Luke 5:1-: “As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s Word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your Word, I’ll let down the nets.”
Simon Peter had spent the previous night fishing with his fellow fishermen. He was a fisherman by trade. He depended on the night’s catch for his sustenance. As a fisherman, he was experienced in knowing about the best time to fish, where to fish and what sort of fish there would be in that lake. His team and he had fished all night and caught nothing! Imagine the exhaustion, the frustration of working so hard for nothing! Peter was certainly disappointed. He was sleep deprived that morning. He was washing his net with his colleagues when he sees this man Jesus and a huge crowd pressing into Him. This was not a normal morning!! Jesus chooses to get into Simon’s boat, asks him to put out into the sea and teaches the crowd from the boat. Simon had not expected anything that morning except to lend his boat. Yet he is probably pleasantly surprised when Jesus asks him to take the boat into the deep water and catch some fish. Simon was probably thinking, “Okay wait a minute! I am a fisherman. I KNOW my trade and this lake like the back of my hand!! And You, a carpenter’s son and impressive teacher are now saying You know my trade better. You are giving me advise?” Peter tries to explain that they worked all night and caught nothing. Now the opportune moment to find fish was gone. Yet Peter says, “But at Your Word I’ll let down the nets.” Peter had sat there listening to Jesus with the crowd. He was certainly drawn to Jesus like those in the crowd. His words seem to have authority and power unlike anyone else they had heard. For a moment Peter’s disappointment from the night before was eased by the words of hope that Jesus was teaching. But Jesus was not done with Peter! He was not going to just borrow his boat! He was about to do a huge miracle and change his life forever!!
In Luke 5: 6-10, we read, “When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they took, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people!” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Him.”
Yet the story does not stop here. Peter and his colleagues, the sons of Zebedee James and John are no ordinary followers. They became Jesus’ innermost circle of disciples. Jesus’ closest allies. They were privileged to see some of the greatest revelations and biggest miracles that none of the other disciples witnessed: like the transfiguration of Jesus and the raising of Jairus’ dead daughter to life. During the final days before His crucifixion, Jesus takes them with Him in the garden of Gethsamane.
Moments later Jesus is crucified. Now Jesus was gone. What were they supposed to do?
In John 21: 3 we read: “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. (to the sons of Zebedee and some other fishermen) “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat but that night they caught nothing.” Peter probably felt now that Jesus was gone, there was nothing left to do but to go back to his trade. He and the sons of Zebedee were hurting emotionally having lost their closest friend, Jesus to death. They were in a time of mourning. Fishing seemed like a hopeful distraction. Perhaps they felt the past three years of giving up fishing for a scintillating experience traveling with Jesus and witnessing powerful miracles unfold was over. There was suddenly this lull. This eerie, uncomfortable silence of not knowing what to do next. So, they turned to what they knew best: to their trade as fishermen. Yet that first night of returning to his trade was disappointing: he and his colleagues caught nothing! But then something else happens…!
At daybreak Jesus arrives at the shore (He had risen from the dead but they did not recognize Him) and advises them to cast their nets to the right side of the boat. The disciples follow suit and find they are unable to haul the nets because of the large number of fish. “It is the Lord!” John declares. That stranger on the shore had to be Jesus!! What joy!! Their closest friend was back!!! Peter jumps into the sea to swim to Jesus on the shore. Jesus cooks them breakfast-they had charcoal grilled fish and bread waiting for them!! What a delightful surprise. Especially after the intense last days and the tiring night.
Moments later, Jesus reveals Peter’s purpose:
Feed my lambs
Shepherd my sheep
Feed my sheep
Follow ME.
Jesus not just fed the disciples and do the miraculous for them. But He confirmed their purpose: the very purpose He gave them when He called them to follow Him in Luke 5. To follow Him. Not just for a season of three years. But forever!
Perhaps you, like Peter are disappointed because something you are really good at does not seem to work well anymore. Your best laid plans seem wasted. You are frustrated, tired and worn out. You are wondering what else you can probably do now that your best laid plans seem to have failed.
I encourage you to take Jesus into your boat. Seek Him. He will not only help you with a miraculous breakthrough but He will give you a renewed sense of purpose and direction.
The Bible says in Matthew 6:31-33:
“So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?… your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
Prayer
Heavenly Father I see that You are calling me to surrender my disappointment and trust You to turn things around. You are showing me today that You can do the miraculous in this very hopeless situation I am in and that You will do so much more than that: You will breathe upon me my purpose and give me a sense of direction. I praise You Jesus for what You have in store for me- not just for this situation but for life! You have me covered for this life and eternity. I am deeply grateful. In Jesus’ Name, amen.