And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4
Peter had worked an entire night on his own and he caught nothing. Now, with Jesus in the boat, there are so many fish, he cannot pull them in.
So, “they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink” (5:7). Peter and everyone with him “were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken” (5:9). Astonished! Who is this, that He can bid fish jump into a net, and they obey Him?
A sense of wonder led them to believe in Jesus, and it grew as they continued to follow Him—Jesus is unlike any other person who has ever lived.
Jesus makes commands no one else could. He stilled a storm (Mark 4:39). He commanded evil powers that had possessed a man and terrorised a community, and they left (5:13).
Jesus makes claims no one else could sustain. He spoke about God as His own Father. He said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30).
Jesus makes judgments no one else could pronounce. “I know that you do not have the love of God within you” (John 5:42). “You know neither me nor my Father (John 8:19).
Jesus makes promises no one else could keep. “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life” (John 5:24).
Authentic discipleship begins with seeing the glory of Jesus.
Do you see anything unusual, extraordinary, or astonishing about Jesus?
Written by Colin Smith
Read by Sue McLeish
