I love the disciples of Jesus because they think like we do. One of my favorite stories is when they had been fishing all stinking night long and caught nothing. Just when they were ready to call it a night Jesus busted in on the party and said, “Hey, I have an idea, why don’t you let down your nets in the deep water for a catch.”
Imagine their thoughts. Well you don’t have to image. The Bible tells us they said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.” The Bible doesn’t say anything about eye rolls but I’m pretty sure there some of those going on.
But take a look at their faith or maybe it was simply respect. I don’t know their motive but Simon said, “But because you say so, I will lay down the nets.”
I can only imagine the inner narrative. Really Jesus? You want us to just move our boat further out and recast after doing this in the best fishing spot all night long? He’s a preacher, he doesn’t understand fishing. Or that we’re tired and just done.
But as soon as they cast their nets they caught so much fish that their nets broke.
What happens when the nets break? They lose their fish. So they had to call in for help from their other fishing buddies. But ya’ll it gets even better. The other boat gets there and they start loading up the fish with the back up nets and then their boats start sinking from all the fish.
What happens when the boat sinks? The fish go back home. While we know they still came away with tons and tons of fish I think it’s clear that this real story wasn’t about catching fish at all. It was about trusting Jesus and about becoming fishers of men.
Simon was so moved by the miracle that he fell down on his knees and told Jesus to go away from him because he was so sinful. Jesus, in his compassion, told him not to be afraid and that from now on he’d catch men instead. And they left everything and followed Jesus. I’m suspecting even those fish.
What about you? What about me? When Jesus tells us to do something even when what he says defies our past experience and knowledge will we do it simply because he says to do it?
“But because you say so……”
Those are some powerful words of the disciples right there. Those are words of true disciples. And those words put into practice produce such eye opening revelation. Simon Peter’s response shows us that. Boom – on his knees in full realization of his sins in comparison to the perfect, all knowing, miraculous Jesus. Jesus comforts him with a word to not fear and then he follows him.
I love this progression. This can be us as well. Right in the middle of our failed attempts, our weariness and our doubts we can choose to do what Jesus tells us to do. Sometimes we do it with doubt in our minds and then our hearts catch up. Other times we jump right in with all the faith we have. Either way – our God is right there with us, loving us and calling us to follow him.
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