Anchor My Faith

From No Fish to Many Fish

Scripture: Lk 5:4-7

We ended the previous lesson with Jesus in Simon’s boat teaching the people. “When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”’ (Luke 5:4 ESV) Jesus had finished teaching the crowd and now he turns his attention to Simon to guide him in learning more about trusting him. The request seems simple enough: “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon’s reaction seems to indicate a problem.

“Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5 ESV) Simon is not showing disrespect to Jesus in his response to him but simply stating the fact that fishing did not go very well during the night. We know that his response did not challenge the authority of Jesus because Simon referred to him as “Master” and then in obedience he let down the nets.

“Master” is a title the disciples frequently use to addressing Jesus. For example, in Luke 8:24 (ESV) the disciples were on a boat with Jesus asleep and a storm comes up. “They went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.” In Luke 8:45 (NKJV) Jesus and the disciples were in a crowd of people and a woman having a flow of blood for 12 years touched him and she was healed “And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, “Who touched Me?”’ At a later time, in Luke 9:33, when on the Mount of Transfiguration, the three disciples awoke and seeing his glory and the two men who stood with him. “And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.” In Luke 9:49 (ESV), “John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.”’

Back on the boat the nets had just been let down “Lk 5:6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 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.” What a contrast we see here. Working all night resulted in no fish being caught, but at the command of Jesus the nets immediately fill to the point of breaking, holding enough fish to fill both boats to the point of sinking. With this miracle, Jesus demonstrated that he had authority over the sea and all that was in it.

We know that Simon saw Jesus as a good teacher because he called him “Master,” but Jesus wanted him to understand more about him. Simon Peter saw Jesus change water into wine at the wedding at Cana, but now his ability is demonstrated beyond pots of water to a sea of water where he draws fish into a net. What affect might this have on Peter? We will find out in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, as we walk with Jesus along the gospel path, we find him demonstrating his authority in various ways. At the wedding a need was met. Here in the boat, he extended that authority over the fish to fill the nets. Father, we will see many examples of his authority and from each we need to learn how that authority should influence and affect us in our walk with him, especially here in the western church.