LET DOWN THE NETS FOR A CATCH

Passage: Luke 5:1-11

Key verse: 4

NIV

Jesus Calls His First Disciples(A)

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.(B) 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.(C)

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”(D)

5 Simon answered, “Master,(E) we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.(F) But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.(G) 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”(H) 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid;(I) from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.(J)

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 5:1 That is, the Sea of Galilee
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by (A)the lake of Gennesaret, 2 (B)and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were (C)washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And (D)he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, (E)“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, (F)we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, (G)they enclosed a large number of fish, and (H)their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. (I)And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, (J)“Depart from me, for (K)I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”[a] 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, (L)they left everything and followed him.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 5:10 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus preached to the crowd on Simon’s boat. He then asked Simon to “put out into deep water and let down the nets.” Though disappointed and tired after a night of empty nets, Simon obeyed saying, “Because you say so,” and caught a great catch. “Because you say so” are words of faith. “It doesn’t make sense, but because you say so, I will.” “Because you say so” are also words of trying again in obedience to Jesus’ words. When Simon defied his knowledge and feelings and obeyed Jesus, he experienced faith in Jesus’ words. Jesus does not fail to bless those who are humble and obedient to his words.

Through the miraculous catch of fish, Peter’s spiritual eyes were opened. He saw himself as a sinful man who was not worthy to be in the presence of the Lord. Jesus said to him, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” This promise of Jesus implies that he will make us fish for people as we follow him. Fishing for people means becoming a shepherd of God’s flock like Jesus, the good Shepherd (Jn 1

:11). Simon left his old self-centered life and committed his life to a Jesus-centered life. Jesus shaped and formed Simon into a fisher for people.

Prayer: Lord, help me to have simple obedience to your words. Mold me and make me a fisher for people.

One Word: Fish for people