Luke 5 1-11
Epiphany 5
Luke 5: 1-11
February 8, 2004
“A Fishing Tale - The One That Didn’t Get Away”
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Text: (Luke 5:1-11, NIV) One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding round him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled to 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. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Introduction: First, I must tell you a story about the fish that got away. When I was young my dad took me on a special fishing trip. The Salmon were running on the Manistee River in Michigan. We took our place amongst the other fisherman along the bank of the river. Fisherman were catching fish left and right, but not us. We didn’t have the right bait so we went to the store to get it right. Low and behold it worked. It wasn’t long before I had a huge salmon on my line, racing from one part of the river to another cutting through the water with its powerful tail. Then just like that my line snapped. That was one fish that got away. With the sun racing down towards the horizon I tried and tried again. Finally another fish was on my line. I fought this fish with more care trying to use the right amount of drag but then the unimaginable happened. The hook popped out of the fish’s mouth, bent straight by the force of the fish. Then it was time to go home, discouraged and frustrated. I have fished for, or tried to fish for salmon a couple of times since then with similar results. When I think about salmon fishing I have a pit in my stomach as I think about the fish that got away.
Our gospel lesson for today is a marvelous story. This is a real fish story about the one that wouldn’t get away. It has all the pieces of a fishing adventure, a boat on a lake, fisherman and fish and the means to catch them with. This story even includes a crowd of witness that can testify that it actually happened. Here is a story where the fisherman gets caught.
We usually think of finding spiritual help when we go to church or by reading a devotion. But Peter, found his help right in his work. Though a good fisherman, Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. But the Lord Jesus came to Peter's rescue. Not only did the Lord bless Peter with many fish but He also taught Peter the way that He wanted Peter to go. Peter is our model.
I. First, Peter is caught by the realization of his own sinful condition.
A. He learns that, without the Lord's blessing, he fails. Peter was an experienced fisherman. He knew that the nighttime was the best time to catch fish. On the occasion of our text his expertise as a fisherman proved fruitless. His expertise could not master the fishing conditions of the night before. Perhaps he might have recalled Ps.127, “Unless the LORD builds the house, its builder’s labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat-- for he grants sleep to those he loves.” The point is that unless the Lord blesses man's endeavors, failure will follow. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” When Jacob wrestled with God he said: "I will not let you go unless you bless me!" All Christians, including the Apostle Peter, must learn this lesson. It is God alone that blesses us. Peter fished all night but caught nothing but at the word of the Lord Jesus Christ blessings come. At the Word of the Lord Peter’s nets are filled, and Peter Himself is caught.
B. As a result he learns his sinful condition. Peter said: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” It was a frank and honest confession of sin and sinfulness. It reminds us of other confessions like Paul, writing “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-- of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” King David writes, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. And even Luther who, at the end of his life and on his deathbed said: “I am only a beggar before God.” As sinners we are beggars before God as we have no righteousness of our own. All we can bring to God is our sin.
C. Jesus does not deny that Peter is a sinner. While that is good reason to be terrified, it is the poorest of reasons to flee from Christ who came into the world to save sinners. Luther wrote, “The more you feel that you are a sinner, and the more you want to run away from God, just so much more you should press forward to Him.” Luther also describes Peter’s words, “Depart from me” as a disgrace: He writes, “But that is how a miserable conscience carries on; it flees from the One who wants to confer grace on him and to whom he ought to run barefoot to from the end of the world.
II. Peter is caught in the net of God’s grace
A. Despite his sin Peter is caught in the net of God’s grace. The fearful one is told not to fear. Fear and awe took hold of Peter and all his companions. That is the reaction of sinful man in the presence of God. The shepherds at Bethlehem were fearful when the angels appeared. On Easter the women were fearful when the angels appeared. Because of his lost condition sinful man always fears in God's presence. But God takes no pleasure in the fear of man. So our Lord Jesus speaks these comforting words to Peter, “Fear not” or “Quit being afraid.” What does this mean? It means that God forgives the sinner. God removes the fear of the sinner by forgiving his sin. Forgiveness takes away man's guilt. Then fear disappears. All fear is removed as we remember the cross of Jesus Christ where sin and its guilt have been done away with once and for all. Such fear ends in the death and resurrection of Jesus. That's what Jesus did for Peter, the disciples and for us. When the pastor says in the absolution that our sins are forgiven it is the same as saying even though you too are in the presence of God fear not and do not be afraid. His will towards you is only love and grace.
B. Through faith Peter is caught up in obedience to Christ’s Word. His faith causes him to obey and follow the Lord leaving the nets filled with fish behind. Peter said: “In reliance on Your Word I will let down the net.” Very likely Peter's mind said: “To fish at this time of morning is foolishness. Why should I do it?” “I’m the fisherman and you’re the carpenter.” But his faith said: “My Lord knows much better than I do. Surely his command contains a promise.” He proceeded by faith, not by sight or feeling. With his companions he abandoned all and followed Jesus. His profession had been fishing fish which then died. But he became a fisherman of people who lived forever. Peter was caught by God’s grace to become a fisher of men. He would not be like my salmon, the ones that got away. He was eternally caught up in God’s grace. Now he would catch more than fish. He would catch people alive for God. This would be the foundation of the Christ’s Church. The church is a group of fishermen, fishing for people with the message of the gospel. For this we too say, Lord at your Word we will do as you ask believing even beyond reason. We too will obey and follow.
Conclusion: Peter was a child of God when Jesus came to the lake teaching But Peter had to learn each day what it means to be a child of God and a fisherman in God's Kingdom. Confession of sin and absolution must be experienced daily. Following the Word of the Lord is a daily process. Through His Word our Lord leads us to understand that we too have been caught in the nets of His grace, for the sake of Jesus Christ, and we too will become fishers of men. Amen.