Sermonic Reflection: Luke 5:1-11 "Your way hasn't worked."

1 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2 he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and 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 way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" 9 For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him. - Luke 5:1-11

Progress and growth are two necessary elements in the walk of a disciple, and Jesus is the administrator of both. In this episode he is pushing growth in an interesting and foolish way.

In an attempt to create more space for teaching, Jesus asks Peter to use his boat as a pulpit. Peter, perhaps still brimming with joy after having his mother healed (Luke 4:38), acquiesces. He is fine with the idea of Jesus using his boat as a pulpit because he supports the Jesus movement. Besides, Jesus wasn't asking much, it was the least he could do.

So Jesus teaches the crowd, I'm sure they were challenged and encouraged, then the amen is said, benediction is given, and voila! the pulpit is now a boat again.

Here the poking and prodding begins. Jesus isn't content with just being allowed to use Peter's boat. He is thankful for the makeshift pulpit, to be sure, but now he has his mind set on using Peter's life.

"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

Peter must've been thinking, "Yeah right! I'll let down my nets, but it certainly won't be for a catch. You know we fish at night for a reason, Jesus. If I cast the nets into the water the crowd will laugh at me, my partners will be mad, at the fish will think I'm a fool!"

When Jesus asks us to step out in faith it is an action that normally requires just that, FAITH! It is not normally easy or comfortable; it does require humility and trust. For Peter to cast his nets into the water would put his reputation at risk, his time spent in washing nets would be wasted, and his relationship with Christ was being tested.

This is where I believe many Christians get stuck. We show our support for Christ in subtle ways, "Sure Jesus you can use my boat to preach." But when Jesus requires growth from us we are frozen by unbelief. The false narratives that govern our lives begin thrash about, and we begin searching for any excuse to abstain from obedience.

Peter had his own objections, indeed, he expressed the fact that he'd already been fishing all night. But he was able to add the faithful, "Yet if you say so," to the equation. I believe that one of the reasons Christians scarcely experience God's power is because we don't add the "yet if you say so" to our responses to Jesus.

What are you wrestling with? What is Christ asking you to do that seems bizarre? How long have you been explaining why you won't do it? Our way hasn't been working anyways, "Master, we have worked all night long and caught nothing." We may as well try Jesus' method.

Peter did, and then he experienced God's power. Do you want to experience God's power?
"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch."

By the way, many people refer to this passage as "The Great Catch." I wonder which catch they are referring to; the dead fish, or the empowered disciples?