A Miracle, A Man and A Mission

Chets Creek Church 

40 Days with Jesus – October 13^th – Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:3,8,10b-11 (NIV) ³ He [Jesus] got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat . . .  ⁸ When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” … 10b Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!”  ¹¹ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Have you ever been to our nation’s capital or seen a huge crowd on TV at the Washington Mall?  Many causes across America have crammed into this area to hear speeches pointed at the heart cry of thousands of people.  One of the most famous was August 28, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  I Have A Dream.  This is the size and setting of crowd I imagine as I begin to read Luke, chapter five.

In the fifth chapter of Luke, Jesus has just performed a series of miracles.  People were hearing of these miracles, and of the hope Jesus was bringing.  Literally thousands of people were clamoring to hear and see this man, Jesus (some biblical historians estimate that Galilee at this time had as many as three million people).

The crowds became so large that he had to find a platform and the closest thing was a boat that he boarded and pushed out from shore.  After speaking to the people he performed yet another miracle.  He told Peter where to go on the lake to load up with fish (after Peter had fished in futility all night).  In this miracle Peter saw a man, Jesus, who not only knew where the fish were, but knew the condition of his heart, a sinner in need of a savior.

In verse eight, Peter acknowledges Jesus.  Jesus then acknowledges Peter’s sincere heart and tells Peter that he will now be a fisher of men.  Jesus is not looking for skill or knowledge; he is just looking for a contrite and broken heart (Psalm 51:17).  As we walk with Jesus, no one is worthy, but everyone is accepted, as long as we come with a heart seeking forgiveness and crying out for a Savior who meets all our needs.  When we realize who He is we leave it all to follow Him.

Bryan Faus