Jesus Calls the First 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. 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.” 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.” 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 5:1-11
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Jesus Calls the First Disciples
Ordinary men called to extraordinary work. The Lord Jesus could have chose angels to do his work of preaching, teaching, baptizing, and absolving, but instead, he picked sinful men to stand in his stead and establish his church throughout the world. Two boats stood by the Sea of Galilee. Simon and Andrew were fishermen with James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They caught nothing. Yet in the face of their failed work, Jesus brings abundance. It is so significant of an event that Simon knows this must be the promised Messiah. He is standing in the presence of the living God. No sinner should be able to stand before God and live. We all are not worthy to be in his presence. “Depart from me,” Peter tells Jesus. But instead, Jesus grants him peace. He takes away Simon Peter’s fear and he prophecies about the future. With the hook of the Gospel, you will catch men alive. The Gospel is still a hook. It catches men alive for Jesus. You were caught and he intends to keep you forever. Amen.