(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
John 21:25 NKJV And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Jesus’s miracle ministry has never ended!
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
What Jesus did, He still does!
As we study these miracles of Jesus, I want us to remember that Jesus WANTS to move on our behalf. All He is looking for is FAITH.
Jesus always sought to move the people He was ministering to, to a place of faith where they could receive from Him what He desired to do.
God will perform a miracle custom designed for you!
He knows what will reach you!
(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
Jesus Causes a Miraculous Catch of Fish
SCRIPTURES
Luke 4:40 NKJV (40) When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.
Shortly after delivering the man with the unclean spirit in the synagogue, Jesus went to Peter’s house and healed his mother-in-law of a lingering fever. Immediately that evening, “when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid hands on every one of them, and healed them” (Luke 4:40). We saw in Lesson 3 that the Greek word for “healed” is therapeuo, which is where we get the word therapy. As Jesus released His therapeutic healing power, He required the recipients to do something to cooperate with the healing process. As they did, restorative power took root in their lives and began its work.
Luke 5:1-11 KJV (1) And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, (2) And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. (3) And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. (4) Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. (5) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. (6) And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. (7) And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. (8) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (9) For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: (10) And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. (11) And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
GREEK WORDS
- “people” — ὄχλος (ochlos): a massive crowd; a mob; an enormous crowd of people
- “pressed” — ἐπίκειμαι (epikeimai): to pile on top of
- “prayed” — ἐρωτάω (erotao): pictures a strong request; to fervently demand with the expectation of a positive answer
- “thrust out a little” — ἐπαναγαγεῖν ὀλίγον (epanagagein oligon): a nautical term meaning to put out a little into the sea
- “launch out into” — ἐπανάγαγε εἰς (epanagage eis): a nautical term meaning to launch out into the sea, with the Greek word meaning into; to launch into
- “deep” — βάθος (bathos): deep; depths; deep water
- “let down” — χαλάω (chalao): to let down to a lower place; to go deeper
- “nets” — δίκτυα (diktua): plural form of “net”
- “draught” — ἄγρα (agra): a haul
- “Master” — Ἐπιστάτα (Epistata): generally a master; a commander (see Luke 5:5); in this context, Jesus as Master and Lord
- “toiled” — κοπιάω (kopiao): to work to the point of exhaustion
- “nothing” — οὐδὲν (ouden): absolutely nothing at all
- “word” — ῥῆμα (rhema): a thing spoken; “at Your spoken word of direction”
- “great” — πολύς (polus): many; pictures a great or vast multitude
- “multitude” — πλῆθος (plethos): a great number; huge amount; a bundle
- “brake” — διαρρήσσω (diarresso): the tense means the nets were bursting
- “help” — συλλαμβάνω (sullambano): to physically help take in the haul
- “filled” — πλήθω (pletho): to fill to the maximum; fill to capacity
- “sink” — βυθίζω (buthidzo): to sink; pictures a desperate situation
- “fell down” — προσπίπτω (prospipto): to fall toward
- “saying” — λέγων (legon): saying repetitiously
- “sinful man” — ἁμαρτωλός (hamartolos): pictures a sinner; one who has missed the mark
- “Lord” — Κύριε (Kurie): Lord; an absolute master or lord
- “astonished” — θάμβος (thambos): dumbfounded to the point of shutting down
- “catch” — ζωγρέω (dzogreo): to be actively catching; to catch alive
- “forsook” — ἀφίημι (aphiemi): to permanently release; to let go; to discharge and send away with no intention of ever retrieving again
- “followed” — ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheo): to follow after someone or something in a very determined and purposeful manner
SYNOPSIS
On the Sea of Galilee near the city of Capernaum, something quite amazing took place. It involved two boats, a few fishing nets, and a handful of fishermen. After speaking to a large crowd of people gathered on the shore, Jesus instructed Peter and his men to “launch out into the deep” and throw out their nets. Although the wearied men had spent all night trying to catch fish and had caught nothing, they obeyed Jesus’ request, and the results were nothing short of miraculous.
Peter’s Introduction to Jesus’ Ministry
John 1:35-42 NKJV Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. (36) And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (37) The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. (38) Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” (39) He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). (40) One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. (41) He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). (42) And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Notice that we do not have any record of Peter’s response to Jesus. This was primarily because there was none.
Jesus Made the Most of Every Teaching Moment
After leaving Peter’s house the next morning, Jesus began preaching in the synagogues throughout Galilee. Eventually, He found Himself on the seashore of His new hometown of Capernaum. This brings us to another amazing miracle found in Luke chapter 5.
Verses 1 and 2 say, “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.”
In the first verse, it says the “people” pressed upon Him. The word “people” is the Greek word ochlos, and it describes a massive crowd or a mob. The word “pressed” is the Greek word epikeimai, which means to pile on top of. The people who had come to hear Jesus speak and receive His healing touch were literally piling on top of Him as He was trying to minister.
To deal with the situation, Jesus got creative. He saw two ships by the lake and “…entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship” (Luke 5:3). It’s important to note that Jesus will use any vehicle or vessel available to Him to bring the Word of God to as many people as possible. Peter’s boat was available, so Jesus seized the opportunity.
The ship became His pulpit, and He “taught” them the Word of God. The word “taught” is the Greek word didasko, which as we saw in a previous lesson, refers to a systematic form of authoritative teaching from Scripture. Jesus was the Word made flesh (see John 1:14), so like a walking Bible. It was natural for Him take the Word and make it come alive everywhere He went.
Peter Submitted to the Word of the Lord
Luke 5:4 says, “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” The phrase “launch out into” is a nautical term meaning to launch out into the sea. And the word “draught” is the Greek word agra, which describes a haul or a big catch.
Of course, Peter could have questioned Jesus’ request. After all, he was a seasoned fisherman, and Jesus was just a carpenter. But even though he thought it was a waste of time, Peter didn’t argue. Instead, Peter said, “… Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5).
Notice how Peter addressed Jesus. He called Him “Master,” which is the Greek word Epistata, meaning a master; a commander. It literally means one who stands upon the spot or one who is in charge. Up until that point, Peter had had several encounters with Christ. He had seen His healing ministry, including the healing of his mother-in-law along with the healing of multitudes of people that had flooded through his house. Yet he had not repented of his sin and made Jesus the Lord of his life.
Still, Jesus wasn’t discouraged with Peter. Instead, He continued to spend time with him and patiently draw him closer and closer to Himself. Peter acknowledged Him as “Master” — the One in charge — and was willing to lower the nets again even though they had “toiled” all night and caught “nothing.”
The word “toiled” is the Greek word kopiao, which means to work to the point of exhaustion — mental, emotional, and physical exhaustion. This was the equivalent of Peter saying, “Lord, we don’t have any strength left. We’ve worked all night and given it our all and have caught nothing.” Interestingly, the word “nothing” means absolutely nothing, not one thing.
“Nevertheless,” Peter added, “at Your word I will let down the net” (see v. 5). Essentially, Peter said, “Upon hearing your spoken word of direction, Master — the One on the spot and in charge — I will do what You have told me to do and let down the nets.”
He Experienced a Miraculous, Uncontainable Catch
What was the outcome of Peter’s obedience and willingness not to lean on his own natural understanding? Luke 5:6 says, “And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.” Notice they caught a “great multitude of fishes.” The word “great” is the Greek word polus, which means many and pictures a great or vast multitude. The word “multitude” is the Greek word plethos, and it describes a great number; huge amount; a bundle. Normally, only one of these words is needed. The fact that both are used indicates the Holy Spirit is making the point that the amount of fish they caught was unbelievably huge. It was so enormous that the Scripture says “their net brake.” The word “brake” is the Greek word diarresso, and the tense means the nets were in the process of bursting.
The situation became so intense, Luke 5:7 says, “And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.” The word “partners” describes legitimate business partners, which tells us that Peter had a major fishing enterprise.
When the partners arrived, they “filled” both ships. The Greek word for filled here is pletho, which means to fill to the maximum; fill to capacity. Interestingly, the capacity of these ships was quite large. Each vessel was ten meters long by three meters wide — thirty-two feet long by ten feet wide — and could hold the weight of five to six tons. Thus, if both these ships were filled to capacity and on the verge of sinking, Peter and his fishing partners hauled in nearly ten tons of fish.
Peter Was Brought to the Point of Surrender
This catch was simply mind-boggling. Luke 5:8 says, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Peter had seen many signs and wonders Jesus did, but when the Lord miraculously touched his business, he could no longer keep his composure. The Bible says he “fell down,” which is the Greek word prospipto, which means to collapse.
When Peter collapsed at Jesus’ feet, he said “I’m a sinful man, O Lord.” The phrase “sinful man” is the Greek word hamartolos, and it pictures a sinner; one who has missed the mark. Peter was saying, “I have really missed the mark in so many ways. I’m a sinful man, Lord.”
In that moment when Peter was brought to his knees, he acknowledged Jesus as “Lord” — the Greek word Kurie, meaning absolute master or lord; one with total authority. At that moment, Peter was converted.
Luke 5:9 and 10 adds, “For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken. And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon….” The word “astonished” is the Greek word thambos, which means dumbfounded to the point of shutting down. Peter and his partners were speechless.
Verse 10 continues, “…And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men” (v.10). The Greek rendering of the word catch says, “You will be in the process of catching men, and you’re going to become professionals at it.”
Luke 5:11 tells us, “And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” The word “forsook” is a form of the Greek word aphiemi, which means to permanently release; to let go; to discharge and send away with no intention of ever retrieving again. Thus, when Peter and his associates returned to shore, they let go of their fishing enterprise and never intended to return to it. The miraculous catch of fish was a miracle designed just for him.
Also note the word “followed.” It is the Greek word akoloutheo, and it means to follow after someone or something in a very determined and purposeful manner. When Peter, James, and John decided to follow Jesus, they really put their hearts into it.
The emphasis of this lesson:
In an effort to win our hearts and strengthen our faith, God will tailor-make a miracle for each person He is trying to reach. That is what Jesus did for Peter on the Sea of Galilee. He supernaturally touched and blessed Peter’s business and won his heart for eternity.
Jesus knows exactly what it will take to reach the heart of someone to win them to Himself.