Scripture Reference: Luke 5:1-11
In the above Scripture verses Jesus steps into Simon Peter’s fishing boat and asked Simon Peter if he could push him out a little way so that He would be able to speak to the large crowd of people. Jesus needed a vantage point where the people could hear and see Him well.
The word tells us that Jesus didn’t ask whether He could use his boat. He just got in and asked Simon Peter to push Him out a little way so that He could teach. Simon Peter didn’t seem to have any problem with Jesus getting into his fishing boat without asking or with pushing Jesus out from the shore a bit.
I believe that Simon Peter recognized the authority that Jesus carried as a teacher of the Gospel. I am sure that he had heard many stories about Jesus by this time.
Comment: Do people recognize the authority that we carry as men of God?
Jesus didn’t have to go around with a name badge telling everyone, Hey I am a teacher, you better listen to me. As men of God, we have the Holy Spirit living in us and if we are totally surrendered to Him our authority will be noticeable.
After Jesus finished teaching, He told Simon Peter to put his boat out into deep water for a catch of fish. Simon Peter was very reluctant to do this as they had been fishing all night and caught nothing. Some of these nets could be a 100 ft. long and it was a lot of work to clean them. However, Simon Peter obeyed Jesus’ command and was greatly rewarded for his efforts.
Comment: Blessings come to us when we obey our Christian leaders!!
The catch was so large that the nets were starting to break, and Simon Peter’s crew had a hard time handling this catch of fish and had to call out to other partners in another fishing boat to help bring in the catch. Amazingly the catch grew even larger so that both boats began to sink.
Comment: If Simon Peter and his partners had more boats, fishing boats and crews available, the catch would have been even greater.
This Biblical account is a picture of the end time harvest. The partners in the other boat represent our brothers who are called to share in the work of bringing souls into God’s Kingdom.
The harvest is bigger than any one Church or Ministry can handle. I believe that God wants all of us to be a part of the bigger picture and man the nets. We must remember that it is not about us but about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who gave up his life for all who will receive Him.
Collectively our goal should be to lay down our differences and work together to bring in the Harvest. God’s Word says that the Harvest is ripe, but the workers are few, so we need to be in a place of unity to carry out Jesus´ great commission instructions.
Final thought
If we do not have enough fishing boats, nets, and crew members (fishers of men) ready and willing to work together in unity for a common purpose then the Harvest will only grow to our capacity to be able to handle it!
Jesus said that it is His will that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9) Jesus finished His work while He was on earth. Now we are to do our part to lead people to receive what Jesus Christ accomplished at the Cross when by dying for our sins and reconciling us to our Heavenly Father.
It is time to get are nets ready for the Harvest. There is many more coming in!