Man of Miracles

And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1–11)

Imagine Simon Peter, the fisherman cleaning his nets, having finished his fishing for the night. He cleans his nets to keep them from rotting and breaking. The work had to be done quickly, so the fellow fishermen, including John and James, worked together.

People stood on the shore to hear Jesus teach the word of God from Peter's boat as his platform.

Jesus spoke to crowds, but he was always concerned about individuals. Fishermen in Palestine fished during the night. So, when Jesus had finished speaking, he noticed that, although Peter had fished all night, his nets were empty. Jesus called Peter to cast the nets on the other side of the boat, but he answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets" (v. 5).

Peter went from failure to success when he obeyed Jesus' instructions. The nets were full to overflowing, and he had to have his eyes seeing and his ears listening. If he had not responded to Jesus, he would not have witnessed the miracles Jesus performed. In the following verses, Luke tells us that Jesus also sees others who need a miracle: a man whose friends lowered him through a roof to Jesus for healing and a man covered with leprosy.

As Peter saw the two boats so filled with fish that they began to sink, he said, "Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord." Jesus saw depth in him and in the other fishermen. Jesus sees depth in us even when we do not see it ourselves. Peter heard Jesus say, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men" (v. 10).

Jesus gave Peter a platform like his own boat for speaking and being a fisher of men. He followed Jesus as he preached at roadsides, boats, hillsides—anywhere there were people. The power of Christ continues to equip us, like Peter, as a channel of God's blessing to others.

LET US PRAY - Our Father, we love You for who You are, who You always have been, and who You will always be. We confess with Simon Peter that we are sinners, saved by the sacrifice of Christ. We worship You with gratitude and joy. In Jesus' name. Amen.