Fishers of men

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. But because you say so, we will let down the nets.’ Luke 5: 4 – 5

Jesus had been teaching the crowd from Simon’s boat moored away from the edge of the water. This was a great idea as it meant that the crowd could both see and hear him as a voice carries well over water. After he had finished teaching, Jesus turned to Simon and started to meet Simon’s need. It was almost a situation of thanks for lending me your boat, now let me do you a favour. Jesus knew they had been fishing all night with no success and now he was going to meet Simon’s necessity for a successful catch of fish.

Simon had a choice – believe Jesus and act on it. In other words use his faith or let his mind tell him that Jesus knew nothing about fishing so ignore him. Simon knew though that whilst Jesus may not be a fisherman, he was a miracle worker.  Amongst many others, he had healed his mother-in-law so Jesus was trustworthy. It is interesting to note that Jesus said to put out into deep water - this was going to require faith – this was not a shoal of fish swimming conveniently along the surface but one swimming out of sight. 

Jesus proved trustworthy and they did not just catch a few fish, they caught so many that both Simon’s boat and his partner’s began to sink. I love the extravagance of Jesus who never does things by half measures. Simon was humbled.. He knew this was a MIRACLE – he was a fisherman and he knew this was a miraculous catch of fish.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man.’ Luke 5: 8

Through the miracle Jesus provided Simon’s greater need – salvation.  Simon came face to face with his own sinful state as he realised that Jesus really was the Lord. No one else but God could have done what he had just witnessed. Like Abraham, Job and Isaiah before him he knew he was face to face with God and he was afraid. Jesus reassured him and told him not to be afraid but from now on he would be a fisher of men.

Jesus loves to break into our ordinary lives with miracles and bring us face to face not just with his miraculous provision but also with our greater need for a Saviour. He is calling us into his plans and purposes and like the fishermen, we too may need to drop everything and follow him. Jesus is calling us to trust him for everything; provision, salvation and calling. I doubt if Peter, Andrew, James and John every truly regretted their decision to drop everything and follow Jesus. How about you?