Call and Response

 Note:  Two slices today because I've moved and was not yet able to connect with the internet in my new community until now.

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

5 Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, ² he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. ⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” ¹¹ When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

It took a boat full of fish to convince Peter, James and John to leave all and follow Jesus.  Notice how Jesus worked and how Peter responded:  Tired after a long, fish-less night, Peter allows Jesus to use his boat as a pulpit for his preaching and then even further beyond "the call of friendship or duty", Peter listens to Jesus about pulling into the deep for a catch.  We can imagine what Pete was thinking.  However, the power of Jesus was something he underestimated, enough to convince him to leave all and follow him. 

We might be saying, "Yes, I'd leave all if I saw such a miracle." Well, let's just open our eyes to the many miracles we receive each day...

Bro. Rene