The Calling of the First Discipes (Part 2)

Luke 5:1-11; Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20

4. The Report of the Catch (Luke 5:6,7)
     The report of the catch of fish is not surprising. Christ promised and the disciples obeyed. That will always work great things for the honor of God.
     The size in the report. “Inclosed a great multitude of fishes” (Luke 5:6). Christ promised and He fulfilled His promise. Christ does not disappoint. The world makes great promises but does not fulfill them, not so Christ.
     The submission in the report. “When they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes” (Luke 5:6). The fishermen did exactly what Jesus told them to do and it resulted in the fulfilling of the promise of a “draught” of fish. Submission to the will of God always brings blessings.
     The stress in the report. “Their net brake” (Luke 5:6). The translation is more accurately rendered “the net began to brake.” If it had broken the fishermen would have lost all their fish. But the net was only beginning to tear. The great fish catch was not lost.
     The ships in the report. “They beckoned unto their partners, which we in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships” (Luke 5:7). The catch was so great the fishermen needed help with the fish.

• First, the call for the ships. “They beckoned unto their partners.” When fishermen have to seek help from other fishermen to pull in a catch of fish, the catch has to be large. With the net beginning to break, help was desperately needed to save the great catch of fish. The cooperation of the fishermen in catching fish exhorts churches to like cooperation in catching souls. This is not a pitch for ecumenical cooperation, but for fundamentalists to stop raiding other churches and help each other win souls.
• Second, the contents in the ships. “Filled both the ships.” When God blesses, it will be obvious. His blessings will fill both ships. When churches cooperate instead of compete in their work, there will be more than enough blessing for all the churches.

     The sinking in the report. “Filled both the ships, so that they began to sink” (Luke 5:7). Like the nets, the ships did not sink and lose the catch but only began to sink. They obviously got to shore before disaster struck. The “began to sink” and “their net brake” simply emphasizes the greatness of the miracle. When Christ worked a miracle there was an abundance of evidence that He did it.

5. The Reaction to the Catch (Luke 5:8,9)
     There was a very pronounced reaction to this miraculous fish catch by all the fishermen involved.
     The awareness in the reaction. “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). The great fish catch made Peter acutely aware of his sinfulness. Peter’s statement did not mean he wanted Christ to leave him as the unbeliever wants nothing to do with Christ. Rather it is the exaggerated language of a humbled soul, who, though he loved Christ more than anyone else and desired His companionship greatly, sees himself wholly unworthy of fellowship with Christ. Scripture says the goodness of God is to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4). It certainly did this for Peter, but too many react to Divine blessings by celebrating in an evil way. When people get a pay raise or have some other success, they often drink and get drunk. But Peter used the blessing to see his unworthiness before God.
     The astonishment in the reaction. “He was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken” (Luke 5:9). The fact that these veteran fishermen were astonished gives excellent attestation to the miracle. No one would be able to evaluate a great catch like these veteran fishermen. If they were astonished—it must have been a great catch. The evidence for Christ’s power has abundant proof.

6. The Recruiting After the Catch (Luke 5:10,11)
     The sequence to the great miraculous fish catch was the recruiting of these fishermen to be followers of Christ.
     The pardon in the recruiting. “Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:10). Peter’s falling down before Christ needed to be addressed by Christ, and the “Fear not” assured Peter of pardon.

• First, the serenity in the pardon. “Fear not.” Pardon brings peace, and what great peace this would bring to Peter.
• Second, the service in the pardon. “From henceforth thou shalt catch men.” When one feels very unworthy of the presence of Christ, he is not likely to think he is qualified to serve Christ. But Christ assures Peter that he is indeed qualified to serve Christ. The kind of humility Peter evidences is in fact a qualification for serving Christ. Pride disqualifies.

     The promise in the recruiting. “Thou shalt catch men” (Luke 5:10). Christ made catching of fish an illustration of winning people to Him. The illustration does not, of course, apply in every situation. As an example, in catching fish you kill them, but in catching men for Christ you give them life. This promise would encourage Peter. It promised him results for serving Christ. That always encourages anyone in service.
     The price in the recruiting. “They forsook all, and followed him” (Luke 5:11). The other fishermen, beside Peter, are included here. Forsaking all was a great price especially after the great fish catch. But if you would follow Christ, you must not let material success keep you from following Him.
     The path in the recruiting. “Followed him” (Luke 5:11). The emphasis in service is Jesus Christ. We are to follow Him, not some religious organization or some religious human hero. “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21) is the path.