According to he beloved physician Luke, Jesus spoke from Simon's boat to a crowd of people who were gathered on the shore of lake Gennesaret, and afterward, “he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at your word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And 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. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken”, and in chapter five and verse ten of his book Luke shares about, “James, and John, the sons of Zebedee which were partners with Simon” where we read:
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.
And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth you shall catch men.
The verse reads, “And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon.” Luke began with the words, “And so was also James” or “and even so and indeed was James whose name means supplanter”, “and John” which means “Jehovah is a gracious giver”, “the sons of Zebedee” or “the male offspring and progeny of Zebedee whose name means my gift and was a fisherman in Galilee”, “which were partners” which means “who were associates, comrades and companions” “with Simon” or “alongside Simon whose name means a little rock or stone”. Luke shared how “James and John” who were “Zebedee's sons” were with “Simon” when they caught this massive haul of fish.
The verse goes on to say, “And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth you shall catch men.” Luke continued with the words, “and Jesus said unto Simon” which means “and Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate uttered, declared and proclaimed to Simon whose name means a little rock or stone”, “Fear not” or “do not be put to flight, startled, struck with amazement or afraid”; “from henceforth” which means “from this time forward and now” “you shall catch men” or “you, Simon, will take captive, ensnare and alive people both male and female”. Luke shared how Jesus comforted Simon by instructing him not to be “afraid” because from this point forward he would be a “fisher of men”.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus took this physical miracle of the multitude of fish and turned it to a “spiritual” alteration in Simon's life. Peter was a “fisherman”, and Jesus used his employment to encourage and strengthen him toward the purpose He had in mind for Simon's life. Peter was “catcher of fish”, but from this point on he would “catch men” for the Kingdom of God. God gives abilities to people in various areas of vocation, and when a person humbles themselves before Him, He is able to take that temporary area of “expertise” and turn it toward and “eternal” purpose He has in mind. Regardless of what a person does “for a living”, when they yield their lives to Him, Jesus will use it to further His Kingdom and bring many into the “saving grace” of His Father God.
Next time Luke shares how Peter, James and John, “forsook all, and followed him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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