January 18 – Luke 4:38-5:11

Main Focus: Jesus Calls His First Disciples

In this passage we see that Jesus has the power and authority to not only heal, but to call the unlikely (us) to follow after him. This week is the first of several in Jesus’s Galilean ministry (Luke 4:14-9:50), which is all typified by the statement he gave about himself in Nazareth back in 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” You’ll see in there Jesus’s ministry of preaching and healing.

Jesus heals Simon’s Mother-In-Law of her fever, which leads to many who are sick coming to Jesus and being healed. When he leaves, he says, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news in other towns also…” He goes on from there to preach near Lake Gennesaret, where he yet again performs a miracle for fishermen, but then invites them to follow after him and they do!

Jesus tells Simon to let down his net and he says “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing.” Simon’s reply to Jesus’ command should not be seen as one of disrespect, in light of his addressing him as “Master”, and then immediately adding, But at your word I will let down the nets. They did what Jesus said and they caught a large number of fish. This is dramatized by their nets breaking and their signaling to their partners to come and help them. That both ships began to sink further emphasizes the great catch of fish. Jesus’ miracle demonstrates that he is Lord of the sea and all that is in it.

Simon’s reaction is appropriate for he fell down at Jesus’ knees (in the midst of the fish!), asking the Lord to depart from him, lest he be judged as a sinful man. Simon was astonished by the miracle as a demonstration of the presence of God, which was the first step in understanding who Jesus is. At this point Simon simply understands that God works through Jesus, though he will come to a much deeper understanding, as this unfolds only over a period of time. But it is only after the resurrection that Simon and the disciples fully understand who Jesus is. Catching men builds on the analogy of catching fish. It means bringing people into the kingdom of God, and into relationship with Jesus.