Luke 5:1-11

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus says to Simon Peter, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch." "Master," Simon replied, "we have worked hard all night long without catching anything, but because you say so I will let down the nets."

All the gospels in the New Testament record Jesus calling his disciples, but only the gospel of Matthew adds this story to the account. Yet, the gospel of John tells a very similar story of the risen Christ. (Jn. 21:1-19) It is possible that these two stories of the disciples hauling in a great catch of fish in the early morning are different versions of the same story. The varied use of stories in the gospels is evidence that the gospels are not history, but are testimonies of faith.

We see something similar with the story of the cleansing of the temple by Jesus. In the first three New Testament gospels this occurs when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem before his arrest, whereas in the gospel of John it comes at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. (See Mt. 21:12-13, Mk. 11:15-19, Lk. 19:45-46, Jn. 2:13-17.) If Jesus had cleansed the temple at the beginning of his ministry, it seems unlikely that the other three gospels would omit this striking event. Moreover, a second cleansing at the end of his ministry would hardly surprise anyone.

The gospels are witnesses to faith in Christ and not journalistic reports of the travels, teachings and activities of Jesus. Jesus may or may not have helped his disciples haul in a great catch of fish, but the story tells us that he helped his disciples become church leaders and, as the gospel of Luke says, "fishers of men." (Lk. 5:10) The story not only demonstrates the power of Jesus, but validates the authority of the disciples as the leaders of the church.

Grace and peace...Bob