GOING DEEPER
Opening Prayer
Lord, as I seek to follow you, show me, your disciple, where your footsteps would lead me.
Read LUKE 5:1-11
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Footnotes
- Luke 5:1 That is, the Sea of Galilee
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
‘May I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly, day by day’ (Richard of Chichester).*Jesus was no stranger to Simon. When Andrew introduced them, Jesus gave Simon a new name: Cephas or Peter (John 1:41,42). Simon had already answered the call to follow Jesus (Mark 1:16-18) and experienced Jesus’ power up close and personal when his own mother-in-law was healed (Luke 4:38,39). Simon accompanied Jesus as he preached the good news throughout Judea (Mark 1:35- 39) and their base for this Galilean ministry was probably Simon’s house in Capernaum.
Discipleship is a relationship in which Jesus keeps calling us to deeper levels of intimacy, trust, and commitment. But it seems that Simon is still splashing around in shallow waters! While Jesus teaches the crowds, Simon is busy with his nets (vs 1,2). Although he readily permits his boat to be used as a pulpit, when Jesus tells him to cast his nets in deep waters, Simon is skeptical. Despite saying ‘Master,’ his obedience seems half-hearted (vs 4,5).
The breakthrough comes with a net-breaking catch of fish (v 6). It brings Simon to his knees. Now he addresses Jesus as ‘Lord,’ This glorious glimpse of who Jesus really is has Simon confessing that he ‘can’t handle this holiness,’ which exposes the depths of his own sinfulness (v 8, The Message; compare Isaiah 6:1-8). Simon Peter is finally going deeper (vs 10,11).
Apply
‘Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders…/Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander/And my faith will be made stronger.’**
Closing prayer
Thank you, Jesus, for calling and saving me; thank you for giving me the privilege to partner with your Spirit in sharing the gospel.
*www.loyolapress.com/catholic-resources/prayer/traditional-catholic-prayers/ saints-prayers/day-by-day- prayer-of-saint-richard-of-chichester/
**’Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)’, Hillsong United 2013.
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