The steps that the first disciples took are the steps we must take if we want to get on the greatest journey of all – one that will lead us right into a God-filled eternity.

The first step of this journey is simple…to hear the Word of God.  The next step was to trust the Son of God.

When you hear the Word of God and you trust the Son of God – that is when you get to experience the Grace of God.

 

Notice exactly what Jesus said to Peter in verse 4:

Luke 5:4b (NKJV) — 4b …“Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Let’s go fishing.”  Because all fishing is looking for fish.  Some of us may be better at that than others.

Jesus said, “Let’s go catch fish” which is a big, big difference.

Luke 5:6–7 (NKJV) — 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 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.  

It is one thing to know how to fish.  It is another thing to know exactly where to fish.  You talk about a catch!

Get the picture in your mind: A fishing boat was 7½ feet wide and over 27 feet long.  They were filled so full that they both began to sink.

We are talking about tons of fish – never before and never since has a catch like that been made.

“It is the first time in history that a fisherman came home and actually told the truth!”  “Yes – I really caught that many and yes – they were this big.  If you don’t believe me you can ask Jesus!” 

Put yourself in Peter’s sandals.  How excited would you have been?  Can you imagine what he was thinking?

He had to be thinking, “Wow!  What a huge payday!  Jesus, let’s go into business together!”  He probably began to add up all of the profit in his mind.

Then the thought hit him, “Why would Jesus, a poor carpenter, who didn’t own a home and had no money of his own, travel the countryside preaching, teaching, and healing for nothing?  In fact, He could have gotten into somebody else’s boat.  Why did He get into mine and why did He give me this catch?”

Then the reality of what was happening hit him: “Jesus doesn’t care about fish, or about business, or about money.  He cares about me.  He doesn’t care about prosperity.  He cares about people like me!”

Look at how Peter responds:

Luke 5:8–9 (NKJV) — 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;  

Peter either knew at that moment that this man was God or he knew He was somehow in the presence of God.   He gets it right.

“Jesus, you are Lord.  I am a sinner.”  It is the first time the word “sinner” is found in the Gospel of Luke. 

Do you know what a sinner is?  It is a missing person far from God.

Jesus agreed with Peter.  No argument.  You are a sinful man, but as Peter is about to find out, Jesus is not going to leave Peter, but He is going to ask Peter to join Him:

Luke 5:10 (NKJV) — 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

 Seven times in the Gospel of Luke Jesus will say these words, “do not be afraid.”

What Jesus said to Peter Jesus says to us.  “I don’t care what you’ve done.  I don’t care who you are.  I don’t care how bad you’ve blown it.  I care about you.”

Jesus didn’t come to bring fear.  He came to bring forgiveness.

It is amazing to me that Peter wanted to send the Lord away, but Jesus wanted to draw Peter closer.  At the point you feel most far from God is the point that God wants to be most near to you.

“When you meet Jesus and you recognize who He is and you realize what you are, and you resolve to bring what you are to who He is, He won’t reject you with a closed fist, but He will receive you with open arms.”

When you experience the grace of God it will lead you to step #4…that we will look at in the next post.