He couldn’t remember such a long boring night. The hours had seemed to stretch on forever. He hadn’t done much, no one had. And yet, he was as sore as if he had been hauling nets all night. The break of dawn had never been so eagerly greeted. As soon as it was light enough to see the passengers in the other boat, both groups headed for shore and bid the long night farewell.
They reached land and pulled their boats up onto the sandy beach. Wearily they dragged their nets from the boats and began the tedious process of cleaning the nets. All Peter could think of was going home and going to sleep. But sleep would not come soon.
In the distance the four men washing their nets saw a crowd headed their way. They all looked at each and said simultaneously, “Jesus!” If there was a crowd, you could be sure Jesus was right in the middle of it.
The men kept washing their nets and watching the crowd get closer. Soon the crowd was spilling onto the beach making it virtually impossible for Peter, Andrew, James, and John to go home. The men sighed heavily.
It wasn’t long before the ever-smiling face of Jesus could be seen in the crowd. Jesus emerged and headed toward the fisherman. When He arrived, Jesus explained that he wanted to utilize one of their boats as a platform for teaching the people. The beach was so crowded that He wouldn’t be able to move around as He taught. By sitting in the boat, the people could see Him and hear Him. Would that be OK?
It was on the tip of Peter’s tongue to decline and tell Jesus they were going to try to squeeze through the crowd and head home. But a glance at John made Peter hold his tongue. “Of course,” Peter replied, and they all piled into his boat.
Normally Peter thoroughly enjoyed listening to Jesus, but this day he was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. A couple of times Andrew elbowed him and accused him of snoring. Nonsense! Peter didn’t snore!
As Jesus brought His teaching to a close, Peter began to get ready to leave. However, his plan was interrupted.
“When [Jesus] had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’” (Luke 5:4)
This time Peter couldn’t keep it in. “But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing.’” (Luke 5:5)
Peter looked pleadingly at Jesus begging Jesus with his eyes to do it another time. Jesus just kept looking back at Peter expectantly. Andrew elbowed him again, John rolled his eyes, and James snorted.
Finally, Peter replied, “Nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” (Luke 5:5)
Peter, Andrew, and Jesus got into the boat and headed back out onto the Sea of Galilee. Peter wanted to explain to Jesus – the carpenter – that you just don’t fish in the daylight. The fish can see the nets, and they stay away. But instead, he obediently rowed the boat out into the deep water. He was not looking forward to rewashing the empty nets when they returned to shore. He stifled a sigh.
While Peter and Andrew had been rowing, Jesus had been staring into the water. Finally, Jesus turned to Peter and Andrew and called out, “Here. Stop here.” Peter and Andrew put down their oars and went to where Jesus was sitting. They leaned over the side of the boat and looked into the water where Jesus had been looking. They saw nothing. Jesus smiled and said, “Throw your net here.”
Peter and Andrew looked at each a moment before reaching for the net. Expertly Peter twirled the net over his head several times and then let it fly. Jesus watched as the net settled for a moment on the surface of the water and then began to sink. The smile never left His face.
Peter whispered to Andrew, “How long should we leave the net in the water before hauling the empty net back out?” Andrew looked at Jesus and just shrugged. They didn’t have to wait long.
“And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” (Luke 5:6-7)
Unbelievable! This was absolutely unbelievable! Peter had never seen anything like this. He knew that Jesus was different. Peter had seen the underlying power in all that Jesus said and did. But he never realized that Jesus had THAT much power. If he had had any doubts before, they were all gone. Peter now knew two things. One, that Jesus was the holy One of Israel, and two, Peter had to follow Jesus wherever He went. Everywhere. All the time.
“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’” (Luke 5:8)
Jesus looked down at Peter who was desperately clinging to Him and said, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” (Luke 5:10)
Peter only had an inkling of what that meant because Jesus had used fishing terms to explain it. But he didn’t really understand it, and he didn’t care. As long as he was with Jesus, nothing else mattered.
“So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” (Luke 5:11)
Have you seen the holy One of Israel through power of His Word? Have you made the decision to follow Jesus wherever He goes? (Revelation 14:4) Can you echo the cry of David:
“One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
“Thus says God the Lord, . . . I will . . . bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”
(Isaiah 42:5-7)
This is why Binding Broken Hearts is passionate about getting God’s Word into prisons and into the hands of inmates who so desperately need to see Jesus revealed in His Word and to respond to His call to follow Him. Because these are men and women who need Jesus most.
Perhaps you want to help spread the power of His Word to an inmate who desperately needs its power. If so, please consider becoming a financial partner with us. Click here to see how you can help.