Peter's Astonishment Over the Fishes - Luke 5:9

According to he beloved physician Luke, Jesus spoke from Simon's boat to a crowd of people who were gathered on the shore of lake Gennesaret, and afterward, “he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at your word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord”, and in chapter five and verse nine of his book Luke shares how Peter and the others were, “astonished … at the draught of the fishes” where we read:

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

The verse reads, “For he was astonished, and all that were with him, ...” Luke began with the words, “For he was astonished” or “because, since and on account that Simon Peter was amazed, encompassed and surrounded”, “and all that were with him” which means “and each, every, the whole and everyone who was alongside Simon”. Luke shared the reason Simon Peter bowed his knee before Jesus and told him to “depart from” him was because he and his fellow fishermen were “amazed” and “overwhelmed” by what they were seeing.

The verse continues, “at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:” Luke added the word, “at the draught of the fishes” which means “at the haul, booty and prey of fish” “which they had taken” or “that Simon Peter and the other fishermen had caught”. Luke shared how the amount of fish caught by Simon and his fellow fishermen absolutely “amazed and swept over” them.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how this “haul” of fish simply blew away Simon and the other fishermen. They had never seen anything like this, and it caused Simon to bow before Jesus and ask Him to leave him. God is in the “amazing” business even as Paul the apostle questioned the Roman church members, “Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (See Romans 2:4) God's desire is for people to learn of His “goodness” through sending His Son Jesus to die for their sins so they might live with Him forever. Those who are wise will realize the amazing “goodness” of the Lord and bow before Him as the “Savior and Lord” of their lives.

Next time Luke shares about, “James, and John, the sons of Zebedee which were partners with Simon”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".