Nothing was more disappointing and frustrating than spending a full moon night lifting heavy nets over the boat only to haul them back empty just to move to another spot in the lake. Not even a small load of fish for the whole night of work! Sometimes I wonder why I am stuck in this job- can't there be something more useful with my time. My brother, Andrew, suggests we wash our nets near the new rabbi, Jesus. John the Baptist thinks highly about him and has even directed us to follow him. I wave to James and John in the next boat over to do the same. Although early in the morning, people have already gathered to hear him speak. Jesus was wise like a sage, but couldn't be any older than about thirty. His words pierced our hearts and spoke truth into them. We found ourselves often discussing what he taught.
It didn't take long for the crowd to grow, yet the sun was still low in the sky. Jesus walks over to where we are placing the nets into the boat and politely nods to us and jumps into the boat, "Would you push out a little in the water, so I can speak to the crowd from the boat?" With great honor, Andrew and I oblige. I felt my worries were draining as we literally sat at his feet, and he stood holding the mast. The great number of people could easily hear everything as the acoustics of his words carried over the water. He literally could whisper a funny quip and the rumble of laughter waved through the gathering not missing a beat. We marveled at how settling his words were to our weary lives and our stresses.
When he finished speaking, the sun had risen high in the sky giving off the hottest heat in the day. Jesus realizes that it is time to break for lunch. Not a fishing boat in sight, only a lot of travelers now. The Lake of Gennesaret was spotted with vessels going in every direction. Jesus turns to us, and to our surprise he states,"Put your boat into the deeper water and let down your nets for a catch."
Caught by surprise, for every fisherman knows you don't fish in the heat of the day. The fish dive deeper into the cooler bottom of the water, and besides they could see the nets and swim away. It is a waste, but since Jesus has directed me, I respond. "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the net."
Surely, he meant one net- it is a lot of work to wash them. I don't want to disrespect Jesus, but one net will show him that this time of day you don't fish.
Within mere minutes the fish were loading so heavy into the net that our boat started to list to one side. I wave and yell frantically for James and John in the nearby boat to come help before the net bursts and we lose the catch. As we heave the load into both boats, the weight brings our vessels on the verge of sinking!
Andrew, the sons of Zebedee and I stood looking at the catch awestruck that a true miracle had taken place. Realizing that this rabbi was holy, I fall to my knees with deep expression from my heart, "Oh Sir, please leave us - I'm too much of a sinner for you to have around!" Jesus' eyes spoke with sincerity straight into my heart, and he replies, "Don't be afraid! From now on you'll be fishing for the souls of men!" With great conviction, I knew that today the trajectory of my life was going to be following this man "fishing for souls." Andrew and James and John were feeling the same assurance. When we pull our boats to the edge of the lake to leave them with Zebedee, we knew that we were leaving our past behind and devoting our future to Jesus. Like our boats, our lives were filling with overflowing purpose. We had the catch of our lives- the pinnacle of our careers, but it weighed out nothing to spending time being part of God's work.
Full-scale model of the Jesus Boat on the grounds of the Kibbutz Ginosar
The Jesus Boat on display in Yigal Allon Museum in Kibbutz Ginosar
All photos are found on Google Images
_____________________________________________________________________
Questions for Reflection:
1.Are there moments in your life where you feel God is directing you, but the plan seems impossible or dumb, so you decide to go with logic and your own thinking?
2. Jesus told Peter and Andrew to let down their "nets"- plural, and scripture states (NKJ) that they let down their "net" -singular. Reflect on whether your faith fully trusts God in your decisions or do you listen to just part of the direction God is guiding you toward? Possibly you water down the "Word" to fit your lifestyle?
St. Peter's fish - the fish found in the Sea of Galilee-photo from Agriculture Monthly-2015
Further Thoughts:
This account is only in the Gospel of Luke chapter 5. This is the second time Jesus calls the four commercial fishermen. In Matthew 4:12 and Mark 1:14, Jesus is walking along the beach and calls to Simon (Peter) and Andrew who are in their boats fishing to come follow him and then farther down the beach he does the same with James and John who are mending nets with their father. The men were familiar with Jesus for he had been teaching and doing miracles in the area. It took two calls for them to realize that Jesus meant to train them in the ministry of "fishing for souls". They didn't blindly follow a stranger. They saw Jesus with authority and wisdom in the synagogue, over healing the sick and delivering people from demons.(Luke 4:31-37) Jesus was already in Simon Peter's house and miraculously healed his mother in law. (Luke 4:38) They knew who Jesus was on a personal basis, and decided to follow after him. It is important for everyone to read the Bible and decide whether they too want to follow after Jesus.
The comment Simon Peter makes after the miraculous catch of fish displays his heart. He said, "Oh, Sir, please leave us- I'm too much of a sinner for you to have around." The very moment a person humbles themself and recognizes that they are a sinner and in NEED of a savior is when their heart is able to follow Jesus. A person who is empty of himself and pride is opposite than the world declares for them to become. The world says to be proud, be independent, choose your destiny. Jesus mentions the parable of the seed and four soils (Luke 8:5, Matthew 12:10,Mark 4:10) and then explains the parable.
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” (Luke 8:4-8)
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 8:11-15)
God calls us to live our lives dependent on Him, and He will fill us with His love, joy, peace, gentleness, patience, kindness, goodness, self- control and faithfulness. The true riches is living happily. He will guide our steps as we humbly seek after His will. Our hearts will know the truth and will naturally desire to share it with others in love. Helping God bring in the harvest will give our lives a deeper and more fulfilling purpose rather than living for ourselves and living without God's friendship and direction.
If Simon Peter and Andrew let down two nets as Jesus had instructed, how much greater a load of blessing they would have received; they did not fully trust Jesus' direction. How many times do we do less than fully trust in God when He directs us to "leave that relationship" or "go to that school or University" or "wait on buying that house" - the very act of "half trusting" will give you half the blessings.
God wants to touch our lives and in John 10:10 Jesus states:"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full"
Fun fact- The Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Tiberias and the Lake of Gennesaret - are all the same body of water.
As It is Recorded in the Bible:
Luke 5: 1-11
John 10:10
Luke 8:4-15