Launch Out into the Deep - Luke 5:4

The beloved physician Luke shared how, “it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God", Jesus "stood by the lake of Gennesaret, and saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship”, and in chapter five and verse four of his book Luke shared how Jesus, “left speaking” and “said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep” where we read:

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,

Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

The verse reads, “Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon,” Luke began with the words, “Now when” or “moreover and at the time and moment” “he had left speaking” which means “Jesus finished and completed His uttering, declaring, proclaiming and teaching”, “he said unto Simon” or “Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed to Simon whose name means a little rock or stone”. Luke shared how Jesus stopped teaching the crowd and began speaking to “Simon Peter”.

The verse continues, “Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.” Luke added the words, “launch out into the deep” which means “lead the boat out and return to the deeper waters”, “and let down your nets” or “and loosen and strike your fishing nets” “for a draught” which means “toward catching a haul of fish”. Luke shared how Jesus told “Simon” to take his boat out to “deeper waters” and “loosen” his “fishing nets” to take in a great “haul” of fish.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus knew when it was time not only to finish speaking to the crowd, but also when to “launch out into the deep”. Jesus had a plan, and because He was intentional in teaching about the Kingdom of God, He desired to share vocally and physically about it. Basically Jesus told “Simon” to “go fishing again”, and though we shall see that he had “fished all night”, “Simon” will obey Him. God desires to convince people that He is interested in saving them from their sinful state, and He sent Jesus not only to teach about His “gospel”, but also to demonstrate it with power. Those who examine the speech and ways of Jesus will find Him to be the “Messiah of God”, and when they do, submission to Him is the best decision a person will ever make.

Next time Luke shares how Peter says to Jesus, “Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing”, 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".