This passage is the second episode in a section which deals with the acts of the Messiah, acts which reveal the nature of the messiah's authority, 4:31-6:11. The episodes are in the form of messianic signs which together reveal the simple truth, "he does what only God can do." In our passage for study, the sign of the fish, the sign is intertwined with the call of the first disciples, although the passage is more concerned with their vocation than their call. Although this event seems early in Jesus' ministry, it is clear that he now has a considerable popular following. It is also likely that Jesus has an existing acquaintance with Peter, James and John. John, in his gospel, 21:1-14, alludes to this story in order to underline Christ's call to "catch men", something the disciples forget following the resurrection.

v1. Jesus is standing beside lake Gennesaret, or as it is more commonly known, lake Galilee, while a large crowd pushes in to hear him proclaim the message of the kingdom. The excitement of the crowd contrasts beautifully with the tranquility of the lake and of the fishermen cleaning up after their night of fishing.

v2-3. Beside the lake Jesus sees two boats where the fishermen are mending their nets. Due to the push of the crowd he decides to put one of the boats into service as a rostrum for preaching. The one he chooses belongs to Simon Peter. The boat is pushed out a little from the shore, and as is the custom, Jesus sits to teach while the crowd stands to listen.

v4-5. The sermon finished, Jesus asks Peter to undertake some more fishing. Peter is less than enthusiastic, but is willing to submit to Jesus. Note the address "master", rather than rabbi/teacher. Peter accepts his authority.

v6-7. The sign of the fish is now described in the terms of an amazing haul of fish, so large that the two boats begin to sink with the weight of the catch.

v8-10a. Peter (a shortened form of Simeon), along with his partners James and John, is "astonished" at the catch. He sees the catch as evidence of a messianic sign, a sign which demonstrates the authority of Jesus. If Jesus commands the fish, then he clearly has authority over mankind. Peter's recognition of Jesus serves only to expose his own inadequacies in the face of God. In the presence of the "Lord" Jesus, Peter's sinful nature is exposed. He prostrates himself and asks Jesus to step back from this unworthy servant.

v10b. Although divine power resides with Jesus, Peter and the others need not be afraid, cf. Lk.1:13, 20. A person's recognition of their unworthiness before God is the very basis of their acceptance by God. Yet there is more, the divine authority that gathered the fish, will gather people ("men") into the kingdom and Peter and his friends will share in this gathering of humanity. Under God's sovereign grace, Christ will do the gathering and if the disciples are willing to place themselves in the centre of his will, then they will become "fishers of men."

v11. Clearly this small group of disciples accept Christ's assurance. They have nothing to fear and everything to gain. So, they set out with Jesus. Although this verse is often taken to mean that they abandoned everything they owned to follow Jesus, we know that the disciples continued to own property, including boats. The phrase simply indicates where their priorities in life now lie.

The substance of this story lies in the confession of Peter and his commissioning by Jesus.

Peter's confession is a powerful one. Long before Peter actually calls Jesus the "Christ" (messiah) at Caesarea Philippi, he recognizes his messianic credentials. In the presence of Jesus, Peter cannot stand upright. "Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man." He senses his unworthiness in the face of Jesus. Even more significantly, he gives Jesus the messianic title "Lord". The Lord of the fish is the Lord of mankind.

Peter's commission is one which is repeated often in the New Testament, Lk.9:20, 22:32, Jn.21:1ff, Matt.16:16ff. He and the other disciples are given the privilege of sharing in Christ's work of gathering a people to the living God. As they shared in gathering the fish, so now they will share in gathering "lost" humanity.

As Peter's confession is the "rock" upon which Christ builds his church, so his commission is the foundation task of the church. We are called to worship, and we are called to witness:

i] The lost are called to gather in adoration. We are called to bow before our Lord in recognition of our sin, but then to lift our heads in the comforting words "be not afraid." We should gather with Jesus in the sure knowledge of our eternal acceptance in his sight, by grace through faith. In this privilege we share.

ii] The lost are called to proclaim their faith. We are called to witness for Jesus, to proclaim his gospel of grace to a lost and broken world. We are called to witness, in the sure knowledge that the lost are gathered by the sovereign grace of God operative through his proclaimed word. In this privilege we share.

1. To what end does the sign serve?

2. Why is Peter so disturbed?

3. In what sense does Peter's commission apply to us?