We can tell what is really important to someone by seeing how he spends his time. For example, if a man says that he loves his family, but never spends any time with them – even though he has the opportunity to do so – we know that his family is not as important to him as other things. This same principle is true with regard to spiritual things. For example, if we say that we love Christ but are not willing to give Him much of our available time and resources then, perhaps, we do not really love Him as much as we say we do.
During Jesus’ time here on earth, many people became His disciples. However, the time came when Jesus asked His disciples to make a definite commitment. Would they follow Him in reality, or would they go on with their lives as they had before? The situation was like this: After the people at Nazareth rejected Him, Jesus moved to the town of Capernaum. This was the place where many of His early disciples lived. One Sabbath day, Jesus healed a demon-possessed man in the synagogue. As soon as the Sabbath was over, the people of Capernaum brought a large number of the sick to Jesus and He healed them. Early the next day Jesus went by Himself to a solitary place to pray. When His disciples found Him, they, and the crowds, urged Him to stay at Capernaum. However, Jesus said that it was necessary for Him to preach in the other towns also. It appears that Jesus asked His disciples to accompany Him on this preaching tour, but they refused.
In chapter 5, verses 1 through 11 of his inspired Gospel, Luke tells us what occurred when Jesus returned from His tour. “Now while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets. He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.” When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.”
Luke writes as if the men washing their nets and the man from whom Jesus borrowed the boat were unknown to Him. However, we know from other accounts that Jesus was already well acquainted with Simon, James and John. In fact, they were among the first to listen to Jesus’ teaching and to follow Him. They accompanied Jesus when He attended the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. They witnessed many of the miracles Jesus performed. Jesus had even healed Simon’s mother-in-law. Since these men already had such a close relationship with Jesus, why were they tending nets instead of helping Jesus minister to the people crowding around Him? Why had they gone back to their fishing business?
Though Scripture does not say this, it is probable they thought they had already given Jesus all the time they could spare. They had families to feed. How could they take care of their other responsibilities if they spent all their time with Jesus? They were still willing to listen to Him. They were still willing to help Him as long as it was convenient and didn’t take too much time and effort.
Simon was willing to let Jesus use his boat so He could teach the crowd more easily. But when Jesus asked Simon to let down the nets, he objected. “We’ve already put in a hard night’s work. Now is the time to rest, not to do even more work. I just finished washing my nets. If I put them in the water I’ll just have to wash them again, to no purpose.”
When Simon stated that they had caught nothing after a night of hard work, he also implied another objection. “What does a carpenter know about fishing? I’m the professional here. If I wasn’t able to catch anything, then you certainly won’t be able to. This is a waste of time!”
Whatever Simon may have been thinking in his heart, he decided to humor Jesus. “If you insist, I’ll put out the nets even though I know it’s pointless.” When he did, he and his partners in the fishing business received a tremendous shock. So many fish filled the nets that one boat was not sufficient to bring in the catch. In fact there were so many fish that both boats began to sink. In that moment, Simon realized how foolish he was. He recognized his own sinfulness and unworthiness.
Even so, Simon responded like many do today when confronted with their sin. Instead of expressing repentance, he asked the one who exposed his sin to go away. But Jesus would not be deterred. Instead of leaving as Simon asked Him to do, He again invited Simon and his partners to follow. From now on He said, they would catch men instead of fish.
The commitment Jesus asked these men to make was a serious one. The men were right in thinking that they could not do the work Jesus called them to do and still maintain their fishing business. They had to decide what was more important. They must have wondered how they would feed their families if they accepted Jesus’ invitation. Yet, implied in the miraculous catch of fish was the promise that Jesus would provide for their needs. As they well knew, there was no certainty in the fishing business. They might catch something or they might work all night for nothing. They chose to trust Jesus and left their boats and business behind. From this time on they remained with Jesus.
Today we are faced with the same choice. If necessary are we willing to leave everything in order to serve Christ?
Jesus performed an even greater miracle than the catch of fish. If you would like to know more, listen to our next program.