so tiny seed of faith, “…henceforth you shall catch men.”

I find it remarkable that Jesus found no one he could use in the religious crowd that pressed upon him to speak the word of God. He found faith, however small, in a few fishermen, who at first didn’t seem all that interested in hearing what Jesus had to say. They were busy with their daily chores, making a living for themselves and their families. Isn’t this how most of us are called, before we come apart to be with him? We are just doing what we normally do every day, unaware of Jesus’ interest in us. Suddenly, he begins to make himself known, and our lives are never the same afterwards. I have found that he is not someone I can get away from or readily refuse. At first, I don’t seem to change, and I really believe that I am doing him a favor by giving of my time and resources. Then comes the time that it appears I am being presumed upon. I try to be polite, because I don’t want to offend, but I know that I am being asked to labor in a fruitless effort. I don’t want to be used this way, so I don’t give it my best effort. I simply don’t commit myself entirely to the work at hand.

Suddenly, I am surprised with the fruit! I’m embarrassed with the response to my less than complete commitment. People thank me, yet I know I never expected to help anyone. Jesus called for a catch, but I was not fully committed to his command, because I had been laboring so long in my own effort with no result at all. Suddenly, I need help. The Lord called for a catch, and it becomes more and more apparent that I was unprepared for what Jesus was doing through me (my net is breaking). When I lend myself to Christ, he will take me away from the crowds to a solitary place.

I may not see the sense in the Lord’s commands, but he is stretching me for greater service. I must obey. What I do not see now will be revealed later, when I have the capacity to understand (cp. John 13:7; 16:12). Certainly, I will make mistakes and I will not obey perfectly. My faith will falter, but Christ is at work in me. What he begins he will perfect (Philippians 1:6). He will take me into the deeper truths where the crowds cannot come (Luke 5:4). It seems odd that I always seem busy with my daily living when I hear the call. Others seem to be much more spiritual and in a greater readiness of mind, always pressing upon Christ in order to hear him. Nevertheless, if I don’t question and just obey, I will find a blessing. Jesus will be patient with me, if I answer his call. I don’t seem to be rebuked for my mistakes or lack of total commitment, although I am certainly ashamed. Nevertheless, he seems to show no interest in my sins. They are his to bear. Yet, he seems very concerned that my trust in him grows more and more. No matter how often I seem to fail, the fact that I answer his call makes me his disciple. He makes himself responsible both for my sins and for my growth in him. When I begin to realize this, I am enabled in all my unworthiness to let go of all things and cling to him (Luke 5:11). Although it is not my sins that are his specific concern, as I leave this world and follow him, my sins seem to evaporate from my life. Walking with Jesus cleanses my way. Praise God!