Jesus is with You in Your Boat
“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let nets down again.” -- Luke 5:5 (NLT)
I stared at the menu, overwhelmed by the cost of hospital food. Our tight funds and friends’ generous donations barely covered my expenses staying with my husband for a week as he recovered from surgery. Skip it. I ate a breakfast bar I found in my purse instead. When I returned to his room, I learned he needed to stay another week because he wasn’t recovering well. Tears welled up in my eyes. Lord, we can’t afford for me to stay with him another week here. Slumped in my chair, I pondered my options. The Lord prompted me to call some friends from college who lived nearby. When they learned about our situation, they insisted I stay with them. The Lord cared for my needs as my husband received the extra care he needed. God provided more than funds. He provided food, a place to stay, extra recovery time, and fellowship we desperately needed. Jesus was indeed with us.
In Luke 5:1-11, Simon’s fishing crew had come ashore empty-netted from their overnight expedition. Frustrated, they cleaned nets as a new Rabbi stood at the water’s edge preaching to a large crowd pressing in to hear Him. Certainly, Simon and his brothers overheard some of His teachings. Maybe their frustration blocked it out. This Teacher, Jesus, got into one of their boats and asked Simon to push it out from shore. He obliged. Jesus continued with His lesson while the men worked to put their fishing gear away. No fish meant no income, no food for their families, and a disappointing report for their dad, Zebedee. Simon’s mental state churned in turmoil as he considered going home for some much-needed sleep.
Jesus reached out to Simon and his brothers in their distress, “Launch the boats out into the deep and cast your nets out again.”
Simon’s excuse, "Master, we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing.” For some reason, he adds, “But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Out he rowed with Jesus seated in his boat, taking some nets along. Suddenly the catch of a lifetime landed in those nets so much that they began to break and the boat started to sink. Others on the lake came to their aid. Simon dropped to his knees in front of Jesus amid all those floppy fish recognizing who he was compared to Jesus—such a sinful man. Of course, we read that Simon and his brothers left everything behind to follow Jesus.
We may love the Lord, but when life deals harshly with us, our go-to is to ruminate. Sure, we hear God’s Word in church, we sing worship songs, but our minds are like a steel trap latched onto our worries. Sometimes, we think Jesus doesn’t care. Amid our troubles, Jesus sits with us, meeting us where we are. As He reaches out to us, how do we respond? When we finally relent, instead of making excuses, let’s embrace Him. He wants not only to care for our needs, but also to bless us. We need only to approach him with humility.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Do you ruminate over problems, or focus on the Lord in worship?
2. How has Jesus cared for you before?
