Because Jesus Said So

Sometimes the Bible says that we are supposed to do something that seems difficult or appears to be the exact opposite of what we think we should do. Such is the case in this passage. Luke 5:1–11 (ESV) — 1 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were 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 he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 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. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for 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.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

I want you to notice the point of decision that Peter experienced in verse 5 when he said "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." In other words, Peter said "I don't understand why you would want me to do this, but I will because You said so." And when he did, what happened? "6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 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." If Peter had not obeyed Jesus, they would have gone home empty-handed but since he did what Jesus told him, Peter experienced something so amazing and he saw Jesus in a brand new light. "when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord". That moment was more than just an incredible catch. Peter recognized his sinfulness contrasted with the holiness of Jesus. Then Jesus did two things in verse 11. First, He said "Do not be afraid" which is a common theme in the Bible then Jesus gave Peter a new assignment by saying "from now on you will be catching men".

But there is one more thing that I want you to notice in this passage. Go back to verse 1 "while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret". In verse 3, we see that Jesus was teaching the crowd from the boat and then He told Peter to "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch". The Bible does not tell us that Jesus ever sent the crowd away which means that many of those people could have still been there and if they were, they could have seen the miracle as well. If they did, that means that Peter's obedience not only made a difference in the lives of the other fishermen, but also those who saw the event from the shore.

When we obey God, not only are we blessed but also other people are given an opportunity to see the mighty working power of God as well. So let us be faithful and do what we are supposed to do when Jesus says so.