The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

 Sermon Text: Luke 5:1-11

 Other Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8 and Romans 10:12-17

 

This account likely occurred near Capernaum. Wikipedia has information about Capernaum as well as photographs of the area.


 

  1. This was not the first time that Jesus and Simon Peter had met. For background information on their relationship up to this point, read John 1:35-42 and Luke 4:38,39.
     
  2. Compare Simon Peter’s reaction and confession to that of Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-8.
     
  3. Peter asked for Jesus to get away from him. How did Jesus answer that request? In what ways does Jesus do the same for us?
     
  4. Mark 1:16-20 and Matthew 4:18-22 record a similar account to this one. Do you think Mark 1 and Matthew 4 are the same account as here in Luke 5? Or is Luke 5 a different account altogether? 
     
  5. This episode was one way that Jesus was preparing Peter for public ministry as a “fisher or people.” Think of someone you know who may have gifts for public ministry. Say a prayer for them, that they might consider full-time work in the church as a pastor or a teacher.


 

  1. Simon’s brother (Andrew) brought him to see Jesus after John the Baptist identified Jesus as “the Lamb of God.” At this point, Jesus foreshadowed Simon’s name change to Peter. In Luke 4, we see that Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law from a fever.
     
  2. They are very similar in words and actions. Both men confess that in their nature they are imperfect and unholy (“sinful” [Peter] and “unclean” [Isaiah]). Both display great fear because they recognize sinners can’t stand in the presence of God’s holiness and live.
     
  3. Jesus did the opposite! Instead of withdrawing from Peter, Jesus invites Peter to get closer to him as a fulltime disciple. In fact, Peter would be one of Jesus’ three closest disciples! Similarly, Jesus invites us to learn from him in the Bible. He also invites us to get as close to him as possible this side of heaven, as he comes to us with his true body and blood in Holy Communion!
     
  4. Mark 1 and Matthew 4 seem to be a different episode than Luke 5, especially because of the miracle. There seems to be three distinct calls Peter (and other disciples like James and John) received: a) to follow Jesus on his first tour of Galilee, b) to follow Jesus fulltime as he continued to his public ministry throughout all of Israel (this episode), and c) to be trained and sent as Jesus’ twelve apostles.
     
  5. May God answer your prayer and bless the one you have in mind in whatever way s/he decides to serve the Lord!