Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Luke 5.4. Indeed, it’s the well-known account of the miraculous fishing and of another marvelous event: Simon’s conversion. For, while the divine Master teaches the crowds next to him, he washes his nets soiled by the fruitless work of the previous night. Then Jesus is going to force him to listen and asks him to lead him on the lake, so as to address himself from the boat to the people massed on the shore, at the same time to the man who is next to him. Then the Lord will speak yet another way to Simon and his companions.
Then he filled their net, making himself known as the Master of the universe, the One who commands the fish of the sea (Ps 8: 4-10) and who can do everything where man can do nothing. Then seized with fear, and convinced of sin by the presence of the Lord, Simon threw himself on his knees, exclaiming: “Depart from me…”. But was it to withdraw from him that the loving Savior sought the sinner? Because we find him later become a fisher of men, and being the means of a miraculous fishing of about 3,000 souls (Acts 2.37-41).
However, the night being more favorable for fishing than the day, the work of these fishermen had been unsuccessful. So it is with all the efforts of man without Christ: for they are in vain, while with the Lord, even under the most unfavorable conditions, they bear fruit. So, to be sure of the blessing, it is necessary to do as Peter: that is to say, to obey the word of Jesus. For having followed Jesus’ command, they caught such a quantity of fish that, seeing their net breaking, they called for help their companions from the other boat. And they filled the two boats to the point where they sank.
In the end, the account of this miraculous catch due to the blessing of the Lord Jesus, teaches us that not only the natural man cannot do anything without God, but above all that he does not even know how to benefit from the divine blessing. ; for he is a vessel incapable of supporting it. And in this state, all that God could do for him is lost, as we see from this fishing, where fishermen, fish and boat were all lost.
For Simon Peter having seen this manifestation of the power of Jesus, feels fear, as well as his companions, among whom were James and John. He immediately understands that he is in the presence of God and, throwing himself at Jesus’ knees, he says to him: “Lord, depart from me, for I am a sinful man”. The feeling of the presence of God always produces the conviction of sin; This is what must happen in order for one to feel the need for salvation and then accept it.
In fact, when the word of God is presented to a sinner, if it acts on his conscience, it first brings forth in him not joy, but the fear of God whom he has offended; then grace, which came with the truth, teaches him what God has done to take away his sin and gives him the joy of salvation. Recall that Isaiah experienced these feelings when he found himself before the same Lord, who then was not a man in a boat, but Jehovah on his throne; and the skirts of her robe filled the temple (Isa 6: 1-7). When the prophet heard the seraphim proclaim the holiness and the glory of the Lord, he cried out: “Woe to me! because I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the king, the LORD of hosts ”. Then an angel took a charcoal from off the altar and touched the mouth of the prophet who was purified by the contact of the fire of the judgment of God, carried by the burnt victim on the altar. It was said to him: “Behold, this has touched your lips; and thy iniquity is taken away, and atonement is made for thy sin ”. It was because Jesus had to take away the sins of Peter and his companions that he was with them in the boat and could say to Peter, convicted of sin: “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will take men ”. What infinite grace is expressed in these words: “Fear not!” The man, who had to fear the deserved judgment, finds himself in the presence of him who, being God, became man to bear this judgment; that is why Jesus can say to a sinner what amounts to: “Do not be afraid, because I will go to judgment in your place, I will bear the penalty for your sins”. By virtue of the power that Jesus displayed in grace in this world, he announces to Peter that, by this same power, he will no longer take fish, but men whom he will draw from the sea of this world of sin and darkness. , to bring them to the wonderful light of God. Peter and his associates, James and John, left everything and followed Jesus.
Therefore, only the new birth allows us to receive the blessing of God. And it is also for this that Jesus came into the world to accomplish the work of redemption which places man in a new state where he can work fruitfully for the Lord and enjoy all the goods that grace grants him for the Lord. time and eternity. Also, by virtue of the death of Christ, the blessing is sure and the believer is able to enjoy it. And this is what will take place in a very special way for the Millennium (John 21).
The verses below have been compiled for your edification and put together for your better understanding.
The miraculous fishing (Jn 21.6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish).
- Divine commandments
Mt 28.20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jn 13.34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. Jn 14.15 “If you love me, keep my commands; Jn 15.10, 14 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command; Ac 10.42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.; 1 John 3.23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
- Proven faith: examples:
- by a strange campaign plan: Jos 6.3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
- by reducing the number of a general: Jg 7.7 The LORD said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.”
- by demanding that one depend on a poor widow: 1 K 17.9 “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.”
- by claiming the last piece of bread: 1 K 17.13 Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
- by demanding what seemed like unnecessary work: 2 K 3.16 and he said, “This is what the LORD says: I will fill this valley with pools of water.
- by requiring significant preparation, with no blessing in sight: 2 Kings 4.3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.
- other examples:
Mt 9.28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Mk 7.27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” He 11.8, 17, 36 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, James 1.3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 1 P 1.7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.;
- Obedience to Christ: examples:
Mt 4.20 At once they left their nets and followed him. Mat 7.24 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Mt 9.9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. Mt 21.6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. Mt 26.19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover; Lk 5.5 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.”; Lk 6.47 But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”; Jn 2.7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim; Jn 11.29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him; Jn 14.21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”; Jn 21.6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
- Providence gives in excess: Ps 23.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Jl 2.24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil; M1 3.10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it; Mt 14.20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over; Luke 6.38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
From all that precedes, we note that this miraculous fishing due to the blessing of the Lord Jesus, teaches us that, not only the natural man cannot do anything without God, but especially that he does not even know how to benefit from the blessing. Divine; for he is a vessel incapable of supporting it. And in this state, all that God could do for him is lost, as we see from this fishing, where fishermen, fish and boat were all lost. Because only the new birth allows us to receive the blessing of God. And this is also why Jesus came into the world to accomplish the work of redemption which places man in a new state where he can work fruitfully for the Lord and enjoy all the goods that grace grants him for. time and eternity. Also, by virtue of Christ’s death, the blessing is sure and the believer is able to enjoy it. And that’s what will take place in a very special way for the millennium. For by the power that Jesus displayed in grace in this world, he announces to Peter that by this same power, he will no longer take fish, but men whom he will draw from the sea of this world of sin and darkness, to bring them to the wonderful light of God. Our prayers support you all in your efforts to reach this divine light.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week
“the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter and the healing of a woman who had been sick for twelve years”.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.