Peter, Jesus, and a Boat

It starts off as just another normal day in the life of Peter.  At this point he was not a follow of Christ, he wasn’t one of the twelve disciples, he was just another ordinary man trying to do his best to provide a good living for his family.  The story picks up in Luke 5:1 where a multitude had gathered sometime around midmorning somewhere on the shores of Galilee to listen to Jesus preach.  At this point Jesus was beginning to gain quite a bit of notoriety among all the people especially since just a few verses prior to this He had healed everyone in the city (LK.4:40-41)! Wow!  We also know that Peter knew of Jesus because Jesus had healed Peters mother in law (LK.4:38-39).  So when such a large crowd gathered to hear Jesus, it became real obvious that Jesus needed a little more help with amplification.  What does he do? There on the shore, He sees two boats not being used.  The fisherman had left them to clean their nets and get them ready for another night of fishing.  However, fishing back then, as well as cleaning nets and boats was no easy task.  It was very demanding, very hard work.  So it’s fair to assume that Peter was not only exhausted from a long night of fishing and cleaning his boat and his nets but I’m pretty sure he didn’t feel like lending his boat to anyone.  But how could he turn away Jesus request?  He sees the people hungry and eager to hear Jesus preach.  Some were late for work, others decided not to go to work, kids stayed home from school, everyone both young and old, from all walks of life was just enamored with this Galilean preacher.  Also, weighing on Peters conscious was the recent memory of Jesus healing his mother in law.  So when Jesus needs a boat to use to speak to the crowd Peter figures the least he can do is turn over the keys to the real captain, the King of Kings!

Jesus climbs on the boat, speaks to the crowd (I’m sure it was an amazing message!) and then He gives Peter a command that would forever change his life. He says to Peter “launch out into the deep, and let down the nets for a catch.”  I wonder what Peter was thinking at that very moment?  Did he think, “  excuse me, you want me to let down these nets? Are you sure? These are the nets I just spent the last hour cleaning?”  Did Peter think, “are you kidding me, right now is not the time to fish!” I know when to fish and right now-midmorning is definitely not the time to fish!  Did he think to himself, “Jesus is a carpenter, He’s not a fisherman, He has no idea what He’s talking about.”  We can only imagine what thoughts ran through his mind but we do know that Peter answered and said, “Master, we have been fishing all night and we have caught nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.”

I really love this, at “YOUR WORD”; the bible says “faith cometh by hearing and hearing the word of God.”  When Peter launched out into the deep and when he let down his nets for a catch we see that Peter had a whole new problem on his hands. He almost lost his boat!  (Quick note: Don’t ever try to hold on to the things Jesus is asking you to give Him, no matter how valuable you think they are, if you hold on to them eventually you will loose them anyway!)  In just a moment of time, with one spoken word from Jesus, he had caught so many fish he began to panic, yelling to his partners and his friends to come out and help him.  His boat, his treasure, his most prized possession was sinking.  Wow what a moment!  This is the same Peter who knew how to fish. This is the same guy who grew up fishing the waters of Galilee and a few minutes earlier was complaining to Jesus that he had fished all night and caught nothing.

Here’s the problem.  A few hours earlier Peter was fishing by himself with the exception of a few hired hands but now the difference is Peter has Jesus, the creator, the King of Kings on his boat.  As a result, his business as well as the business of his friends goes through the roof! Remember, obedience is better than sacrifice.

My question to you today: Is Jesus on your boat? I’m not asking you if you go to church or if you’re a Christian, I’m asking you is Jesus involved in all that you do, in every area of your life?  Not just your Sunday morning but your “everyday”.  Is He involved in everything you do?  You see Peters fishing business was everything to him.  It was the way he made a living and fed is family.  But it wasn’t until Peter got out of the way and gave Jesus his boat that his life literally changed forever.

I want to encourage you today to stop whatever your doing and give Jesus your boat.  Give Him your business, your marriage, your kids; give Him every area of your life. Relinquish control today and allow Him to be the captain of all you do! I promise you; you will never regret it!

If Jesus is on your boat, then launch out into the deep, dream big and watch Him do things with you that you didn’t think was possible!

May Gods’ blessings cover you today!

Set ablaze for Jesus,

Your friend and Co-laborer,

Bernie Moore