Luk 5:5-6 | KingComments | STEP | This chapter shows us in four phases how one becomes a follower after the example of the Lord Jesus. For this purpose, the events in this chapter are brought together, without Luke taking the chronological order into account. It begins with self-judgment ( ), followed by cleansing ( ) and forgiveness and strength ( ), after which the call to service can follow ( ). The chapter concludes with as a result of all previous events the presentation of the new which replaces the old ( ). The Lord preaches the Word of God by the lake of Gennesaret. Because the crowd is pressing around Him, He is almost pushed into the sea. He then does not use His Divine power to keep people at a distance, as in Luke 4 ( ), but He resorts to one of the two boats He sees lying there. While He brings the Word of God, the fishermen are washing their nets. They apparently just came back from the catch. What do they come back at a nice moment, although they are disappointed that working all night has yielded nothing. But they will experience great things. The Lord goes aboard one of the boats without asking. He is the Lord. It is the boat of Simon Peter. Simon does not ask Him what He does. The Lord asks Simon to put out a little way from the land. Simon obeys immediately. He makes his boat and his strengths and his time available. He will be quite tired after a night of fishing, but if the Lord asks him, he will make an effort again. This is how Simon participates in the work of the Lord. He gives Him the opportunity to sit in his boat and teach the people from his boat. Do we also make available our resources, powers and time so that the Lord can do His work to bless others? There comes an end to the Lord’s speaking. He knows what the people are able to bear. Now it’s time for something else. He is going to reward Simon for his cooperation. He tells him to put out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. It is not an attempt to catch something, because He already establishes the result. As an experienced fisherman, Peter cannot help to point out to Him that they have fished all night, but that all their efforts have been fruitless. They did it as they always did and they are experienced fishermen. He knows that it won’t work during the day if it doesn’t work at night. Simon, however, begins his reaction with acknowledging the Lord as “Master”, that is, his Superior. It is the title of someone who stands above others. The word used here for “master” is only found in this Gospel ( ). This acknowledgment opens the way to blessing. Peter has already acknowledged that the old, tried and tested method does not work. Now he must do it the way the Lord indicates. Because the Master says so, he will let down the nets. This is faith in the Word of the Lord. The result of obedience is blessing, a great blessing. The Lord has put so many fish into their nets that they cannot keep the mass. Human resources are too small to receive the blessing that the Son of God gives. There is so many fish that the other boat is also filled with fish. Both boats are filled to the brim with fish. The boats are so full that they begin to sink. The Son of God blesses with a full, overflowing measure. After the resurrection of the Lord, Peter is again instructed to cast out the net and then the net is not torn ( ). The fact that it is after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus indicates that the new has come. Only those who are numbered come into the net.

‏ Luke 5:5-6

Introduction

This chapter shows us in four phases how one becomes a follower after the example of the Lord Jesus. For this purpose, the events in this chapter are brought together, without Luke taking the chronological order into account. It begins with self-judgment (Lk 5:1-11), followed by cleansing (Lk 5:12-16) and forgiveness and strength (Lk 5:17-25), after which the call to service can follow (Lk 5:27-32). The chapter concludes with as a result of all previous events the presentation of the new which replaces the old (Lk 5:35-39).

An Amazing Catch of Fish

The Lord preaches the Word of God by the lake of Gennesaret. Because the crowd is pressing around Him, He is almost pushed into the sea. He then does not use His Divine power to keep people at a distance, as in Luke 4 (Lk 4:30), but He resorts to one of the two boats He sees lying there.

While He brings the Word of God, the fishermen are washing their nets. They apparently just came back from the catch. What do they come back at a nice moment, although they are disappointed that working all night has yielded nothing. But they will experience great things. The Lord goes aboard one of the boats without asking. He is the Lord. It is the boat of Simon Peter. Simon does not ask Him what He does.

The Lord asks Simon to put out a little way from the land. Simon obeys immediately. He makes his boat and his strengths and his time available. He will be quite tired after a night of fishing, but if the Lord asks him, he will make an effort again. This is how Simon participates in the work of the Lord. He gives Him the opportunity to sit in his boat and teach the people from his boat. Do we also make available our resources, powers and time so that the Lord can do His work to bless others?

There comes an end to the Lord’s speaking. He knows what the people are able to bear. Now it’s time for something else. He is going to reward Simon for his cooperation. He tells him to put out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. It is not an attempt to catch something, because He already establishes the result.

As an experienced fisherman, Peter cannot help to point out to Him that they have fished all night, but that all their efforts have been fruitless. They did it as they always did and they are experienced fishermen. He knows that it won’t work during the day if it doesn’t work at night. Simon, however, begins his reaction with acknowledging the Lord as “Master”, that is, his Superior. It is the title of someone who stands above others. The word used here for “master” is only found in this Gospel (Lk 5:5 ; Lk 8:24 ; 45 ; Lk 9:33 ; 49 ; Lk 17:13).

This acknowledgment opens the way to blessing. Peter has already acknowledged that the old, tried and tested method does not work. Now he must do it the way the Lord indicates. Because the Master says so, he will let down the nets. This is faith in the Word of the Lord. The result of obedience is blessing, a great blessing. The Lord has put so many fish into their nets that they cannot keep the mass. Human resources are too small to receive the blessing that the Son of God gives.

There is so many fish that the other boat is also filled with fish. Both boats are filled to the brim with fish. The boats are so full that they begin to sink. The Son of God blesses with a full, overflowing measure.

After the resurrection of the Lord, Peter is again instructed to cast out the net and then the net is not torn (Jn 21:11). The fact that it is after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus indicates that the new has come. Only those who are numbered come into the net.