Compare Peter's reaction in Luke 5:8 with Isaiah's in Isaiah 6:5. Passage Snapshot • Luke 5:8: “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. ‘Go away from me, Lord,’ he said, ‘for I am a sinful man.’” • Isaiah 6:5: “Then I said: ‘Woe to me, for I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.’” Setting the Scene: Moments of Revelation • Peter: A miraculous catch of fish reveals Jesus’ divine power on the shores of Galilee (Luke 5:1-7). • Isaiah: A breathtaking vision of the Lord on His throne, surrounded by seraphim crying “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:1-4). • In both scenes, an ordinary man suddenly stands face-to-face with extraordinary holiness. Immediate Responses: Falling Down Before Holiness • Posture – Peter “fell at Jesus’ knees.” – Isaiah cries “Woe to me,” feeling undone. • Emotion – Overwhelming awe mixed with dread. – Awareness that holiness exposes human sin (cf. Revelation 1:17; Exodus 3:6). Confession of Sinfulness • Peter: “I am a sinful man.” • Isaiah: “I am a man of unclean lips…and I live among a people of unclean lips.” • Key similarities – Personal ownership of guilt. – No excuses, no comparisons—just honest acknowledgment before God (Psalm 51:3-4). • Key difference – Isaiah also confesses corporate sin, sensing national unworthiness as well as personal. Fear and Reverence: Why They Wanted Distance • Sin separates; holiness highlights that gulf (Habakkuk 1:13). • Peter asks Jesus to “go away”; Isaiah expects ruin. • Both echo earlier reactions to God’s presence—e.g., Job 42:5-6; Judges 13:22. God’s Gracious Answer • Peter: “Do not be afraid” (Luke 5:10), words that calm his fear. • Isaiah: A seraph touches his mouth with a coal—“Your iniquity is taken away and your sin atoned for” (Isaiah 6:6-7). • In both cases grace meets confession: cleansing precedes calling. From Confession to Commission • Peter is told, “From now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10). • Isaiah hears, “Whom shall I send?” and replies, “Here I am. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). • The pattern 1. Revelation of God. 2. Recognition of sin. 3. Reception of grace. 4. Readiness for service. Key Takeaways for Today • Genuine encounters with the Lord produce humility, not self-confidence. • Honest confession invites cleansing (1 John 1:9). • God never exposes sin to shame us without also offering mercy and purpose. • Those forgiven become ambassadors—whether fishing boats on Galilee or prophetic courts in heaven. |
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