Luke 5:1-11

“1 Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2 and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3 And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6 When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7 so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9 For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.[1]” (Luke 5:1–11, NASB 95)

On Sunday, we began our new series on the Life of Peter. Russell introduced us to Peter and explained how he serves as the perfect foil to Jesus, with his impulsiveness, doubt, and humanity magnifying Christ's perfection and divinity. In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus calls Peter away from his fishing career after he performs a miraculous catch. Through Peter's expertise as a fisherman being overshadowed by Jesus's supernatural knowledge, his confession of sinfulness highlighting Jesus's holiness, and his abandonment of worldly possessions to follow Christ, we see three key contrasts that illuminate who Jesus truly is. Peter's very human struggles and limitations serve as our entry point to understanding the divine nature of Christ, demonstrating that Jesus works through imperfect people to accomplish His perfect will.

1. How does viewing Peter as a "foil" to Jesus affect your understanding of familiar Gospel stories? Can you identify other biblical characters who serve a similar function?
2. Jesus burdened the weary fishermen by requesting to use their boat and then instructing them to fish once more. How has God used inconveniences in your life to accomplish His purposes?
3. Peter was an expert fisherman, yet Jesus, a carpenter, knew better where to find fish. When have you had to set aside your own expertise or experience to trust in God's direction?
4. Jesus told them to "put out into the deep water." What "deep waters" is God inviting you to explore that might lie outside your comfort zone?
5. Instead of celebrating the miraculous catch, Peter fell to his knees and confessed his sinfulness. Why do you think encounters with God's power often lead to an awareness of our own inadequacy?
6. The disciples abandoned their catch of a lifetime and their means of living to follow Jesus. What would be the most challenging thing for you to leave behind if God called you to something new?