Luke 5 documents that Simon Peter had a disappointing night of fishing. Peter described this in verse 5 to Jesus, “Master, we have worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” When Jesus first encountered him, Peter dejectedly was washing his fishing nets. As a career fisherman, he had experienced a setback that was very disappointing and something Peter could not afford to happen.
Then, Jesus walked onto this scene and climbed into Peter’s boat (verse 3) and began to teach (Wouldn’t you love to have been there to experience this scene!). Then in verse 4, Jesus still in the boat told Simon to “Put out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch.” Peter was not in a good frame of reference with the setbacks of the night exclaiming to Jesus that all of their efforts resulted into not even one fish being caught. However, He did what Jesus told him to do.
The results were amazing. Verse 6 and 7 states it this way, “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break! 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!”
Verse 8 and 9 records Simon Peter’s reaction, “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.” What a comeback for Peter! From dejection to elation.
What was the one significant difference between the setback of previous night and the astonishing comeback of that particular day. “Jesus climbed into the boat.”
What’s the lesson of this true story? Don’t try to live and work your tail off in the energy of the flesh…catching nothing. Invite Jesus into your boat by relying on and trusting in Him living in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do what he says. Amen!
Barnabas Man 