Read Luke 5: 1-11:
Jesus travels to the Lake of Gennesaret (also know as the Sea of Galilee) and decides to jump into one of Simon’s boats and asks to be put out into the water. Once settled in the boat and away from shore he “teaches” to a crowd of people. After teaching, he performs a remarkable miracle.
As he finishes he asks Simon, a pro-fisherman by trade, to go out and drop the nets. Can you imagine the initial reaction from Simon? I’m sure the reaction would be like me telling a rocket engineer how to build the next spaceship. But what is important is that Simon, knowing who Jesus really is, obeys him and the result of his obedience is a boat load of fish. So much fish, in fact, that the boat began to sink and he needs help from the others.
The thing that I learn from this passage is that no matter how much I know or am educated about something, I still need to obey Jesus. There are things that Jesus tells us to do that may be completely illogical or beyond reasoning (our reasoning), as in Simon’s case, but we must still obey him. Simon was tired from a long night of fishing and wasn’t very motivated. But because he obeyed Jesus request, he was blessed beyond his imagination.
What makes this story even more amazing is that after all this happened, after Simon first-hand saw what the power of Christ can produce, dropped everything including his career and followed Jesus. He just parked the boats and left with Jesus… no questions asked.
How do we react when Jesus asks us to do something? I’d like to hear from you and know more of your reactions about this passage and what it means to you.
What does this passage say to you?
This blog is only as good as the comments that are shared. I claim that I am not a pastor by any measure, rather someone who wants to learn and share the bible with others (I’m more like the Tim Taylor of the bible for those who are “Home Improvement fans.. you have been warned). What will make this study strong are the “constructive” comments others share each day as they read this. What the bible says to me may be different to you depending on your journey. So I encourage you to share how this passage speaks to you.
