Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Wednesday Easter II: Luke 5:1-11

Wednesday Easter II

Daily Lectionary Readings: Exodus 24:1-18; Luke 5:1-16; (Sirach 42)

Luke 5:1-11:

[1] On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, [2] and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. [3] Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. [4] And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” [5] And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” [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. [8] But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” [9] For he and all who were with him were astonished 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. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” [11] And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (ESV)

Jesus didn't preach in secret. People may have come to Him in secret, at night like Nicodemus. But Jesus didn't go off quietly speaking to people in dark alleys or hidden meeting rooms. He preferred to preach out in the open air or in the synagogues to ensure that the most people heard what He came to say. Jesus sat down in Peter's boat this morning to do just that – but St. Luke doesn't record what Jesus taught that day, does he? No, instead, Luke focuses us on two catches. A miraculous catch of fish and the commissioning of Peter, James, and John as Apostles.

The life of a professional fisherman has never been an easy one. Being out all night and coming home with nothing is a fact of life. It's not the disappointment of a sport fisherman enjoying the day. It's the despondence of having your livelihood on the line. Imagine how it feels to labor all night for nothing, still with hours of net washing and boat maintenance ahead of you, only to have an itinerant preacher plop down in your boat and ask you to make it His floating pulpit?! But Luke doesn't record one of Peter's sharp responses here. We only know Peter took Jesus offshore so the people could see and hear Him better. Perhaps Peter was grateful just to have a little break to sit and relax. It's when the sermon is over things get interesting…

“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch,"1 Jesus says to Peter. Well. Telling a fisherman how to fish – this ought to be good. “Fishing in the heat of the day?” Peter thinks. “Nope, not good. Put out into the deep? Nope, not how it’s done!” But what Peter says is: “Nothing all night, but Jesus, I’ll do what you say!” Good answer!

And so it was. The nets that had remained empty all night were so heavily filled with fish that when they pulled them up, they were starting to burst apart. They called for the others to come and help them with the other boat. And still, the nets were so full that both vessels began to sink.

Now we get to the most important things said that day. “But when Simon Peter saw it,” our text says, “he fell down at Jesus’ knees saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’”2 All of the fishermen were amazed at the sight of the bursting nets and sinking boats. And they were terrified!

Peter is afraid of Jesus! But why? When Peter sees all the fish come into the net because of Jesus, Peter can see with his own eyes that Jesus is no ordinary man. Peter realizes that Jesus is God. And Peter also knows that God is perfect. He knows God has given us rules He expects us to follow. Not obeying the ten commandments makes God angry. Not following God’s law – any tiny part of it – carries a stiff penalty, and that penalty is eternal death. Because God is perfect and completely righteous, sin makes God very angry, and God must punish sin.

That is why Peter is scared! He knows he’s a sinner, and he’s very much afraid that Jesus is going to punish him for it! So he says to Jesus, even as the boat is sinking and his mortal life is in danger, “Get away from me. I am a sinner.” He fears for his eternal soul! It's one thing to be afraid that our lives are in danger and we might die. It's another thing to be afraid that God is mad at us or will punish us. God has told us to love Him with our hearts, souls, and spirit. We most definitely do not do that in all times and circumstances, do we?

When we realize we are poor miserable sinners, we should perhaps also be afraid of Jesus – After all, He is God! But listen to what Jesus says to Peter: “Do not be afraid.” The first commandment tells us we should fear and love God above all things. The fear of God leaves absolutely no room for fear of death, condemnation, punishment, or the fear of anything on this earth. When we fear God, He comes to us and says, “do not be afraid!” These words of the Lord are words of absolution to Peter. They are words of forgiveness. Jesus will not leave Peter, a sinful man, by his own (correct) admission. Neither will Jesus condemn Peter because of his sins. Peter has made his confession, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Jesus now forgives him and sets him free.

Even if that boat sank, Peter would have had nothing to fear. Even if bad things happen to us, and even when our lives end, there is nothing to fear. When at last we say, "God, I fear you," He says to us, "I am nothing to be afraid of. See my Son crucified for you." Jesus is not content to be silent. He wants to be preached to you. He wants to be believed in by you. He wants His promises to be heard by you. Jesus says to you every day, “Do not be afraid, I died and rose for you. Rejoice in this. Live in this. Have eternal life!”

1Luke 5:4 (ESV).

2Luke 5:8 (ESV).