Cast Out Your Nets – Luke 5:1-11
Hey Friends,
My lovely wife gleaned some powerful insights from this familiar story, and you may find it helpful, so I am sharing it here with you.
Morning lessons from Luke 5: 1-11
1. Jesus saw a crowd, 2 boats and tired fishermen.
Jesus is intentional. He assesses the situation and acts to suit.
2. Jesus steps into Simon’s boat and asks him to go out from the shore, knowing full well that he would at some point, ask Peter to let down his nets that he had just washed after a night of work. But he doesn’t focus on that first. He focuses on teaching the crowd.
Jesus will not always initially reveal what he is planning to do.
Jesus skillfully sets up situations for his purposes, which ultimately lead to our good – in this case, the people hear his teaching, and Simon is set up to encounter a miracle which is the turning point of his life.
3. Jesus asks the unexpected now that they are in deeper water. He asks Simon to let his nets down for a catch. Simon was fine with lending his boat to Jesus to teach in, but he was totally unprepared to re-start fishing. He pushes back initially and then obeys.
Expect the unexpected with Jesus and obey his instructions despite your knowledge or views of what you think is the best course of action.
There will be times when you are comfortable with Jesus (like Simon sitting listening in the comfort of his boat) and other times when he asks you to do what you didn’t bargain for. Do it anyway.
4. The other fishing boat owned by James and John – his friends – remains on the shore. After the miraculous number of fish appear in the nets, they have to come help Simon transport the huge catch back to the shore.
Jesus is not only doing something in Simon’s life, but he is also interested in the other boat that he didn’t pay attention to initially. There is also a blessing for the other men.
Jesus creates situations that can include us, but it is not only about us. He is concerned about the people in your life also encountering him. Your obedience to his word helps trigger his reach to others in your circle.
5. Jesus says something to Simon that changes his life forever – “…from now on you will fish for people.”
Jesus defines your calling as you allow him to work in your circumstances and through your obedience.
Jesus was not primarily interested in fish. The fish was a symbol of what kind of person he was calling Simon to be. Stop looking at your circumstances from the very basic level – in this case the catch of the fish and see what he is saying to you that is beyond what you see and know – in this case the call to follow.
6. The men leave everything…including plenty of fish, (which was most likely taken up by the crowd), and followed Jesus.
Jesus is infinitely wise. He focuses on Simon’s individual circumstances, while at the same time, his friends and fishing partners and the entire crowd get to benefit and witness his mighty works.
Are you seeing Jesus for all that he is worth and prepared to leave all that once mattered and follow him?
