(August 14, 2024) Richard Winter encourages casting in deep waters…

Luke 5:1-11 tells of Peter and friends being out all-night fishing and catching nothing — seems like a classic waste of time, a failure.

It certainly must have been a disappointment to Peter as he was a professional fisherman… good boat, best nets, knew where to fish.

But even pros can strike out sometimes. And this one was going to learn that failure isn’t final!

Disappointment to Discovery
Dismayed Peter and his friends had sailed their boats ashore and were washing their nets when Jesus who had been teaching closeby ‘… got into one of the boats (Peter’s), and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat’ (v3).

Then came a surprise — When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Peter, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch’ (v4). What Peter the Pro had to say to this was but a natural ‘You’re kidding!’ from one so tired and disappointed after failing.

Consider what happened next, this pro’s—

• Rationalisation: ‘… we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything’ (v5a).
• Reaction: ‘But because you say so, I will let down the nets’(v5b).
• Results: ‘… they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break’(v6).
• Resources: ‘… they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them…’(v7).
• Reservedness: ‘… Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’(v8)
• Reasoning: ‘… he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish…’ (v9).
• Redirection: ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people’ (v10).
• Response: ‘So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him’(v11).

Get the picture here?  Jesus the carpenter now teacher and miracle-worker gives this pro fisherman some instructions about fishing, even using his boat as an instruction platform. Peter was used to fishing… but the result of his obedience to Jesus was an astonishing miraculous harvest of caught fish!

But then Jesus encourages him not to fear — phobeo — ‘don’t be alarmed.’ And why would Peter be alarmed? Because Jesus tells him about a kind of fishing he hasn’t a clue about… fishing for people! 

This was some new kind of harvest, a human kind that this pro had never heard of— but was to learn more about! Being a disciple means to follow one’s master. And Peter’s greatest asset here was that he determined to leave behind that boat in which he had failed overnight and move on with Jesus, following Him!

Failure to Fulfilment
So what does this story tell us about failure?

It’s disappointing when you’re wanting at least an A minus in life and are get a failed F+. Let’s examine the above story of the two fishing expeditions—

• Peter and friends went out all night and caught nothing.
• ‘Jesus and Team’ went out and caught more than ever before!
• The difference of having Jesus on board advising directions gives us principles to live our lives by.

Imagine if Peter’s reaction had been a retort? Such as: ‘Now look here, Jesus— I’m the Pro, you’re just a carpenter! I know the lake… you don’t fish much! Forget it!’

But that didn’t happen. Peter was cooperative… a perfect attitude. May we have the right attitude as we be like those first disciples and follow Jesus, remembering that God doesn’t sponsor flops.

Understand that Jesus never performs a miracle without a reason. In this case the incredible fish miracle was an encouragement to Peter, and his friends, causing them to willingly follow Jesus and be expecting more outstanding occurrences (and they certainly did when you consider the various miracles Jesus would perform before their eyes!).

Actions to Achievements
(i) Appropriate Gods’ presence in your life  (v3)
Even as Jesus got into Peter’s boatso we must let Him get into our boat — our life. Jesus’ presence made all the difference to Peter catching fish as it will for us… especially as we too follow Him serving as He directs.

The boat represented Peter’s business and he made it available for Jesus who made it a platform for ministry. Sacred and secular is how Jesus uses us in ministry— give it all to Jesus.

When Peter and his brother returned to their boat they did so under Jesus’ direction and with His presence. They dared ‘put out into deep water’ and willingly did what Jesus said: ‘Let down their nets for a catch, boys.’ It was as if Jesus had said ‘Launch out into the deep… in the shallows you’ll only catch minnows.’

• On the day of Pentecost, filled with the Holy Spirit as Jesus had promised, Peter would launch out into the deep on a different kind of fishing expedition!
• His nets would be the gospel of God’s forgiveness of sin and salvation through Christ and Peter’s even more astonishing catch this time was 3000 souls!
• The voyage of soulwinning in the deep would begin!

What nets does God want you to be casting… and into the deep somewhere?]

(ii) Cooperate with God’s plan (v4)
Cooperation with Jesus’ directions was those early disciples’ key! When you know God is guiding your life you will understand that you can trust Him and His leadings.

You can believe, not just hope, for a catch… whatever that catch is in respect of achieving all that God has planned for your life, your ministry. Including reaching lots souls for Christ, fulfilling the great commission of Matthew 28:18-20.

You can be bold and dare venture into ‘the deep where you catch big fish’ that God challenges you with. Remember that when you live on the edge of life, you don’t catch much of life. It’s safe to live in the shallows where superficiality reigns. Life – following God’s plans – can seem to be entering deep water with big waves and you could let fear hold you back! Peter paused but for a moment… then he let down those nets.

(iii) Expect God to back up His instructions (v5-7)
Although Peter was very tired after that hard night’s work he went along with Jesus’ instructions. Luke’s record has these five important words ‘But because you say so.’  

Peter acted and, as the Message Bible records the results of that decision, ‘It was no sooner said than done — a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity. They waved to their partners in the other boat to come help them. They filled both boats, nearly swamping them with the catch.’ 

Here’s another lesson to learn from this incident— if we are willing to obey God’s leadings, then let’s know from this biblical example that God responds. He will play His part when we play ours!

Now we won’t be asked to catch fish as Peter was, but whatever we do we can — should — anticipate God acting in our lives.

(iv) Admit shortcomings (v8)
This incident illustrates that when God blesses what we do in following His leadings the results can be more than ever imagined.

Peter knew that he the pro had been miraculously blessed by this non-pro… and that he was unworthy, obviously aware that this non-pro who had borrowed his boat was a miracle-worker. This Jesus whose reputation was spreading because of the miracles He’d already performed such as Luke 4:40 records and His teachings, was obviously a holy man and Peter was unholy, a sinner.

This was the turning point for Peter — although he begged Jesus to leave, He didn’t but. Rather, aware of the fear in Peter, comforted him instead. And then Jesus gave Peter an update regarding his future… no longer fish catching but people catching.

Are shortcomings holding you back from moving on into great successes with Jesus, and in life itself? Confess issues to Jesus, have fear removed and know His comforting words of assurance! Then go on to achieving much for  the kingdom.

(v) Share the load (v7)
One other thought here… I mentioned above Peter’s resources and ‘team’: ‘… they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them…’

Let’s be honest—

• There will be times when we’ll feel that we going to fail in some way unless we get help!
• Peter did the right thing… he called out for help from his experienced fellow fishermen!
• Never hesitate to ask. Often there are brothers and sisters praying for opportunities to play some role!

Learn this lesson too.

Steppingstone to Success
So what’s the point that brings this all together? The following—

• Failure is not final!
• You… we all… may have tried and failed.
• Why not try again… but with Jesus’s directions and help?
• The future is not known by you but it is by Jesus.
• Be obedient with His directions.

Remember Peter didn’t get cynical about his failure… he knew the fish were out there, but didn’t know quite where. He just hadn’t caught them as yet.  But when this pro took instruction from Jesus, He did!

Just because you haven’t solved your problem yet doesn’t meant there isn’t a solution— there is! Don’t give up—try it again with Jesus guiding you. Invite Jesus to be in your boat and take His instructions.

I’m not just talking here about serving Jesus in whatever God has planned for you, but in respect of life itself! Jesus on board — with you and in you —  giving instructions will make the difference!

Failure can be a steppingstone to a successful future! Peter the failed fishing pro would become the successful evangelising pro.

What steppingstone do you need to take with Jesus today?

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Dr Richard Winter pastors The Connection Church, Huntington Beach, California. Link: OnlineConnect@gmail.com
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