A Sermon Delivered by the Rev. Dr. Patrick H. Wrisley

Our reading this morning is from Luke’s gospel, and we pick up early in the Story. Jesus has set out on his own in the region of Galilee. He has been teaching, healing, and casting out evil spirits. He’s already begun raising the ire of his fellow Jews. The people in his hometown of Nazareth have already tried to throw him off a cliff for his Messianic assertions. We finally arrive in the Story when Jesus begins calling specific followers to be his disciples. As you listen, focus on the three basic qualities of discipleship demonstrated by Peter. These qualities are obeying, confessing, and following. They enable us to see and respond to God’s presence. Listen to the Word of the Lord!

Luke 5:1-11

^5.1 Once while Jesuswas standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, ² he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds 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, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” ¹¹ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.^[1]

Today marks the fifth Sunday in the season of Epiphany. The Christian calendar begins with the season of Advent, then Christmas, and then Epiphany. We intentionally move from preparing for the coming of God. We shift to welcoming the presence of God in the Christ child. Now, people are beginning to see and experience Jesus as the promised one of God. Epiphany is the time when people begin seeing Jesus as the manifestation of God among them.

Epiphanies are deeply personal experiences. They are moments when God’s presence is revealed to us that demand a response. We often recognize epiphanies after the fact. God provides the moment and movement of the Spirit but we have to be spiritually alert to perceive it. Epiphanies are not forced on us — they are gifts left in plain sight for us waiting to be discovered.    

This morning, we find Jesus teaching from a boat. He asks Peter to put out into deep water and drop the nets even though Peter and the others have been up all night fishing without catching a thing. Jesus is setting the stage for an epiphany. It’s now up to Peter. What will he do with Jesus’ request? It’s here we observe how Peter begins demonstrating three essential qualities of discipleship — obedience, confession, and following.

Peter, James, and John decide to humor this itinerant Preacher and obey his request. Going out a ways, Jesus says, “Drop the nets here.” I can see the guys rolling their eyes at this carpenter’s request but out the nets go. As soon as the nets went overboard, they began filling up. The overflowing catch pulled the boat deeper down into the water. The fisherman could’ve just written this all off as good luck or coincidence.  

But Peter saw it as something different; he saw a glimpse of the miraculous among the mundane. Peter sees something in Jesus he has not seen before — the Presence of God in his midst. He literally falls down upon Jesus’ knees in the tiny boat.  We are not sure if the other fisherman, James and John Zebedee, got it or not. All we know is that Peter experienced and claimed an epiphany. Jesus set the stage; Peter had to put all the pieces together and decide what to do with it.

Peter obeyed what was asked of him. He trusted Jesus’ instructions even when it did not make any sense. It was a crazy suggestion, but he went along with it when suddenly, God showed up and Peter saw it. Despite exhaustion and doubt, Peter obeys. Because he did, God shows up in an extraordinary way.

This is where the second quality of discipleship gets introduced as Peter confesses what he experienced. When we obey God’s call, we open ourselves up to witnessing epiphanies. Then we often wonder, “Who will believe me? What will they say if I tell them?”

Our Story says that Peter saw the boats getting swamped with the huge haul of fish. He saw Jesus sitting there watching. Jesus was most likely sporting a little grin on his face. Peter acknowledges what the epiphany is for him. It’s none other than the presence of God in his midst. When he declares, “Lord, please go away from me as I am a sinful man,” he embraces the revelation. This is Peter’s confession; he realizes he is in the presence of the Holy.

It’s one thing to experience a powerful moment. It becomes an epiphany when we name it for what it is — a revelation of God’s presence. Peter obeyed. Peter confessed. Now, Peter follows Jesus.

Beloved, this is often the most difficult aspect of discipleship. We are asked to leave everything behind like our fishermen. We obey Jesus. We confess Jesus. Yet, it’s this following Jesus that’s hard to do. You see, if we are given an epiphany, we are expected to do something with it. What good would the catching of all those fish be if Peter decided to simply stay on the boat? Peter was given a glimpse of the presence of God. He also experienced God’s gracious provision. Now he’s responsible for doing something with that. So Peter goes into action. He recognizes that an epiphany is not simply a moment of inspiration — it’s a call for transformation!

Our Story says Peter and his business colleagues got back to shore. They followed Jesus to become fishers of people. Peter and the other two were given the epiphany for a reason; Jesus asks them to do something with it.

So, what about you? Has God ever created the perfect conditions for an epiphany in your life? Did you recognize it for what it was? Remember, epiphanies are not just for our personal inspiration, they are for our personal and communal transformation! They call us to take action. We are encouraged to take steps forward. We should act out in faith, even when it does not make any sense to do so. Let’s keep our eyes open for God’s presence — and when God calls, may we have the courage to follow. Pray with me.  

Lord, help us to pay attention to the ways you are revealing yourself to us. Through your Holy Spirit, help us to obey when you call. Assist us to name and confess what we have seen. Guide us to follow wherever Jesus leads us. Amen.

© 2025. Patrick H. Wrisley, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, 8 West Notre Dame Street, Glens Falls, New York 12801.  Sermon manuscripts are available for the edification of members and friends of First Presbyterian Church, Glens Falls, New York and shall not be altered, re-purposed, published or preached without permission. All rights reserved.

[1] New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.