Jesus the Miracle Maker
Jesus calls his first disciples
Preacher: Kevin Kim Reading: Luke 5:1-11
Join us this Sunday at our 9 am family service as we explore Luke 5:1-11, where Jesus calls his first disciples. Witness how an ordinary day of fishing turned into an extraordinary encounter with the Miracle Maker. What does it mean to follow Jesus, and how can we respond to his call in our lives today? Whether you’re joining us online or in person, come and discover the life-changing power of Jesus and his invitation to be part of something far greater than we can imagine. All are welcome!
Sermon Text
When you return from a holiday, you often face unexpected problems or challenges, don’t you? That was certainly the case for us. We were only away for about six or seven days, but before we left and after we came back, there was heavy rain.
Before we went away, I checked the swimming pool cleaner, and it seemed fine. However, I didn’t check it immediately after we returned because of the rain. Later, I discovered the cleaner’s bag was not only full but also torn. I realized that if I had checked it as soon as we got back—or better yet, emptied the bag just before we left—it might not have broken.
This got me thinking about today’s passage, where the net breaks because there are so many fish—a sign of abundance and blessing. In contrast, the cleaner’s bag broke for entirely different reasons: neglect and overuse.
As I reflected on this, I saw a connection with the story of Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish. There’s something here about timing, preparation, and how we respond to the abundance or challenges that God places before us. It is a reminder that we cannot always anticipate what will happen, but our response—whether to blessing or difficulty—matters greatly.
Luke’s story of Jesus calling the first disciples is unique among the synoptic Gospels. While Mark and Matthew speak of Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee and abruptly calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to follow him (Matt 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20), only Luke includes the story of a miraculous catch of fish that comes before the call.
It is important to note that Jesus starts calling his disciples from those who make their living on the sea. These labourers were on the lowest level of Rome’s hierarchy of occupations. They did not own any land and had to pay not only for the right to fish in the emperor’s lake but also pay a toll on every fish they caught when they sold them. Their work was physically demanding and dangerous, often leaving them with barely enough money to sustain their families.
In Luke’s Gospel, this is not Simon’s first encounter with Jesus. Jesus has already been to Simon’s home in Capernaum and has healed his mother-in-law (4:38-39). Perhaps that explains Simon’s willingness to let Jesus use his fishing boat as a floating pulpit.
Simon had been fishing all night with no success, then working from the early morning hours cleaning his nets. Most likely he was exhausted and looking forward to going home and getting some sleep. So it must have felt like a bit of a hassle when Jesus climbed into Simon’s boat and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Nevertheless, Simon did what Jesus asked (5:1-3).
Luke does not tell us what Jesus taught the crowds that morning. The focus is on what follows. Jesus tells Simon to put out into the deep water and let down his nets for a catch. Simon clearly thinks this is going to be a waste of time. He is the professional fisherman, after all. We can almost feel the frustration in his voice when he responds, “Master, we have worked all night but have caught nothing.” But then he continues; “Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets” (5:4-5).
We know what happens next — nets so full of fish that they begin to break, boats so full of fish that they begin to sink. Seeing what is happening, Simon is overwhelmed with fear and wonder, sensing that he is in the presence of divine power. He responds by falling down at Jesus’ knees and begging him, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (5:6-8)
In the middle of his usual workday, and after a tough night at work, Simon has suddenly encountered by someone who changes everything. Amazed by the power of God displayed in the abundant catch of fish, Simon is immediately aware of his sinfulness and unworthiness. He sees the overwhelming difference between God’s power manifest in Jesus and his own mortal, compromised life.
Jesus responds to Simon by saying, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people” (5:10). The Greek word for “catching” used here ζωγρῶν (zogron) is rare in the New Testament, but means “to catch alive.” Of course, fishing with nets was a matter of catching fish alive, but those live fish would soon be dead. Here Jesus calls Simon and his partners to a new vocation of catching people so that they might live, a life-giving vocation of being caught up in God’s mission of salvation for all.
Although they have just brought in the greatest catch of their fishing careers, Simon Peter, James, and John leave those boatloads of fish behind and follow Jesus (1:11). Their encounter with Jesus has completely reoriented their lives.
This text offers rich possibilities for reflecting on how God calls ordinary people to discipleship and mission. After all, there is nothing particularly special about Simon Peter and his fishing partners. They are simple fishermen, and they are simply doing what they did every day. They are just going about their day, cleaning their nets after a long and discouraging night, when Jesus shows up, steps into their ordinary lives, and changes everything.
Above all, we must recognize that this story marks a turning point in the life of Jesus. Until now, he preached in synagogues. Now, he is at the lakeside. Undoubtedly, he would return to the synagogues, but eventually, the synagogues would shut their doors to him. The lakeside and the open road would become his church, and boats would serve as his pulpit. He would go wherever people were willing to hear his message. When the synagogue doors were closed, Jesus chose to walk the wide open road.
There’s no need to think that Jesus created the fish here. In the Sea of Galilee, there were large schools of fish that covered the sea like a solid mass. Perhaps Jesus’ keen eyes spotted the school of fish quickly, and his sharp observation was considered miraculous. We must have eyes to truly see. Many saw steam rising from a boiling kettle, but only James Watt envisioned the steam engine. Many saw apples falling from trees, but only Isaac Newton pondered this and discovered the law of gravity. For those with eyes to see, the world is filled with miracles.
When Jesus spoke, Peter, though exhausted, was willing to try again. Many people face defeat in life because they give up too quickly, just moments before success could be achieved.
The night had passed, and it was no longer the optimal time for fishing. All circumstances seemed unfavourable. Yet Peter said, “Despite the situation, because You say so, we will try again.” Too often, we delay action, waiting for the perfect moment. If we wait for perfect conditions, we may never begin. To experience a miracle, we must trust Jesus’ words and take on what seems impossible.
Back to my swimming pool cleaner – as I thought about the broken bag in my swimming pool cleaner, I realized that what is caught in that net or bag might represent something God has prepared for us—whether it’s the people in our lives, our friends, or loved ones, who are ready and waiting to hear the message of love. Just like the fishermen’s nets were filled with fish, God has already prepared opportunities for us to share the good news of his love with those around us.
But there is a warning here: if we do not act when the opportunity comes, if we don’t care of what’s in our net or bag now, it might break. Just like my pool cleaner’s bag, if it’s left unattended and too full, it might burst, and we might lose the chance to share the message with those who are ready. The real miracle is not just what happens in the moment, but the transformation that takes place when we respond to God’s call and share his love with others.