The Gospels Luke

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

Discover Jesus as: Son of Man Luke 5 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 159 of 730
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INTRO

In this lesson, we’re talking about the mission of the Messiah. In Luke 4, Jesus stood in the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah, announcing His mission to those who heard Him. Now, Jesus began His ministry by calling His first disciples.

TEACHING

People were now intrigued by Jesus. No longer was Jesus just the childhood boy of Joseph and Mary, or a sibling to his brothers and sisters. Jesus had declared who He was.

Luke 5:1: The crowd pressed in, like crowds or the paparazzi around a celebrity, because they wanted to hear God’s Word. Jesus was standing by Lake Gennesaret, also called the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Tiberius, which is a large freshwater lake over 690 feet below sea level. It was the main source of water and commerce for the region of Galilee.1Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount while overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum, Jesus’ headquarters, was on the sea. Many other events in Jesus’ ministry took place on the Sea of Galilee.

Luke 5:2-3: Jesus saw two boats at the shore and fishermen washing their nets. This implied they had spent the day fishing and were cleaning up because they were done for the day. Jesus got into one of the boats, and asked Simon to put out from the shore. Jesus sat down and taught from the boat to control the crowds. There was no lighting, no sound, no cameras - just pure acoustics. The Sea of Galilee was a natural amphitheater and remains so even today. It was customary for Jewish teachers and rabbis to sit down while teaching (Luke 4:20). In Matthew 5:1, when Jesus saw the crowds, “He sat down, His disciples came to Him. Then He began to teach.” Jesus sitting down to teach was significant.

Luke 5:4: After speaking to the crowds, Jesus told Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Jesus urged this professional fisherman to go back out to fish even though their entire previous night had been unfruitful. MacArthur said: “Normally the fish that were netted in shallow water at night would migrate during the daylight hours to waters too deep to reach easily with their nets, which is why Peter fished at night. Peter, no doubt, thought Jesus’ directive made no sense, but he obeyed anyway, and was rewarded for his obedience.”2

Luke 5:5: Peter explained their last trip was done and they were cleaning up. Nevertheless, Peter then said, “But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.” Boch said Peter had just declared his trust in Jesus.3Nelson’s Commentary this was “Peter’s statement of faith.”4Peter showed his faith by dropping the net into the water. Faith always leads to dropping the net. Peter’s trust began his transition from fisherman to a follower of Christ. James 2:14 says, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works.” James implied that when you have faith, you exercise what you believe. James went further and said that faith without works is dead (v 17). If Peter said yes but never dropped the net, then he didn’t have faith. How does the church show faith today?

Wiersbe said it was possible that “at least seven of the disciples were fishermen.”5What were the skills of fishermen? Knowing where to fish, how to tie knots, and which bait to use (fishing skills). Wiersbe pointed out that fishermen needed some form of courage, patience, and determination, a great deal of faith that this would actually work, the willingness to work together (to get nets into boats), and the ability to develop skills fast enough to get the job done quickly and efficiently.6It also took flexibility and adaptability.

Luke 5:6: Because Peter obeyed Jesus’ command, even when he didn’t think it made sense, “they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear.” It was a miraculous catch. All were amazed (v. 9). Jesus had commanded them to fish differently at a different time. We are on mission with Jesus and we can’t quit. Second Chronicles 15:7 says, “But as for you, be strong; don’t be discouraged, for your work has a reward.” God will honor your faithfulness even when it doesn’t make sense. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “So we must not get tired of doing what is good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” The full catch came because they didn’t quit but instead put their full trust in His command. They spent time with Jesus, and He poured out His blessings. Isaiah 50:10 says, “Who among you fears the Lord . . . Let him trust in the name of Yahweh; let him lean on his God.” When we lean on God, He will respond. But it’s almost never our timing, it’s His.

Luke 5:7: They signaled their partners, probably James and John the sons of Zebedee, to come help them. They filled both boats so full that they were in danger of sinking. James and John were business partners and now they became spiritual partners. Peter invited others to experience Jesus’ blessings. We should invite others so they can also experience the blessings. Wiersbe pointed out that the fishermen became channels of blessing who shared what God had done for them with others.7

Luke 5:8: Boch said Peter realized this was more than just a great day of fishing, so we now see Peter’s confession and fear.8Peter fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” Peter articulated his shame over his own sin. When you spend time with Jesus, you recognize who you are. Isaiah made a similar confession, “Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips . . . and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). Sometimes we don’t see our sinful state because we don’t spend time with Jesus.

Luke 5:9-11: All were amazed at the catch of fish they took. So were James and John, Simon’s partners. Jesus told them, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people!” Jesus switched their careers, which soon led to others getting involved. The men brought their boats to land, left everything, and followed Him.

CLOSING

When we spend time in the boat, Jesus speaks to us, and God overwhelms us with His blessings. When we spend time in His presence, we realize our sinful state. Then, when we realize who Christ is, others will say, “I want that.”

Boch pointed out what Peter didn’t realize; admitting one’s inability and sin is actually the best prerequisite for service. One can then depend on God. Peter’s confession became his resume for service.9Humility becomes the elevator to spiritual greatness.

Because of humility, we begin to understand what we can’t do. Humility is the only way to greatness. We want to catch the fish ourselves, but the reality is, when we say we can’t catch the fish, Jesus begins to use us. Keep going because Jesus will honor you and what you’re doing when you serve Him.

  1. John F. MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2005), p. 1285.

  2. MacArthur, p. 1285.

  3. Darrell L. Boch, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke(Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2010), n.p.

  4. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary(Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 1259.

  5. Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Matthew–Galatians(Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 1989), p. 150.

  6. Wiersbe, p. 150.

  7. Wiersbe, p. 150.

  8. Boch, p. 100.

  9. Boch, p. 100.

Questions

  1. What was Peter’s reaction when he realized what had happened with the fish? How did this show he gave Jesus credit for providing the catch? What did Peter, James, and John leave behind to follow Jesus?
  2. What was Peter’s great statement of faith in Jesus’ word (Luke 5:5)? What is Jesus asking you to do that requires this same faith in His word?
  3. According to the Law regarding leprosy described in Leviticus 13, why was it odd that Jesus touched the man? Why do you think that Jesus was willing to heal him?
  4. What did Jesus do first for the man who was paralyzed? How did this show His deity? (Isaiah 43:25) What did He do to further prove to them that He had the authority on earth to forgive sins?
  5. What was Jesus’ response to the scribes and Pharisees who complained that He ate with tax collectors and sinners? Do you intentionally spend time with unbelievers in order to share your faith?
  6. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Luke 5 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Luke 5:27-28

“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him.”

As Jesus ministered and performed miracles, people were drawn to follow Him and give Him praise. From the fishermen to the man with a serious skin disease, from the paralyzed man to the tax collector, at some point Luke described each of them in a lowly position—a place of humility. But as they each witnessed Jesus’ power, they got up. They were impacted by Jesus in such a way it caused them to get up and follow Him or get up and testify to others about His power.

As believers of Jesus, this is a model for you to follow as you enter Jesus’ presence, seeking His power and healing touch in your own life. Today, enter into a place of humble worship and adoration with Jesus. As you experience His power and strength in your life, get up and proclaim it to others. The power of Jesus is not for you to contain; it’s for you to get up and share with others!

“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, ‘Follow Me!’ So, leaving everything behind, he got up and began to follow Him.”

—Luke 5:27-28

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Luke 5:25 — “Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.”
  • James 4:10 — “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
  • I Peter 5:6 — “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.”