Luke 5 - 9.5.25

Scripture: Luke 5:1-11

“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.”

Observation:

Jesus was teaching God’s word to a group of people, but there was a problem they were crowding him.  He saw the solution getting in one of two boats that were at the shore.  He was able to sit down and teach the people from the boat.

The boat belonged to Simon who with his partners had been cleaning the nets after a night of fishing and not caught anything.  The fishermen were tired.  I imagine cleaning the nets was not an easy or fun task.

When Jesus was done teaching Jesus told Simon to go back out to the deep water and put down the nets they had just cleaned for a catch.  Simon told Jesus that they had worked hard and caught no fish, but then agreed because He said so.

His obedience brought more that he could have ever expected, a catch so large it practically sunk his and his partner’s boats.  Then, Simon fell at Jesus’s feet and confessed Him as “Lord” and asked him to leave because he was a “sinful man.”  He, James and John his partners were astonished.  

Jesus told them not to be afraid and called them to be fishers of people.  They left everything and followed Him. 

Interesting side note: Luke refers to him as Simon Peter in verse 8 although his new name had not been given yet.  Maybe he did so to emphasize this confession of Simon’s as he falls to his knees calling Jesus “Lord” and how this attitude of the heart would later lead to Jesus renaming him Peter or Rock.

Application:

Several things stood out to me.  First Jesus had a divine appointment.  He had a need for a better location and took advantage of the boats at the shore.  He got into Simon’s boat and asked him to pull away from shore. God always provides what we need.  For Jesus it was a space between the crowd and a place to sit.  Then, a way to get his future disciple’s attention.

I need to have my eyes looking for opportunities when challenges come and be award this could be a chance to make connections with those I might not have had a way to connect with otherwise.

Jesus met a need the fishermen had with a miraculous catch.  To receive it they had to do something uncomfortable, to go out again after working hard all night and after the nets were clean.  That obedience allowed for a huge miracle. Then, an even greater reward is being called to follow Jesus.

I want to remember that I need to keep trying even when I’ve worked hard and done all I can do.  Jesus in the boat made all the difference.  It is important I listen to His direction, surrender and follow Him not worrying about what I’m leaving behind.  It may even be a huge blessing or something that He provided that I could profit from.  It may not make sense!  I still need to go. I want to trust His leading.  That can be hard, but worth it.

Prayer:

Lord, Thank you that you have given us such an excellent example to follow.  You were incredibly resourceful and did the miraculous for those  going about their daily tasks.  Help me be obedient to go out again when I feel I’ve already exhausted my potential.  May I always have the perspective that you want me to be a fisher of people.  May I walk with you in a way that leads others to follow you.

Amen

- Cindy Howard