Our Boat

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

OUR BOAT

Luke 5:1-3

5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2 he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who 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 from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

NIV

What are we to learn from the documentary style narrative here? All we are told is what Jesus did on one particular day. Of course we are going to see something special take place after he is finished teaching the people crowded together in the shore. But for now what is this about? How did Jesus know the boat he picked belonged to Simon? Was there some conversation about the boats, whose were they? Was it alright to use one of them? Was Simon Peter already sitting in his boat to avoid being in the middle of the crowd? Was Simon Peter the one washing his nets instead of listening to Jesus? We cannot be sure of the time frame, how many days have gone by since Jesus had been in Simon Peter’s house, where Jesus healed his mother-in-law So why had Simon Peter been out fishing all night and now was washing his nets instead of following around after Jesus? Yes, he had to provide for his family, but we are also going to see later he left everything and followed Jesus.  We are going to see when Jesus finishing with his teaching and does this miracle for Simon, he then calls him to follow him. But for now Simon simply when back to fishing after Jesus had been in his home and healed his mother-in-law. Was he not impressed with Jesus then? Did he not think Jesus was the Messiah? What was he thinking? What kind of interaction took place between Jesus and Peter while in his home, that Peter would simply go fishing in the evening? We have to assume because Jesus is divine and thus all knowing, even in his human condition, that he knew what would happen. He knew Simon would not get the picture fully until he did something personally for him. Although being in his home, healing his mother-in-law and most likely teaching on a more personally level about the kingdom of God, Peter simply did not get it. Is that how we are? Do we not get the whole picture of who Jesus really is until he does something personal for us? We can tell people, till the cows come home, about Jesus, but they just might not get the whole truth until he does something personal for them. They can witness him doing a miracle in somebody else’s life, but that has little meaning for them, they will just go back to keep doing what they are used to doing, like Peter going fishing. They may not become true followers of Christ until he performs a miracle for them personally.  Their focus is on their own life, their own livelihood, their own needs, instead of focused on Jesus. When Jesus touches our life, we can never go back to the way we were. He is in our boat.