5: 1-11 Jesus attracted crowds wherever he went to teach. One day, he was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and there was a very large crowd listening to him. There were two empty boats at the edge of the water. The fishermen had left them to go wash their nets. Jesus went over to one of the boats and asked Simon, the owner, if he would push it out into the water. Simon agreed and he continued to preach from the boat, sitting out in the sea. The boat he chose belonged to Simon’s, the son-in-law of a woman he had healed earlier.
When he was done preaching, he asked Simon to take the boat out further, where it was deeper, and to let down his nets so he could catch fish. Simon was confused and replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Confused, he put the nets down and this time, they were so full of fish that they began to tear! He shouted for his partner with the other boat to come and help. Shortly afterwards, both boats were so full, they were on the verge of sinking!
Although Simon could not understand why Jesus would want him to go fishing again after coming back empty-handed following hours of fishing in that same sea, he responded in faith by letting down his nets. His faith was rewarded with a catch so big, that it almost sunk both boats! When Simon realized what had just happened, he fell to his knees and said “Oh, Lord, please leave me – I’m such a sinful man.” He was amazed at what had just happened, with all the fish they had caught, and did not feel deserving of such a good thing. His partners, James and John, were also amazed!
Jesus could not tell Simon what was about to happen to him, that he would follow Jesus to help spread God’s word and would help many others come to make a heart change and live an eternal life. Instead, he used the miracle of catching so many fish following his response to Jesus’s request. This example would stick with Simon as opposed to Jesus just walking up and asking him to follow him to teach other God’s word. If someone had told me anytime in the last 53 years that I would be writing this book, and living the life I am living now, I would have looked at them like they had four heads! The experiences I have had over the last three years have been so profound and wonderful (even though they were still very challenging at times for me as I had to see my role in all I had experienced throughout my life), that there is no mistake where everything was coming from. God does have the power to change hearts – I am so living proof of that! When I started this journey 4 years ago, I could not even say the word Jesus. Now, not only can I say it with love, but I am writing a book about his life in hopes that you can open your heart to him as well and learn to walk with him through the ups and downs in your life! It is not easy, but it is so worth it!
Jesus told Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” Simon (who Jesus called Peter) and his partners, James and John, left everything and followed Jesus. They formed his inner circle. This is the type of commitment that is the essence of true discipleship (a follower of Christ).