Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany Luke 5:1-11

Preaching Commentary

Peter's and Isaiah's Confessions

Jesus calling the disciples from their fishing appears in Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20, and Luke 5:1-11. Yet only Luke makes the beautiful connection between call and confession, a connection also made in another lection from this week, Isaiah 6:1-8.

Both Isaiah and Peter are overwhelmed by the presence and power of God. Isaiah is overwhelmed at the miracle of glimpsing God’s heavenly throne room. As an experienced fisherman, Peter sees the gigantic catch of fish as miraculous. Not only the number of fish, but their appearance at the time of day for cleaning nets, not for fishing. Jesus reveals God’s power in a different kind of splendor, in…