Following Jesus – Luke 5:1-10

With the close of a year that for some, was incredibly difficult, many are hopeful and optimistic that this new year will be better. But just like any other year, this year will be unpredictable and undoubtedly filled with difficulties that may include sickness, affliction, loss, and death. This may even be the year that Jesus returns. How can we be prepared? Luke’s account of Peter’s encounter with Jesus shows us how. As we begin a new year, we can be confident because of our election, conversion, and commission. In Christ, we can be ready to face all that God has ordained for us in 2021.

We are chosen by God. Jesus was getting increasingly popular because of His authoritative teaching and miracles. In Luke 5, crowds gathered to hear Him speak, leaving Him no room to stand, so He chose Simon’s fishing boat to preach from there. (Lk 5:3) This illustrates God’s election.

Election is God choosing who will be saved purely on the basis of His sovereignty. Many don’t like the doctrine of election, claiming it is unfair, but it is a biblical and wonderful doctrine. Without election, there can be no salvation because no man deserves salvation. If God acted strictly on the basis of fairness, we would all be condemned because of our sin. Election is the cause of our salvation. Without it, we could never be assured of salvation. God is the One who began the work of our salvation, and He is the One who will complete it. (Eph 1:4, Phil 1:6)

How do you know you are elect? Just as Jesus spoke to Peter, commanding him to let down his net for a catch, and Peter obeyed, the elect will listen to Christ and obey Him. (Lk 5:4)

We are converted to Christ. Conversion is to turn away from sin and unbelief and to turn to Christ in faith. Peter’s response to Jesus illustrates his pre-converted state, his conversion, and the effects of his conversion.

Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing…This describes what life is like without Christ. We can do nothing without Jesus. All our works are futile and full of hardship and toil.

…but I will do as You say…The sign of conversion is surrender. We put ourselves in Jesus’ hands and let Him do as He pleases.

..they caught a great quantity of fish…But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”Peter became humbled before God. He knew that he was a sinful man before a holy God. He immediately recognized Jesus as Lord.

We are commissioned. Believers are sent by Jesus to be fishers of men. When our work here is done, we will be called home. In fulfilling this great commission, we do not have to fear anything, because we have faced the greatest fear of all- the holiness of God- and have been preserved by being in Christ. We must leave everything by entrusting all things to Christ our Lord. Lastly, to fulfill Jesus’ commission, we must follow Him. Those who follow Christ daily will naturally become effective fishers of men.