“Once while Jesus was 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” Luke 5: 1-11.
Lake Gennesaret is another name synonymous with the Sea of Galilee or the Sea of Tiberias. There is a crowd gathered, suggesting that Jesus is quickly having a profound impact on the countryside. Luke wants to show some remarkable progress not only in terms of the crowds who were pressing in on Jesus, but also for what they came to Jesus – to hear the Word of God. This is a remarkable turn of events. As Jesus preaches and teaches and heals, people begin in large numbers to want more.
Notice the details about what happens next: there are two boats, and they are at the shore of the sea. But the fishermen were not in them; instead they were washing their nets, suggesting that they were finished fishing for the day and cleaning up their gear. But Jesus gets into Simon’s boat – not the other boat, and then Jesus begins to fish for Simon by inviting Simon to get involved in Jesus’ teaching ministry. Jesus does this when he instructs Peter to push the boat a little way from shore. Can you see the beautiful way that Luke writes? This is a gorgeous painting of a scene at the Sea of Galilee, with boats and fishermen washing their nets, as well as a great crowd of people gathered once again with Jesus. And there sits Jesus in the boat, pushing it away with Simon’s assistance so that Jesus could teach the crowd.
Then a great story happens. It is a story about Jesus going after Simon – who really represents you and me. It is a story about Jesus meeting us where we live and work – and establishing a relationship with us so that He can use us to catch people. Invite – Grow – Send is the mission of the Christian church, and this is precisely what Jesus does with Peter – He invites Peter, then helps Peter come to know Jesus personally, and then sends Peter out. Notice Peter’s obedience too. So much is packed into he details of this story.
I invite you to take time today unraveling the details.
What strikes me is the possibility that we have all been in a situation in our life where we felt that Jesus just did not understand what we were going through? I suspect Peter and his colleagues felt this way when Jesus, an obscure carpenter, told them to put out into deeper waters so that He could show them how to fish. There is a lesson here about listening and obeying God – the two most important things we can do in life. After all, we don’t begin to know the mind of God! Consider today whether or not there is something in your life that Jesus is trying to tell you to do? Are you listening to Jesus? Are you doing what Jesus tells you to do?
Bring this to prayer.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God” John 8:47.
“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” Proverbs 2:1-5.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” John 10:27-28.
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