Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 7

Miracles Of Jesus In The Gospels- Bible Study- 7

Narrated In 1 Gospel

Gospel Of Luke

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He 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. 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 and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. (Luke 5:1-11)

“One day” as Luke the Physician starts the account here, was a special day for a fisherman called Peter. Though some of his fellow fisherman also witnessed a great miracle, this day was marked “special” for Peter.

There must have been a sizable crowd thronging which made Jesus get into one of the boats so that he could teach the people without being hassled. It was not just a chance happening that Jesus got into Peter’s boat. He knew what would happen very soon because “he” “knows everything from beginning to end”. Simon must have been happy that the Lord had chosen his boat for sitting and teaching the people. But soon he was to learn a thing or two about the kingdom of God and also a couple of things about fishing.

After Jesus had finished speaking, he asked Peter to do two things; one, to put the boat into deep water and two, to let down the nets for a catch. The fisherman instinct in Peter made him protest immediately even as he rowed out into the deep waters. He addressed Jesus as Master, but politely told him the facts that he had witnessed. More like the weathermen who give out the forecasts. He said, “"Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything.” It’s no use, Peter was telling him. He was a fisherman and that too “a pro.” What could the carpenter from Nazareth teach him about fishing?

Still Peter didn’t want to disappoint the teacher whom so many adored and so he reluctantly said, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Peter didn’t know that a great “shoal of fish” had already been commanded to appear at the place where the nets were let down.

And then the miracles happened- one in the waters and the other in Peter’s heart. It was simultaneous. Luke writes, 1) “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”
2) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"

Why should a miraculous catch of fish change a man’s heart? “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man,” Peter said; meaning, “Lord, I am not worthy to be associated with you.” Jesus had not come to belittle him in any way but to change his calling in life. Jesus knew that Peter was one of God’s chosen ones to bring many into the kingdom of God even though he had several imperfections. Jesus had begun a work in him that would be completed only after his (Jesus’) resurrection where Peter would be brought to repentance by him and then he would finally be empowered by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost day and become the “Apostle to the Jews.”

"Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men." said Jesus. Now what did that mean? Peter must have wondered. So would have James and John, his partners in the fishing business. Well, they didn’t ask Jesus immediately. They just left their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Many who are called to the Lord’s work shrink back because of their imperfections. Jesus calls because he has chosen and he can work through the imperfections like he did with Peter and create a totally different person when his work is completed.

Whatever happened to all the fish they caught? Perhaps the watchers (Jesus’ listeners) had a great feast that day.