Luke 5: 1 – 11 Call of the First Disciples

Luke 5: 1 – 11 Call of the First Disciples

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.

After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

The story of the call of the first disciples in Luke is mostly the story of Jesus' first meeting with Simon Peter. First Jesus asks Peter for help, to take him out in his boat a little ways from shore so Jesus can better teach the people. Then Jesus asks Peter to trust him, to go out into the deeper water and cast out his net for fish. Peter is clearly skeptical but when Jesus asks Peter to trust him, Peter does so. Peter’s amazement at what happens next, and his innate honesty causes him to declare himself not worthy of being in Jesus’ presence. Jesus’ response is to offer Peter a place at his side and an important role in his mission. What did Jesus prize in Peter? Helpfulness? Trust? Obedience? Honesty? Are these the essential traits Jesus wants in his followers? How do I measure up?