They Forsook All and Followed Him!

Luke 5:1-11 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, (2) And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. (3) And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. (4) Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. (5) And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. (6) And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. (7) And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. (8) 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 was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: (10) And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. (11) And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. 

This story has always interested me because of my passion for fishing.  I have gone out more times than I care to remember and spent hours to come up empty.  But I didn’t have Jesus to assist me!

Jesus had been in the immediate area because a crowd of people followed him to hear him preach.  In order to be in a vantage point so everyone could hear and see him, Jesus convinced Peter to launch his ship out a bit from shore so he can preach from the lake.

After the preaching was concluded, Jesus suggest that they go on back out and fish again.  The manner in which they fish is anything but recreational.  It is hard work and they had already been out all night, so Peter was less than thrilled at the thought of going back out.  But Peter had a reaction to Jesus that we all need to have.

Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

From a human perspective, there may be lots of reasons why the will of God may seem to be inconvenient.  From our logical perspective, some things he wants from us may not make any sense.  But this example demonstrates WHY we should suck it up and do what he says.  Peter was the expert here, but he did not know what he was talking about for 2 simple reasons.

1.  God ALWAYS has a better perspective than we do

2.  Go is in control of things that we cannot consider.

So even if something in God’s word seems strange, odd, or downright illogical, we need to follow the lead of Peter... “Nevertheless...I will DOT IT!”

When Peter and the others submitted to the will of Jesus, they were enormously rewarded.  They took in so many fishes that two boats were filled to the point that they began to sink.

Peter’s reaction is again is worth following.

Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.  

Due to this unusual miracle, Peter realizes that he is in the presence of Greatness.  So much so that he quickly sees himself as undeserving due to his sin.  This encounter changes his life forever.  For the text says that when he gets to shore, they forsook all and followed Jesus!

When we see what Jesus can do to our lives, we again ought to follow the lead of Peter and follow Jesus!