Last evening, Daniel Powers offered a devotional and invitation after class. As always, he had great insight. I enjoy whenever he speaks, whether it’s a devo or in Bible class; he always brings a sharp mind and a clever take on his subject matter. We’re blessed to have him at North Heights. Daniel’s focus yesterday was taken from Luke 5, and while he spoke an idea came to me.
Here’s the text…
1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, 2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 3And 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. 4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5And 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. 6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7And 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. 8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: 10And 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. 11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
(Luke 5:1-11)
It’s a text we’re all familiar with, but as I listened to Daniel teach it, the thought occurred to me that, in this moment, Peter, James, and John fulfilled the summary of the call of Christ…
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(Matthew 16:24)
Peter denied himself by saying “at thy word I will let down the net.” He had toiled all night and caught nothing. It’s at that point where many would have said “so there’s no use trying again.” Peter, however, fought against the impulse to control his own destiny. He rejected the tiredness of his arms and back, weary after a long night of fishing in vain. Instead, the Master gave a command and the servant obeyed. Like Peter, we must deny ourselves and do as the Lord commands.
After the miracle, Peter (along with James and John) opened their hands and released their nets, forsaking the life of fishermen for a life of fishing for men. They became committed, full-time disciples of the Lord from this point forward, dedicating themselves to finding others to bring to the Master. This life of theirs will end with their own deaths. In Peter’s case, it will end with a cross of his own. And when the day comes that Peter will be killed, he will not hesitate to go to his death. The decision to die in service to Jesus will not be made in haste; it was made long ago, when he and the sons of Zebedee first met the Lord on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. They forsook their nets. In so doing, they picked up their cross, pledging their lives and their deaths to the Lord. We must do the same. We must forsake our lives, and pick up our crosses, ready to live and die for the King.
Finally, Peter and the others follow Jesus. Where did He go? His feet took him all over Galilee, through Samaria, into Judea, and back and forth multiple times before His death. He went all over the old stomping grounds of Joshua and David, from the remains of Judah’s land in the south to the former land of Asher’s tribe in the north. From the west side of the Jordan to the east, and everywhere in between. All the while, He slept wherever He could, ate whatever He found, and walked wherever He willed. He had no home, and the disciples with Him had no homes either; He was their home. They did not just “follow Him” from one town to the next; they pledges their lives to Him, and determined to follow where He led them. We must have the same commitment. The Lord is not walking the earth anymore. We have homes. And yet, He leads us still. We must follow Him.
~Matthew