Luke 5:4-11
"When He (Jesus) had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 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.”
And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him."
At this particular time in Simon's life, he was tired and saw no reason to pursue fishing any more that day. His emotions where down, I am sure his eyes where tired, his arms where hurting, because of no catch of fish his finances had probably suffered, he just wanted to go home!
The Master looks at Simon Peter and says, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Now, that is probably the last thing Simon wanted to hear. He must have said to himself, “I really don't want to do this, I have been there and done that, just let me get out of here, rest and forget about this day.” It is obvious by this passage that Simon did not want to go back out to sea and try to catch fish. He had worked all day and nothing had happened. Does that sound familiar? Yet, like Simon, if the Master asks us to do something we must obey even when we don't feel like it. The real question is, "do we."
There are so many good lessons here that Jesus taught Simon, which can also apply to us also. If we will just remember that faith must act and not react to what God asks of us. Jesus wanted Simon and the young partners that where with him to understand that He provides all that we could ever ask or think. God is an awesome provider in every area of our life, if we will just listen and obey Him. Simon reluctantly responded to what Jesus said and not only did he catch a huge amount of fish, but he needed immediate help from others to land the catch.
The catching of fish was not a personal matter only for those who let down the nets, but the triumph was so great that others where invited to assist in the catch. If Peter had not obeyed the Lord that day, he would have missed out on God’s best and others would not have received the blessing of his obedience. It took the miracle of the fish for Peter to see that God would provide even when things looked impossible.
Simon’s response brings him into the very presence of God. The understanding that one is in the presence of God calls for a response and reverence. Jesus had confronted Simon with his own inadequacies in the very area that defined who he was as a person, his profession. This pushed Simon to self-examination and confession. Simon was humbled here in the one area of life where he thought he should be in control. "Go away from me Lord!" There are times when we think it is easier to push away, and not come face to face with ourselves.
Yet in this moment of humiliation, Simon is able to come face to face with himself and confess, "I am a sinful man." It is this admission that marks a turning point in Simon’s life.
I love how Jesus responded to Simon, not with condemnation, but the assurance "Don’t be afraid" (v. 10). As Simon lay at Jesus’ feet, reduced to the humbleness of a child, Jesus responded with the grace and love of a parent reassuring a child who has lost all confidence in themselves that they still have value and worth. In that moment, Jesus redefined who Simon was. He would no longer be the fisherman on the Sea of Galilee catching fish for a living, but he would now be living to fish for men. The event here was far more than a miracle of fish; it was nothing less than an encounter with God that forever changed who Simon and the other men in the boats would be.
This treasured lesson has also become representative of the mission of God’s people. Value and worth must not be defined by ones own efforts and success at their profession, but would be defined by the power of God at work in ones life in carrying out His commands in the world.
However, if the Master gives a command, we must act out of faith and obey even when we do not feel like moving forward.
Remember, the results here in this passage and be encouraged to go ahead and launch out at the Master’s command.
It sure paid off for Simon, and it will us too.
God Bless
