If You Say So

After Jesus had taught from Simon Peters’ boat, (Lk 5) He told him to cast his fishing nets out where it is deeper.  Peter responded they had already fished all night, “But if You say so…”  They put their nets in. The catch was so large, the nets began to break.  Peter had to get other fishermen and their boat to help.  This miraculous catch caused all those observing to be in awe.  Two of these awestruck men were the brothers, James, and John.  Going ashore, they left everything and followed Jesus. *

WHAT IF? (For the sake of making a point). What if Peter had declined to do what Jesus said, “It’s ok, I’m a professional fisherman, I got this” and went about his business? 

WHAT IF? What if Peter delayed his obedience?  Delayed it an hour or two?  “F-I-N-E, I’ll drop the nets.” Perhaps by then James and John (in the other boat) would have been out of ear shot or too far away to help and the nets would have broken – the fish, the great catch, slip away back in to the deep.  Perhaps their delay missed the school of fish that now travels in another direction.

WHAT IF?  What if Peter didn’t go all the way out to deeper water, stopping short, dropping the nets in shallow water.   Yes, he again had let down the nets, but NOT in the deep water.  Reluctant to fully obey – devaluing Jesus’ words.

There is a strong principle for us: OUR obedience to Jesus does not just load up our boats of blessing – it causes others to be in awe – awe of Him.  Our listening and doing what Jesus says (now) can lead ourselves (and others) in redirection to follow Him and leave it all behind. Our obedience is not for us alone.  

May we not decline, delay or devalue what Jesus says. (Our response affects others).

Point to Ponder.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds.” – Hebrews 10:24)

*Scholars are divided whether this incident is identical with Jesus’ call of these fishermen as recorded in Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20.  Meaning, they all may be telling the same story, with more or less information or from a different angle.  The story above happened about one year after Jesus and Peter’s initial introduction (John 1:35-42).