The Third Call

So when Jesus commanded him to drop the nets and fish in the deep part of the water, Peter could not believe it. Jesus was not a fisherman and Peter was. Peter must have thought that Jesus just did not understand fishing. For peter this was the amateur versus the professional, or the student versus the teacher.

But notice that Peter responded with “Master . . .” Peter recognized that Jesus was above him in some way. We do not find these words in the first or the second call. Therefore, it is clear that Peter has had an attitude change toward Jesus since the second call. Peter followed Jesus’ instructions even though he thought Jesus was asking him to do a stupid thing.

When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. (NASB) Luke 5:6-7

Peter and the other men were stunned by what happened. They were afraid. Peter called for help, and James and John (see verse 10) came over in their boat to help. Peter found that there were not just a few fish left in the lake that day. There was a huge quantity of fish. The nets were breaking and the boats were filling and sinking due to the great number of fish! This was a fisherman’s dream catch. Talk about catching the largest fish, Peter had just made the biggest catch of his career.

How would you feel if you were Peter? This should not have happened, according to Peter. He had been fishing all night. He knew how to fish. He was not an amateur. How did he feel? How would you have felt?

But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (NASB) Luke 5:8

What had just occurred was a miracle and Peter knew it. Peter knew that there were no tricks or gimmicks. Jesus did real miracles and not fake ones. How did Peter respond? His words are a surprise,

Go away! Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man! These are not the words of a happy man who just made the biggest catch in his professional career. Peter had never said this before when Jesus preached, taught, or did miracles. But this time Jesus had performed a miracle that Peter really understood. It occurred within Peter’s professional expertise, on his turf, and he was stunned and afraid.