Jesus said . . . , “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” Luke 5:10
First, the man selected a tackle box. Standing in his town’s small bait shop, he then filled a shopping cart with hooks, lures, bobbers, line, and weights. Finally, he added live bait and selected a new rod and reel. “Ever fished before?” the shop owner asked. The man said no. “Better add this,” said the owner. It was a first-aid kit. The man agreed and paid, then headed off to a day of not catching a thing—except snags on his fingers from his hooks and gear.
That wasn’t Simon Peter’s problem. An experienced fisherman, he was surprised one dawn when Jesus told him to push his boat into deep water and “let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). Despite a long night of catching nothing, Simon and his crew let down their nets and “caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” In fact, his two boats started to sink from the haul (v. 6).
Seeing this, Simon Peter “fell at Jesus’ knees,” urging Him to “go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (v. 8). Jesus, however, knew Simon’s true identity. He told His disciple, “From now on you will fish for people.” Hearing that, Simon “left everything and followed” Christ (vv. 10–11). When we follow Him, He helps us learn who we are and what we’re called to do as His own.
Read: Luke 5:1-11 (NIV)
5 1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,a
the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.v
2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.
3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.
Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.w
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”x
5 Simon answered, “Master,y we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.z
But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.a
7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them,
and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”b
9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,
10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid;c from now on you will fish for people.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.d
INSIGHT
- Outside of Jesus, what’s your identity or role in life?
- When you follow Him, how does your identity change?
Luke 5:1–11 contains the first of two similar fishing stories that frame Jesus’ earthly interaction with Simon Peter. In this account, Peter immediately recognized he’d encountered someone holy (v. 8). It’s also the moment Jesus called Peter as a disciple (v. 10). Three years later, Peter betrayed Christ (22:54–62). Believing everything was over, he returned to his old life as a fisherman. Then a second miraculous catch of fish took place. Again, Peter realized it was Jesus (John 21:1–7). The first miracle was God’s call on Peter’s life; the second brought restoration and a reaffirmation of that call (vv. 15–19).
PRAYER
Father, when I struggle to know my true identity, remind me to follow You to discover in You my true self. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Luke 5:1-11 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Ezekiel 3-4; Hebrews 11:20-40
