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Here is a scene that reminds me of Jesus’ sojourn into Samaria when the people thronged to hear His Word, “Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”(John 4:35)Here the people are so hungry to hear Him speak that they are literally pushing Him into the lake. They are a catch just waiting to be landed.
Verse 2: and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.
Apparently, lake fishing was a night operation. When Jesus arrives, the workday is over; the fishermen are cleaning up, preparing for the next catch. This is where Jesus finds them, tired, ready to rest.
Verse 3: Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
You may have noticed the title at the beginning of this passage (in the NKJV), “Four Fishermen Called as Disciples.” I reread these verses three times looking for the fourth fisherman. He was, of course, Andrew (Matthew 4:18-22), Simon’s brother and partner on the boat. He is not mentioned here and whether he was on the boat or left on shore to finish cleaning the nets we do not know. Simon had complied with Jesus’ request out of the respect that a Jew would have for an iterate rabbi, a teacher of the law. We know nothing of Simon before this point. We learn here that he is a fisherman and a business partner with his brother and with James and John. In the Middle East, that probably means they are relatives.
Verse 4: When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
As we saw in the miracle of water into wine, supernatural events are often preceded by God’s demand of action in obedience. The phrase, “launch out into the deep” has become synonymous in our language with an act of faith requiring courage. Peter did not have to display much physical courage, but he did have to overcome his own logic.
Verse 5: But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
As we said before, Simon was tired. He had worked all night, and had just cleaned his nets. To cast them again would take strength and energy, and they would have to be cleaned again. How could Jesus ask all this of a man who was ready to go to bed? So when Simon gave his reasons to Jesus, they were perfectly good ones. But he cast his nets anyway. Why? We could only guess.
We often find ourselves in the same situation. We have been faithful laborers. We have worked hard, given our best effort, and the return has been minimal. We are tired, ready for rest. Here comes Jesus, asking us to “launch into the deep.” We have all our reasons why what He is suggesting is not a good idea, why the effort will be futile. We tried it all before. It did not work. Yet, there He is, “Let down your nets for a catch.” What will you reply. I can only guess.
Verse 2: and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.
Apparently, lake fishing was a night operation. When Jesus arrives, the workday is over; the fishermen are cleaning up, preparing for the next catch. This is where Jesus finds them, tired, ready to rest.
Verse 3: Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
You may have noticed the title at the beginning of this passage (in the NKJV), “Four Fishermen Called as Disciples.” I reread these verses three times looking for the fourth fisherman. He was, of course, Andrew (Matthew 4:18-22), Simon’s brother and partner on the boat. He is not mentioned here and whether he was on the boat or left on shore to finish cleaning the nets we do not know. Simon had complied with Jesus’ request out of the respect that a Jew would have for an iterate rabbi, a teacher of the law. We know nothing of Simon before this point. We learn here that he is a fisherman and a business partner with his brother and with James and John. In the Middle East, that probably means they are relatives.
Verse 4: When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
As we saw in the miracle of water into wine, supernatural events are often preceded by God’s demand of action in obedience. The phrase, “launch out into the deep” has become synonymous in our language with an act of faith requiring courage. Peter did not have to display much physical courage, but he did have to overcome his own logic.
Verse 5: But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
As we said before, Simon was tired. He had worked all night, and had just cleaned his nets. To cast them again would take strength and energy, and they would have to be cleaned again. How could Jesus ask all this of a man who was ready to go to bed? So when Simon gave his reasons to Jesus, they were perfectly good ones. But he cast his nets anyway. Why? We could only guess.
We often find ourselves in the same situation. We have been faithful laborers. We have worked hard, given our best effort, and the return has been minimal. We are tired, ready for rest. Here comes Jesus, asking us to “launch into the deep.” We have all our reasons why what He is suggesting is not a good idea, why the effort will be futile. We tried it all before. It did not work. Yet, there He is, “Let down your nets for a catch.” What will you reply. I can only guess.