Tammy On Tuesday ~ When Jesus Steps In

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Have you ever tried to do something and failed?  You might have worked really hard, planned well, prepared and…after giving your all, failure. Is there something in your life that you’ve been trying to do and you continually see nothing but dead ends and closed doors?

Are you facing something right now where you see failure at every turn?  You’ve heard the phrase, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” And you have tried and tried again…only to meet with failure.

If you’re discouraged, my friend, I trust you heart will be encouraged as mine was while reading a passage in Luke 5. Let’s look at it:

1 One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 

3 Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.

PINIMAGEJesus was preaching on the shore of Galilee and as his popularity grew, many came to hear him.  Before long, Jesus was getting pressed in on every side with people.  He saw some boats and so he asked Simon, the owner of one of the boats if he could push it off shore a bit and sit in the boat to teach the people.  Remember this, Simon was the owner of the boat. 

Next we see, when Jesus finishes preaching, He gives Simon specific instruction. “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

The thing is, Simon had fished ALL NIGHT and didn’t catch anything.  He had experienced disappointment.  I’m sure he was tired.

They prepared.

They planned.

They toiled.

They failed.

PINIMAGEI remember my Dad had a boat with Fisherman painted on the side.  He loved to fish. In fact, I’m pretty sure Fisherman was his CB handle.  He was a serious fisherman.  He knew all about the right test of line for whatever he was fishing that day.  He had a depth finder and knew how far down to cast. He knew what fish tasted best and how to prepare it.  And he was always looking for that big catch. I learned a ton about fishing as I watched the “Fisherman”.  Whenever he returned home from his hard work on the water, we would celebrate with a huge fish fry.

But there were a few occasions that he’d return with nothing.  I remember as little girl I would often jump up into the boat on the trailer and open the big cooler to see if I could find the biggest fish. I was surprised and a little sad when the cooler was empty.  Sometimes he said, “The fish just weren’t biting.”

Simon was probably not thrilled that they fished all night and “the cooler was empty”.  Now Jesus is instructing him to go out into the deep and let down his nets…to catch some fish.

Look at Simon’s response.

We worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.

I stopped for a moment to re-read Simon’s response to Jesus.  He doesn’t seem cynical.  He seems resigned.  He’s basically saying, “I’ve faced disappointment. I know the sea.  I’ve learned from experience. After a whole night of fishing, I don’t expect going out again will be any good.  But, because You have instructed. I will go.”

I’m sure Simon knew much about fishing and the Sea of Galilee.  But from his response, I believe he knows even more about Who it is that instructed him to go.  So he does.

Look at what happened because of his obedience.

6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

So what do we see in this story and how does it help you, my friend, if you are feeling defeated and discouraged?

Simon owns the boat. This is Simon’s encounter with Jesus.  Jesus is going to show Simon something about Himself, he had not yet seen before.  This miracle was personal.  How about your circumstance?  Does Jesus have a personal miracle in store for you?

Simon faced past disappointment and failure. Maybe you’re saying, “Jesus, I tried and failed. I’m doubtful of a different outcome. I know this circumstance all too well and I don’t see any hope in sight.”

Simon chooses obedience when it doesn’t make sense.  Ever been there?  Ever said “no” to Jesus because human reasoning says, “It won’t work.”? Simon knew enough about Jesus to take a step and see what He would do.  In the face of doubt, he obeyed.

And this time, Simon sets out with Jesus in the boat.  (Why do I feel like that last sentence was a “mic drop” moment?  Maybe because everything’s different when Jesus is in the boat!) Simon tries again, with Jesus.

Simon encounters Jesus’s power and blessing. Because Simon didn’t let his human understanding and expertise as a fisherman drive his decision, but instead trusted Jesus enough to go back out; he saw the difference it made with Jesus in the boat.  He saw Jesus’s power that trumps all earthly conditions.  Even the fish had to obey Jesus’s command.  Think about that!

Simon’s friends were also impacted because of Simon’s obedience.  A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat and soon both boats were full.  The blessing of Simon’s obedience was so great it spilled out onto the people around him.  Imagine it.  We serve a God of abundance. His resources and power are endless.  How could your obedience impact those around you?  Your family. Your children. Your church. Your town.  When you obey, others often benefit.  We don’t have the capacity to contain God’s abundance.  It just naturally spills over.

Simon responds appropriately. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.

When we see God do what according to human reasoning can’t be done,

When we see God do the unthinkable,

When we see God pour out His power in a personal way,

When we see God shatter our doubts and disappointments with provision,

Our appropriate response is awe and worship.

Simon is forever changed because of his new understanding of Jesus.  I love how Jesus tells Simon

• Now go out where it is deeper – I’m getting ready to take you deeper, Simon.  Will you obey?

• let down your nets – “Wait expectantly, Simon. Get prepared.  Get your nets out in anticipation of what I’ll do.”  Could you imagine if Simon when out in obedience but never let down the nets?  How tragic it would be to trust God only half-way, to only partially obey.  He HAD TO let down his nets.

• to catch some fish. – He doesn’t say here, “You might catch some fish”…or “In case you catch some fish.”  Jesus controls the outcome.  And even the fish obey.

Friend, my heart was so encouraged by this simple story of a fisherman.  I trust it’s speaking to someone today.

Have you faced disappointment?

Are you ready to give up?

Are you saying, “It’s no use!”?

Is Jesus asking the seemingly impossible or absurd?

If He’s asking you to obey in something, do it!  Follow it through to the end.  And then, get ready to brace yourself to see His power on display.

Obey Him

Trust Him

I pray you’ll see today the difference “when Jesus steps in.”