An Image Reflected: The Catch

Have you ever found yourself in a place where God tells you to do something you have already been doing for what seems like forever? I think this is where the disciples found themselves when Jesus hopped into their boat, preached a little to the crowd on the shore, and then told them to "pull out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch." I totally resonate with Simon Peter's response: "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets." (Luke chapter 5)

I love it! They were fishermen by trade. It was part of what God had created them to do: catch fish so they would later understand the parallel of catching men for Christ. It wasn't as if they were trying to build a house or plant a garden. They were in the line of work God had called them to, and yet there was no blessing until Jesus himself was in the boat with them.

That is humbling. No matter how good we are at something, we can't even catch a minnow unless his very presence goes with us. Reminds me of Moses's statement to Yahweh, "If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15-16)

Lord, we beg you to get into the boat with us and show us where to let out our nets. We will give you all the glory for the abundant catch. All we need is your participating presence.

Psalm 65:11 takes on new meaning after this story..."You crown the year with your good blessings and you leave abundance in your wake."

Perhaps the best part of the story is the response of Simon Peter's heart after Jesus performs the miracle and reveals such glory. He fell on his knees near Jesus and begs for him to leave, for he is a sinner and can't handle such holiness.

Jesus does the same thing that he does to the disciple John in the book of Revelation. When John beholds Christ in all his glory, he falls at his feet as though dead. Jesus bends down and tells him to not be afraid, just as he did to Simon Peter. Isn't it interesting that the same John was there that day of the miraculous catch. He was astonished that day and later on in the book of Revelation.

Lord, may your glory continue to astonish us and knock us off our feet.

Here is Spurgeon's take on Luke 5:4-6:



"We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.



When God worketh without instruments, doubtless He is glorified; but He hath Himself selected the plan of instrumentality as being that by which He is most magnified in the earth. Means of themselves are utterly unavailing. "Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing."

What was the reason of this? Were they not fishermen plying their special calling? Verily, they were no raw hands; they understood the work. Had they gone about the toil unskillfully? No. Had they lacked industry? No, they had toiled. Had they lacked perseverance? No, they had toiled all the night. Was there a deficiency of fish in the sea? Certainly not, for as soon as the Master came, they swam to the net in shoals.



What, then, is the reason? Is it because there is no power in the means of themselves apart from the presence of Jesus? "Without Him we can do nothing." But with Christ we can do all things.



Christ's presence confers success. Jesus sat in Peter's boat, and His will, by a mysterious influence, drew the fish to the net. When Jesus is lifted up in His Church, His presence is the Church's power--the shout of a king is in the midst of her. "I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me." Let us go out this morning on our work of soul fishing, looking up in faith, and around us in solemn anxiety. Let us toil till night comes, and we shall not labour in vain, for He who bids us let down the net, will fill it with fishes."