Toiling and Taking Nothing

Luke now takes us to the lakeshore. The people thronged Him, and the situation was inconvenient to say the least. The Lord noticed a couple of empty boats drawn up by the shore, one of which belonged to Simon Peter (5:1–3). Peter willingly let the Lord borrow his boat and pushed it out a little from the land. The Lord sat down and began to teach the people from this unconventional platform.

Working and getting nowhere!

Illustration - finances, marriage, health etc....

They had been out all night and caught nothing

Matthew 19:26 KJV 1900

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

John 15:5 KJV 1900

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

I The Scene -

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2. Jesus’ Demonstration of His Authority by Calling His First Disciples (5:1–11) (Matt. 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20)

The incident recorded here is obviously not the first time Jesus had been in contact with the men whom He called to be His disciples. Luke already had stated that Jesus had healed Simon’s mother-in-law which denotes previous contact with Simon and Andrew. This seems to be at least the third time Jesus had contact with these men

The large crowd prevented Jesus from speaking effectively.

Somewhere near the Peters house was the scene

key points:

Crowds came to hear the word of God. This was an important part of jesus ministry.

Many think the crowds came just for the healing. but as we saw in the synagogue in Capernaum they would desire to hear his preaching .

John 7:46 KJV 1900

The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

Matthew 13:55 KJV 1900

Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Matthew 13:54–55 KJV 1900

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

The scene was also close to to Peter’s house and the synagogue .

matt 13.54-55

Jesus went out by the lake probably in the morning and Peter was there cleaning up after a long night of catching nothing.

Peter was not in the ship was washing the nets.

Could you imagine here come a crown down to the lake and Jesus is leading the way.

Tired and frustrated the came down to Peters boat.

The was a place of frustration

This was a place of weariness

This was a place of wearness

The last thing i need now is this crowd and Jesus

sometimes Christ shows up when we just are not in the mood.

any frustrated here come Jesus and a group of followers.

Illustration

II The Summons -

Wow - he got into Peters boat.

Pushed a shot distance from the shore and began to preach.

Picture here

Notice first Christ asked if he could use the boat.

Christ will never force Himself on you . We must willing accept.

vs 3 - taught - means to instruct or teach

hey were hungry and open to teaching look at the crowds.

Exploring the Gospel of Luke: An Expository Commentary (3) He Controls the Fish (5:1–11)

Peter willingly let the Lord borrow his boat and pushed it out a little from the land. The Lord sat down and began to teach the people from this unconventional platform.

The acoustical properties of this area are remarkable. The still water acts as a sounding board, a loudspeaker. It picks up a speaker’s voice and throws it up the beach and the hillside so that everyone can hear what is being said even when it is spoken in a conversational tone of voice. The Lord did not have to raise His voice to be heard by one and all.

We can picture Peter, pleased and proud that the great preacher Himself should be sitting there in his boat, His voice ringing out to one and all. Peter’s companions were nearby, busily mending their nets with their hands while listening to Jesus with all of their ears (5:2

The command was launch out into the deep Peter let your nets down for a catch.

It was a clear command in front of all to do the ridiculous.

The best fishing is at night and evening. Jesus we are trained experienced fisherman!

vs 5 - Peter with respect called him “master” or rabbi and obeyed.

Look at

so many honor Christ with their lips and not their actions.

As ridiculous as it sounds peter obeyed.

Its day

Its hot

We already caught nothing in ideal conditions

Illustration - 1995 1996 selling house in late fall early winter with no Job no housing .... four kids ......

That is what God wanted me to do......

III The Scale

They obeyed that pretty much says it all.

If we obey we would stay out of so much trouble.

This would change Peters life.

He was done fishing

this was his call and the nets full of fish would change his life.

Exploring the Gospel of Luke: An Expository Commentary (3) He Controls the Fish (5:1–11)

He summoned his partners, who by now had launched the other boat, and they drew alongside. Peter was still quite sure that he could handle things. He pulled on the net—and it broke. Still confident of his ability to handle things, Peter headed for the shore with this spectacular catch on board at last. Then the ship began to sink! That was the end of his self-will. He fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (5:8). The Lord had said nothing at all about sin!

Peter headed for the shore with this spectacular catch on board at last. Then the ship began to sink! That was the end of his self-will. He fell at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (5:8). The Lord had said nothing at all about sin!

Exploring the Gospel of Luke: An Expository Commentary (3) He Controls the Fish (5:1–11)

From then on, too, their ministry was to be spiritual. Perhaps the Lord’s teaching that day had prepared their souls for that truth. One way or another, “they forsook all, and followed him” (5:11).