What Jesus Did : Luke 5:2-7 - If You Say So!
by Phil Ware
If You Say So! - Luke 5:2-7
Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen were washing their nets. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon. Jesus asked Simon to push off a little from the shore. Then Jesus sat down in the boat and taught the people on the shore. Jesus finished speaking. He said to Simon, "Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will put your nets into the water, you will catch some fish." Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, but we caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water; so I will." The fishermen put their nets into the water. Their nets became so full of fish that the nets began to break. They called to their friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came, and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Simon (Peter) was a fisherman. Being a fisherman was his life. Being a fisherman was his trade. So when Jesus came up and told him to fish in a certain place and at a certain time that Peter "knew" was wrong from all of his experience, he must have had to swallow hard to follow this carpenter's instructions. But, he did! He basically told Jesus, "If YOU say to do it, then I'll do it!" Let's be honest. There are times when what Jesus tells us to do seems at best counter-intuitive and sometimes crazy. Just a cursory reading of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) gives us more than enough to chew on for a lifetime. That's when our love for Jesus and our submission to his lordship really are tested. Are we willing to be like Peter and say, "Lord, if you say so, I'll do it!"?
Today's Prayer
Give me a pliable heart and a willing spirit, O God, to obey what your Son has taught and do what his lordship calls me to do. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
Jesus stood beside Lake Gennesaret (Galilee). Many people pushed to get all around him. They wanted to hear the teachings of God. Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen were washing their nets. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon. Jesus asked Simon to push off a little from the shore. Then Jesus sat down in the boat and taught the people on the shore. Jesus finished speaking. He said to Simon, “Take the boat into the deep water. If all of you will put your nets into the water, you will catch some fish.” Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, but we caught nothing. But you say I should put the nets into the water; so I will.” The fishermen put their nets into the water. Their nets became so full of fish that the nets began to break. They called to their friends in the other boat to come and help them. The friends came, and both boats were filled so full of fish that they were almost sinking. The fishermen were all amazed at the many fish they caught. When Simon Peter saw this, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were amazed too. (James and John worked together with Simon.) Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will work to gather people, not fish!” The men brought their boats to the shore. They left everything and followed Jesus.-- Luke Luke 5:1-11 (ERV)
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