Turning Over Your Nets to Jesus: Luke 5:4-11
“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 and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6) When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7) so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8) But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9) For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10) and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11) When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.” Luke 5:4-11
With the order to launch out and put the nets down, Peter began to butt heads with Jesus. After all, Peter was the fishing authority, not Jesus.
Peter and his crew had worked hard all night and caught nothing. Our ways often come up empty, yet we keep doing what we have always done.
Peter’s attitude was terrible! He gave in more to prove his point to Jesus than any desire to obey. He was locked in a battle of wills with Jesus. How often does that happen to you?
When he put down the nets, they were filled with so many fish, he needed another boat and his partner to come to his aid. Both were filled and began to sink!
Keep in mind, the crowd on the beach were still watching. Some had likely come as they did daily to buy some fresh fish from the fishermen. Previously, there were non available, but after obeying Jesus there was an abundance.
Jesus is the Provider. He always pays His bills. There was enough value in that catch of fish to care for these families for several months. In fact, of all the boats in the fishing village that morning, there were only two with fresh fish to sell. They had a monopoly! These were big boats. They were filled to the point of sinking. That’s called “abundance!”
Think about it, Jesus had spent the night in Peter’s home, but Peter missed the occasion. He and his partners opted instead to go fishing all night. People abandon sweet fellowship with Jesus for the dumbest reasons!
That partially explains the response of Peter. He was shocked and so were his partners! He finally turned his nets over to Jesus for one hour and everything changed! Peter fell down before Jesus and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.”
Peter had been exposed. He was proven wrong. His priorities were messed up. He lost the wrestling match with Jesus in front of his family and the entire village. He was finally ready to bend his will to the Lordship of Jesus; at least for a while.
This is when Jesus issued the call for Peter, Andrew, James and John to leave their nets completely and follow Him. It was a huge step of faith. Jesus wanted to equip them to start catching men!
In the previous twenty-four they had heard and seen so much. They heard two sermons, witnessed many healings and deliverances, and now witnessed His omniscience omnipotence in action through their own nets.
They were being confronted with the true identity of Jesus Christ. He was far more than an ordinary man. They had a decision to make. They left everything and followed Him.
Are you ready to exchange your dreams and ambitions for the will of God for your life? The best way to start following Jesus may be turning your current “nets” over to Him. I don’t know what they are in your case, but Jesus can work through them in miraculous ways!
Think about it. Before meeting Jesus, these four men dreamed of building a successful fishing business. They were devoted night and day to that ambition. They were well on the way.
Then Jesus stepped into their path! He issued a simple call to follow Him. How could they envision the call included being transformed into Apostles and Jesus working through them to change the course of human history?
God’s ways are so much higher and better than ours. Jesus displayed His power, provision and abundance; but they had no idea that His call also included true fulfillment and significance.
The names of the other fishermen on the beach that morning have long been forgotten; but Peter, Andrew, James and John are etched in the annals of human history. If you want your life to count, follow Jesus and devote yourself to doing His will!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“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 and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” 6) When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7) so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8) But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9) For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10) and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” 11) When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.” Luke 5:4-11
With the order to launch out and put the nets down, Peter began to butt heads with Jesus. After all, Peter was the fishing authority, not Jesus.
Peter and his crew had worked hard all night and caught nothing. Our ways often come up empty, yet we keep doing what we have always done.
Peter’s attitude was terrible! He gave in more to prove his point to Jesus than any desire to obey. He was locked in a battle of wills with Jesus. How often does that happen to you?
When he put down the nets, they were filled with so many fish, he needed another boat and his partner to come to his aid. Both were filled and began to sink!
Keep in mind, the crowd on the beach were still watching. Some had likely come as they did daily to buy some fresh fish from the fishermen. Previously, there were non available, but after obeying Jesus there was an abundance.
Jesus is the Provider. He always pays His bills. There was enough value in that catch of fish to care for these families for several months. In fact, of all the boats in the fishing village that morning, there were only two with fresh fish to sell. They had a monopoly! These were big boats. They were filled to the point of sinking. That’s called “abundance!”
Think about it, Jesus had spent the night in Peter’s home, but Peter missed the occasion. He and his partners opted instead to go fishing all night. People abandon sweet fellowship with Jesus for the dumbest reasons!
That partially explains the response of Peter. He was shocked and so were his partners! He finally turned his nets over to Jesus for one hour and everything changed! Peter fell down before Jesus and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.”
Peter had been exposed. He was proven wrong. His priorities were messed up. He lost the wrestling match with Jesus in front of his family and the entire village. He was finally ready to bend his will to the Lordship of Jesus; at least for a while.
This is when Jesus issued the call for Peter, Andrew, James and John to leave their nets completely and follow Him. It was a huge step of faith. Jesus wanted to equip them to start catching men!
In the previous twenty-four they had heard and seen so much. They heard two sermons, witnessed many healings and deliverances, and now witnessed His omniscience omnipotence in action through their own nets.
They were being confronted with the true identity of Jesus Christ. He was far more than an ordinary man. They had a decision to make. They left everything and followed Him.
Are you ready to exchange your dreams and ambitions for the will of God for your life? The best way to start following Jesus may be turning your current “nets” over to Him. I don’t know what they are in your case, but Jesus can work through them in miraculous ways!
Think about it. Before meeting Jesus, these four men dreamed of building a successful fishing business. They were devoted night and day to that ambition. They were well on the way.
Then Jesus stepped into their path! He issued a simple call to follow Him. How could they envision the call included being transformed into Apostles and Jesus working through them to change the course of human history?
God’s ways are so much higher and better than ours. Jesus displayed His power, provision and abundance; but they had no idea that His call also included true fulfillment and significance.
The names of the other fishermen on the beach that morning have long been forgotten; but Peter, Andrew, James and John are etched in the annals of human history. If you want your life to count, follow Jesus and devote yourself to doing His will!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
