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(The beginning of Jesus' ministry)
After Jesus has overcome Satan’s temptations, he started his three and a half year preaching ministry. During this time, John the Baptist had some argument with King Herod, who then put him in prison. Later, he was even executed by Herod on the king's birthday. This tragic incident is recorded in Matt 14:1-12.
While John the Baptist was still in prison, Jesus might feel that it’s not a safe place to preach around Jordan river, the place of his baptism. So he returned to Galilee, “preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God”. (v14) He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” (v15) “The time is fulfilled” probably refers to the fulfillment of the coming of the Messiah as prophesied in the OT. According to Matt 4:13, Jesus first returned to his hometown Nazareth and then went to Capernaum, “which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali.” Capernaum was where the four disciples (Peter, Andrew, James, John) lived and worked as fishermen.
According to Luke 4, after Jesus has gone through the temptations, he “returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee” and “taught in their synagogues”. (Luke 4:14-15) Luke continued, “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.' And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:16-21) The passage of Isaiah that Jesus read comes from Isa 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” This prophesy prophesies the coming of the Messiah that the people of Israel has been hoping for as well as his preaching ministry.
The prophet Isaiah also prophesied Messiah’s preaching in the region of Galilee, “And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” (Matt 4:13-16) This prophesy comes from Isa 9:1-2.
(the first calling)
One day, Jesus came to the sea coast of Galilee in Capernaum. According to Mark, when Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow him, they immediately dropped their fish nets and followed Jesus. The same was with James and John. Jesus called them while they were mending the nets. They left their father and the boat and followed Jesus. (Mark 1:19-20) A brief and almost identical description of the same event is found in Matthew (Matt 4:18-22). Have the four disciples not considered seriously before making the decision to follow Jesus, in that the decision meant a long time of living together with their master?
If we examine Luke 5, we will discover that the disciples’ decision is not that simple. Some miracle happened before they made their decision to follow Jesus. Luke described that Jesus borrowed Peter’s boat to preach to the crowd by the lake of Gennesaret (革尼撒勒湖邊). After he finished preaching, he asked Peter to sail out and let down the nets. Here is Peter’s response:
Luke 5:5-11 records, “And Simon answering said unto him, 'Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.' And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.' For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught (net) of the fishes which they had taken. And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, 'Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.' And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” From the above passage, we now understand what drives the four fishermen to forsake their profession and follow Jesus.
We can have some insights from Luke’s recording. Before Peter met Jesus, he didn’t recognize he was a sinner. We are all sinners, but we do not recognize or confess we are sinners until we meet Jesus. We cannot tell how dirty a dark room is. But we can tell right away when a light is carried into that room. Darkness is automatically exposed when the light is present. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world.” When he comes, he doesn’t need to condemn you and me as sinners. How great our sins are is exposed right away, as Psalm 90:8 describes, “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” Peter’s reaction in Luke 5:8 corresponds with Matt 4:16, which states “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Jesus himself is the stick that can measure our sinfulness, because he is perfect in terms of God’s righteousness.
Luke 5:6-7 states, “they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake…and [the fish] filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.” This great miracle shocked everyone on board: “he (Peter) was astonished, and all that were with him”. (Luke 5:9) Before this miracle happened, Peter and the other fishermen thought that Jesus was only a ordinary Jewish preacher. His preaching had nothing to do with their fishing life. However, this great miracle was so marvelous that it suddenly changed their impression about this Nazarene. While they were still astonished by the miracle, their hearts deep down inside were already overwhelmed with great fear. That’s why when Peter encountered this God-man Jesus, he was touched by the Holy Spirit and immediately recognized his unholiness. He even felt ashamed of standing near him and said, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Luke 5:8)
Nobody thinks or is willing to admit he is a sinner, especially when he has done nothing unlawful. We tend to think we are good men; therefore, we don’t need Jesus or the message about saving us from sin. Jesus says in Matt 9:12, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.” To be sure, only the sick people need to see doctors. Nobody would go to see doctor if he has good health. However, Jesus is pointing to the hypocritical Pharisees who always take pride in their own righteousness. Jesus tells them between the lines that they are the sick people. They need to see doctors. The Pharisees, however, see nothing wrong with themselves. Rather, they see themselves as the doctors! They are the ones who help the sick. Jesus obviously is trying to correct their wrong views and saying to them without mercy that they are the sinners. They need Jesus to save them from sin. We deem ourselves as good people, healthy doctors who can give advice to the sick. We don’t see ourselves sick people. We simply don’t recognize we are all sinners. We need a doctor like Jesus.
A psychologist has given counsel to many patients with psychological problems. Later, she found herself to become a patient like her patients, after examining so many sophisticated cases of psychological illness. To whom can she turn for healing? Another psychologist? Probably they will be giving her a similar counsel like what she has been giving to her patients. In other words, she already knows what they know. If you were that psychologist, do you think another psychologist of your profession can really help you out? Who can truly help her solve her heart issues? She was introduced to Jesus and finally got relief after she earned peace in Jesus. Only Jesus can solve two basic human problems—sin and meaningless life. Only Jesus can fill the void in your heart. Material things cannot.
Luke 5:10 records, “And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” Jesus told Peter not to catch fish anymore but to catch man (be the fisher of man). As soon as we meet Jesus and are cured of our sin, we are given the mission to lead the sick to our spiritual doctor so that they can be healed. We don’t have to tell them they are sick. As soon as they meet Jesus like we do, they will discover they are sinners.
(the second calling)
The disciples had no one to turn to after the death of their master. So, they resumed their fishing profession. It was not until Jesus appeared to them after resurrection at the lake of Tiberias that he gave them another calling. But the incident is very similar to the first one prior to his first calling.
John 21:6-7 says, “And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him and did cast himself into the sea.”
This incident is very similar to the first one where they experienced the miracle of catching full net of fishes, after all night of catching fish with vain effort (Luke 5:5 & John 21:3). This time, perhaps it was John who immediately recalled the first time he came across this miracle at first encounter with Jesus. When he reminded Peter it was the Lord, Peter also recalled a similar incident that happened three years ago.
John 21:15 records, “he saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” Three times Jesus repeated the same message to Peter. Peter has forgotten Jesus’ mission for him at first encounter: to catch man rather than fish. Jesus appeared to him and showed to him this miracle again, perhaps to remind him of his first calling. However, the mission that Jesus gave him this time is more than just catching man, or finding lost sheep, but feeding the sheep. He is not only to bring people to Christ but to take care of their spiritual lives.
We may continue to catch fish with our own efforts. We may continue to worry about our daily livings and keep holding our profession. Jesus has shown us in these two miracles how easy it is for him to take care of our daily livings. Instead, he has a higher calling or mission for us—to save sinners and to give them a more meaningful life. Are you willing to yield to his calling and accept this challenge?