Through the Bible - I Kings 21-22, John 3:22-36
Good morning,
A key in yesterday's passage in Isaiah chapter 6 was Isaiah's reaction to the events. He said "I am undone". Think about that for a minute. Can you picture him "coming apart at the seams", his pride his previous perceptions of God unravelling at the majesty that he had just witnessed?
He had just warned the nation of their sins in chapter 5 with 7 woes. There may have been some pride involved, but now he realizes that he also needs to repent, he needs cleansing.
For today's verse we'll turn to the New Testament in Luke chapter 5. Peter was a fisherman by trade. He had experience in what he was doing. Obviously experience didn't always lead to success, they had just fished all night and caught nothing.
Jesus tells him to launch out into the deep and cast out the net. What would you have expected the reaction to be from a Jewish fisherman? Capernaum was his home, he knew these waters. Peter knew how to catch fish, they just weren't there that night. This Jesus is no fisherman, why should I listen to him? I am sure that he had some doubts and that Jesus instructions went against the normal way of doing things, of fishing "nevertheless" he let down the nets. They pulled in so many fish that they had to call out another boat to haul them in.
What was this professional fisherman's response? Hey Jesus, why not stop by every couple of weeks and do this, I'll split the profits with you, all you have to do is tell me where to fish? No, far from it.
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!" NKJV
He had just seen the majesty, the glory of God, in the person of Jesus. His response was much like Isaiah's. All of his pride, his doubts about this Jesus had been removed. He realized that he was in the presence of the Holy One displaying His divine power and authority, and he was shook up over the shame of his own pride, his sin.
[Depart from me] This is an expression of Peter's humility, and of his consciousness of his unworthiness. It was not from want of love to Jesus; it did not show that he would not be pleased with his favor and presence; but it was the result of being convinced that Jesus was a messenger from God-a high and holy being; and he felt that HE was unworthy to be in his presence. In his deep consciousness of sin, therefore, he requested that Jesus would depart from him and his little vessel. Peter's feeling was not unnatural, though it was not proper to request Jesus to leave him. It was an involuntary, sudden request, and arose from ignorance of the character of Jesus. We "are" not worthy to be with him, to be reckoned among his friends, or to dwell in heaven with him; but he came to seek the lost and to save the impure. He graciously condescends to dwell with those who are humble and contrite, though they are conscious that they are not worthy of his presence; and we may therefore come boldly to him, and ask him to receive us to his home-to an eternal dwelling with him in the heavens. (from Barnes' Notes.)
James and John were there as well, witnessing all of this. Jesus told all of them, "from now on you will catch men."
How does the passage speak to you today? Has Jesus been telling you to do something differently? Are you willing, like Peter to go ahead and cast out into the deep?
Think about it.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
Luke 5:1-12
Four Fishermen Called as Disciples(Matt 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20)
5 So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."
5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." 6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, 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 and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
NKJV
No comments:
Post a Comment