“Call Again” (Luke 5:1-11)

Surprised by Grace

Many people go through life wearing masks – masks of degrees, titles, and achievements—convincing the world they have it all together. But behind those masks, many are carrying unhealed wounds and silent insecurities, wondering if all their striving will ever be enough.

In the movie Surprised by Oxford, Caro is one of those people. A brilliant scholar with a sharp mind, she arrives at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, confident on the outside, but inside, she carries deep wounds from her past—wounds that no amount of success can truly heal. It’s only when she encounters grace, both through the kindness of others and the relentless love of God. And she begins to realize: life is not about proving oneself but receiving the grace that has been there all along.

Peter’s story in Luke 5 is not so different. He was an expert fisherman—hardworking, persistent, and skilled. He had spent an entire night doing everything he knew to do, yet his nets remained empty. He was exhausted, frustrated, and perhaps even questioning his own identity as a fisherman. Then Jesus stepped into his boat. This wasn’t Peter’s first encounter with Jesus. He had met Him before, through his brother Andrew.  But this time Jesus stepped into Peter’s personal universe – his boat, his sea, his nets. And with one simple instruction—"Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." (v. 4, NRSV)—Jesus invited Peter into something bigger than he could imagine. At that moment, Peter had a choice: keep striving his own way or surrender to the way of Jesus.

 

Prosperity Gospel?

Peter chose to surrender. He said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets.” (v. 5, CEB) Think about it—a professional fisherman taking advice from a carpenter? That took faith. And what happened? The catch was so great, the nets started breaking. He called for help, and soon, both boats were sinking.

Now, some “prosperity gospel” preachers might say, "See? Peter had faith, so he prospered!" But that’s not the point. This miracle wasn’t about wealth or success. It was a sign—pointing to who Jesus is and what He came to do. Just like when Jesus fed the 5,000, and the crowd followed Him—not because they understood, but because they wanted more food. Jesus told them, "You are looking for Me not because you saw the signs, but because you ate the food you wanted." (John 6:26) They missed the real point—Jesus is the true Bread of Life.

But Peter got it. When Jesus stepped into his life and showed him the “sign,” Peter was willing to stop striving and start trusting. He left everything – his success, his security, even his prosperity – and followed Jesus. Today, Jesus steps into our boats. The question is: Are we willing to listen to His voice and follow His way?

 

Into the Deep

Jesus’ call can be terrifying. It’s out of our comfort zone. It’s uncharted waters. It’s the end of me and the beginning of Jesus. When Simon Peter saw the miracle, he was amazed. He was overwhelmed. He was afraid. He fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Leave me, Lord, for I’m a sinner!” (Luke 5:8) Jesus said to him, “Don’t be afraid. From now on, you will be fishing for people.”

It reminds me of Isaiah’s call story. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he cried, "Woe to me! I am ruined! I am a man of unclean lips!" Before God’s presence, Isaiah felt unworthy. But God didn’t leave him there. He cleansed Isaiah and then called him: "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" Isaiah responded, "Here I am, Lord. Send me!"

When God calls us, we often feel unworthy, unqualified, unprepared. I don’t know about you, but for me, I was very afraid. I remember when I first sensed God calling me to ministry. I was in college, serving as a youth teacher. Some of the students came from broken families. They had no desire to learn or grow. I started a small study group with them—Bible study, academics, vision-building. Over time, I watched God transform their lives. That gave me strong desire to devote my entire life for ministry. But still, I was hesitant and afraid. Why? Two reasons. First, I was afraid of public speaking. I was never a dynamic, charismatic speaker. Second, I was not a people person. I was always a quite person. I thought, How could someone like me be a pastor? Then, in the summer of 2005, during a youth camp, as I was praying for my students, I heard that still, small voice: “My son, I want you.” And I said, “Yes Lord. I am willing.” That yes changed everything.

 

Call Again

God’s grace is relentless. So is God’s call. Even when we say yes, we drift. We backslide. We lose our way. But God never stops calling. Peter experienced this too. He left everything behind to follow Jesus, but later, after denying Jesus three times, he went back to fishing. He didn’t know what else to do. But Jesus met him again. On the shore, after the resurrection, Jesus called him again: "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Three times, Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, You know I love You." And Jesus said, "Feed My sheep." Jesus restored Peter’s call. Rekindled his fire. And Peter never looked back.

God’s call is not a one-time event. He continues to shape and refine His call in our lives. The other day, I met a Christian man who is pushing 90. We used to serve together in an ecumenical group, working side by side for years. He was so dedicated—working hard, faithfully serving God’s kingdom and our community. Now, he has stepped away from official roles, resigned from committees, and slowed down a bit. But he is still so active. People look at him and say, "What’s your secret? You look so happy. You don’t even look your age—you look 60!" And every time, he smiles and sees it as an opportunity. He tells them, "The secret? It’s my deep faith and connection with Jesus." And then—he invites them to church. He said to me, "Victor, now this is my calling. One-on-one evangelism." God is still using him. His calling didn’t end—it just changed.

As I look back on my own life, I see defining moments where God shaped my calling. When I entered seminary, I realized my school wasn’t affiliated with the Methodist Church. I had a tough decision—stay in school or stay in the denomination. It took six months of wrestling, praying, surrendering, and trusting God. And in the end, God made a way—I was able to finish my degree and pursue ordination in the UMC. Later, when I was appointed to The County, I hit a wall. I felt stuck. I was discouraged. I was ready to throw in the towel. But God met me there at the bottom. He showed me something powerful: Jesus abided with His people. He wasn’t in a rush. He wasn’t about performance. He was present. That changed everything for me. My calling shifted—from effective ministry to the ministry of presence. And now? I sense God calling me again—this time, to be a proactive “last responder”—someone who walks alongside God’s people, helping them review their lives, preparing them for death, and pointing them toward the life to come. God’s call keeps shaping us. The question is—are we listening?

 

Paradox of Life

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, "When Christ calls a person, He bids them come and die." He talked about cheap grace versus costly grace. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ. Costly grace calls us to follow Jesus, no matter the cost. Bonhoeffer lived this out. He could have stayed safe in America, away from Nazi Germany. But he chose to return, to share in the suffering of his people. He stood for truth—and it cost him his life.

Jesus is still calling today. He calls us, like Peter, to "catch people for life." Wherever we are in our journey, God is not finished with us yet. So let me ask you: Is Jesus stepping into your boat today? Maybe you’ve been trying so hard, working all night, and your nets are still empty. Maybe you feel like Peter—exhausted, unsure, and wondering if there is something more. Jesus is calling you. Right now. Maybe you’ve said yes before, but you’ve drifted. You’re not where you used to be, and you wonder if God still has a plan for you. He does. Just like He called Peter again, He’s calling you again. Or maybe you’ve never really said yes to Jesus. Maybe you’ve been standing on the shore – like one of the crowds, watching, hesitant. But today, you hear His voice: "Come. Follow Me." Whatever your story, Jesus is here. His grace is relentless. His call is personal. And He is waiting for your yes. So today, if you sense God calling, don’t wait. Step forward. Come to the altar. Say yes to Jesus. He’s stepping into your boat. Will you follow?