Luke 5:1-15

Jesus’ preaching and supernatural works throughout Galilee (4:44) attracted large crowds of people who desired “to hear the word of God” (5:1a), so He taught near the Lake of Gennesaret, also known as the Sea of Galilee (5:1b). While He was teaching, He noticed two boats docked at the lake, but the fishermen had left them and were now washing their nets (5:2). Because of the press of the crowd, Jesus got into one of these boats owned by Simon Peter and taught the people from the boat (5:3). After He finished speaking, He told Simon to “launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (5:4). Simon answered Jesus saying, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net” (5:5). Upon obeying the words of Jesus, the fishermen “…caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink” (5:6-7). Peter realized that a great miracle had been performed by Jesus, who was divine in nature so he exclaimed, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (5:8) A supernatural encounter with God should always cause a person to respond in humbleness. Those who also accompanied Peter and witnessed Jesus’ miracle responded with amazement (5:9-10a).

Using what these men had just seen, Jesus says to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men” (5:10b). Their life thus far had been spent catching fish, but now the rest of their life would be consumed with catching men. Simon, as well as eleven other disciples, would proclaim the message of hope and salvation through Jesus Christ so that men could turn from sin and begin a new life in Christ. Also contained in Jesus’ miracle was the implication that man, on his own, does not have the ability to cause others to repent and believe; however, God’s work through the Holy Spirit and man’s willingness to speak the truth can result in repentance and faith in others.

Following this miracle in the boat, Jesus traveled into another city where he encountered a man who was “full of leprosy” (5:12). Apparently this man’s disease was in the final stages and had ravaged his body, but when he saw Jesus “he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean’” (5:12b). The cries of this man were so desperate knowing that without diving intervention, his life would soon be over. Mark writes that Jesus was “moved with compassion” by the desperation of this man (Mark 1:40), so He cleansed him of his disease (5:13-14). As a result of this miracle, Jesus’ fame spread throughout the region resulting in great crowds of people coming to hear and be healed (5:15).

Both of these miracles performed by Jesus, the catching of the fish and the healing of the leprous man, demonstrate God’s power to intervene when circumstances are out of our control. Instead of giving up hope, invite God to intervene; after all, he specializes in the miraculous.

Dear God, intervene for me today.