Bible Passage: Luke 5:1-11
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: February 9, 2025

Bulletin – February 9, 2025

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

Have you ever been in the presence of greatness?  That’s kind of hard to answer, isn’t it?  I suppose it all depends on one’s definition of greatness.  I could tell you I have been in the presence of greatness.  I once stood next to baseball Hall-of-Famer Paul Molitor and held his cup of water while he signed his autograph for me.  If you are not a baseball fan, you might not think Paul Molitor is all that great.  If you tell me that you once were in the presence of Larry Khan, who is considered the greatest Tiddlywinks player of all time (I kid you not!), I would not be all that impressed; I’m just not that interested in Tiddlywinks.

What we need to do is find someone we can all agree is “great.”  Is there such a one?  There is!  His name is Jesus Christ.  Writing to the Philippians, Paul says that Jesus has the name that is above every name.  And Paul adds, at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. (Philippians 2:9-10)  There is no one greater than Jesus!  Everything and everyone is dwarfed by his greatness!  Before him, every single human being should hit their knees!

We see this very thing happen in our text this morning.  A man collapses before Jesus.  The greatness of Jesus overcomes Peter.  Peter is undone.  Being in the presence of Jesus scared him to death!  But the real lesson for Peter, for us, is what happened next.  Peter will find the presence of Jesus is not where fears are aroused, but Where Fears are Stilled.

Our text begins with Jesus teaching along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee.  A large crowd is coming and crowding Jesus.  So Jesus borrows the boat of Simon Peter and puts out from shore a little bit.  A floating pulpit!  Perfect!  From it Jesus teaches the people.

Jesus says “Amen” on his sermon and then turns to Simon, Put out into the deep water and let down the nets for a catch. (v. 4) This may not seem all that out-of-place to our ears.  We don’t know a thing about fishing on the Sea of Galilee!  But Peter knew all about fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  And what Jesus just told him to do made no sense.  It was morning.  That’s not when you go fishing.  Jesus said to go out to the deep water.  Peter knew that’s not where you drop your nets.  Peter might have suggested this carpenter “stay in his lane” and let the fishermen do the fishing.  But he doesn’t.

Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets. (v. 5)  Isn’t that a wonderful thing to say!  “Because you say so, Jesus, I’ll do it.”  They let down the nets.  When they start to pull them up, the nets are so heavy with fish they begin to rip and tear!  The other boat comes to help.  They finally pull the net up into the boats.  The boats are so filled with fish they begin to sink!

The significance of the moment is not lost on Peter.  [H]e fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”  Why does Peter react this way?  What is so scary about a lot of fish?  It’s not the fish that scared him; it’s Jesus.  Peter has just seen a glimpse of Jesus’ divine power.  And it scared him.  It scared him because his conscience was telling him that Jesus COULD and SHOULD use that power against him!  After all, he is a sinful man!  His confession is striking.  Peter isn’t so much scared because of things he’s done; but the man he is!  “I am a man full of sin!”

That is a scary thing to admit in front of Jesus!  He owns the power to damn sinners to hell.  But here Peter got it right!  And here we must follow Peter’s example.  Do not hide your sin from Jesus.  Do not keep your sin from Jesus.  Do not excuse your sin before Jesus.  Fall at Jesus’ knees and confess with Peter, “I am a man/woman full of sin!”  But here is where we must part ways with Peter.  Peter believes the remedy to be Jesus leaving him alone.  Go away from me!  Jesus shows a better way forward.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid.” (v. 10)  This exchange made me think about the way people often approach a frightened animal.  Have you ever seen it?  There is the scared little critter backed into a corner.  A person approaches slowly, they extend their hand, and very gently and calmly say something like, “It’s okay…don’t be afraid…I’m not going to hurt you.”  This is Jesus with Peter!  There is Peter the frightened, little animal.  There, the kind and gentle Jesus, “Don’t be afraid!  I’m not going to hurt you!”

This is Jesus with you!  You, who feel the terrors of conscience over who you are and what you have done.  To you Jesus says, “Don’t be afraid…I’m not going to hurt you.”  Those gracious words only made possible because back of them stands the full faith and credit of Jesus’ own death and resurrection!   If Jesus did not die and rise again, we ought to be very afraid of meeting God!  Because Jesus died and rose again, we don’t have to be afraid of God ever again!  Our “terrors of conscience” are relieved through faith in Jesus!

Jesus wants others to have this relief, too.  That explains the end of our text.  Jesus says to Peter and the others, From now on you will catch men. (v. 10)   Now Jesus wants Peter and the boys to “net” people for the kingdom of God.  He wants them to speak in Jesus’ name the comforting, “Don’t be afraid” to others.

Friends, that is still our blessed privilege, too.  There’s still fishing to do!  Do you know anyone who is afraid?  Afraid of who they are?  Afraid because of the things they have done?  Someone who is like a cringing, frightened animal?  Someone to whom you can say, “Don’t be afraid of Jesus!  Jesus is not going to hurt you!  Jesus is here to save you!”  Let them know what you have come to know!  Jesus is where fears are stilled!

Amen.