Luke 5:1-11 WELS 175th Christ Through Us Pastor Ron Koehler Grace-Tucson, AZ October 19, 2025
CHRIST THROUGH US Christ Works through the Unworthy Last night was frustrating. Fruitless work. A waste of time. The sun coming up offers the promise of a better day ahead, but right now, after a long night and no fish, the nets seem more irritating than they usually do with the weeds and rocks and dead fish that need to be cleaned out of them. As they are washed off, even a single tear is especially annoying. Then he asks for the boat. Simon Peter leaves the net-minding and gently pushes the boat from the shore. It glides back out on the water just far enough so that the Teacher could separate himself from the crowd and use the water as a sounding board so that he could share the word of God with the people who had been pushing their way to him. This was not the first time Peter had met Jesus. He and his brother Andrew had been following John the Baptist around, waiting for the promised Messiah to show himself publicly. Maybe you remember John saying, “Look, the Lamb of God!” and those two leaving John to get to know Jesus. They were still working as fishermen while Jesus went throughout the area preaching and teaching, but they had come to see him as the world’s Savior. This is why Peter was ready to let him borrow the boat. This is also why—even after no fish all night…and taking care of the nets…and letting Jesus use the boat…and just wanting to be done—Peter was willing to take direction about fishing from the man with carpenter experience, but no fishing background. “Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.” Peter offered only the mildest protest and then agreed to do it: “Master, we worked hard all through the night and caught nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets.” And you heard how that turned out—a catch that nearly split the nets and the need for James and John to hustle their boat over to help! They were not prepared for that! “Go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord.” And then Jesus did the opposite of going away from Peter! He said, “Have no fear. From now on you will be catching people.” After they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. Tough day at work. Tired. Frustrated. Reluctant. Skeptical. Sinful. Can you relate to any of that?