Read on Twitter
Peter experiences a miracle on the sea when their nets fill with fish and their boats are weighed down (Luke 5:6-7).
But he says to Jesus, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8). Why'd he say THAT?
Some thoughts:
But he says to Jesus, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8). Why'd he say THAT?
Some thoughts:
First, this is not the first miracle Peter is aware of. Jesus had healed Peter's mother-in-law in Peter's home (Luke 4:38-39). And on the evening of her healing, many people brought their diseased and demon-possessed to see Jesus, all of whom were healed (4:40-41).
Second, Peter was a fisherman, so the miracle with the fish was especially personal and powerful to him. He and his business partners had toiled all night and had caught nothing (Luke 5:5). Now Jesus overwhelms their nets and boats with blessing. A stunning turnaround!
Third, from what Peter has experienced and learned so far, Jesus is someone surpassingly great. He now feels unworthy to be in Jesus' presence. He falls at Jesus' knees (Luke 5:8), a posture of humility and deference. He called Jesus "Master" and Lord" (5:5, 8).
Fourth, Peter's words--"for I am a sinful man"--only make sense if he believes Jesus isn't like him. The works and words of Jesus resound with holiness and majesty. In the presence of such holiness and power, Peter is aware of his own sinfulness and shortcomings. If Peter is a
"sinful man," then what would his words imply about Jesus when he asks Jesus to "depart"? Whatever Peter has rightly understood about Jesus, he perceives a chasm between Jesus and himself. Peter's words are reminiscent of Isaiah's vision-encounter with the Lord in Isaiah 6.
In Isaiah 6, the prophet heard "Holy, holy, holy," and he discerned his own uncleanness in the presence of such divine purity: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King" (6:6:5).
The miracle on the boat in Luke 5 left Peter undone. Something divine had happened, something glorious and powerful. Peter sensed in that moment his unworthiness and sin before Someone so great. His eyes had seen the King.
FIN
FIN
