Good News from the Sea of Galilee

Luke 5:10 – “Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

So are we, Workers of Jesus Christ, Christ himself calls us to be his ardent followers, so he first called his disciples...Jesus chose the Sea of Galilee, which is also known as Lake of Gennesaret, to call his first disciples... Simon is among those first he chose, and he called as ‘Rock’ and the foundation of the Holy Catholic Church...

Let us meditate on how he became an ardent follower, What was the lesson, Lord the God taught Simon as he called Him?

Let us go through the following verses St. Luke 5: 1-3.

“So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, ² and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. ³ Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.

Jesus, son of God, saw the multitudes, which were hungry, and the crowd constantly urged for the Word...Yes these souls where in need of bread...bread for their soul...And Jesus found two fishermen, what were they doing?

 They were washing their nets...after a long night’s sweat and toil...for their daily bread, bread to sustain their lives.

Lord without seeking permission got into one of the boats, and asked him to put out the boat, a little from the land...Yes, he didn’t wait for his consent, and after he got into the boat, he g sat down gently, and taught the multitude.

So, what is it? Is he not bothered whether; Simon is willing to follow him. Jesus calls each of us the same way...He does not care for the situation of life you are in, ne’er bother to ask your consent, but simply ‘Calls.’

Jesus, is a little farther from the land here, and the crowd still sat in the land...Simon, the poor fisherman did not understand the logic of land and a little farther situation from the land. But Christ, the Lord was teaching him the First Lesson of how an ardent follower should be?”

The land or shore is fine, beautiful and calm. But as it says in Proverbs 1:3, To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity;” - you should put your boat of life, a little away from land, and listen to him, as he teaches you. This is the stage of meditation that a person will go through in the initial stages of his fellowship with Christ, the Jesus, for the Saviour calls you for a further ‘Citizenship.’ A Citizenship which no other country or no rulers can offer...

What is the speciality of this Citizenship that our Saviour offers?

The following verse, Luke 5:4 says, “When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

He stops speaking. He gives the second instruction to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

If the first instruction was to put out a little from the land, the second is to launch out and let down the nets into the depths of the ocean for a catch. If the first instruction was just to listen to Christ and be with him, the second is to participate in his mission, the mission to gain souls for him.

So, when Christ gave this instruction Simon was a bit perplexed, and replies, as in the following verse, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.”

Here comes the first action from Simon being ready to participate with the Saviour, for he obeyed and said “Nevertheless at your word I will let down the net.”

What was the result of this response? ⁶ And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.  It says about the number of fishes. It also says that the net was breaking. Did the number of fishes affect the net here? Yes, Was the net not prepared enough to accept the quantity?

What can be the reasons?

The net can be old.

The net was not big enough to accept the quantity.

The net was just supported by two people, Simon and his companion.

‘Net’ here, is the symbol of a Charismatic Christian, who is not renewed with ‘Holy Spirit.’ ‘Net’ here, is the symbol of the spiritual immaturity of ‘Workers’ who thrive for the kingdom of God.
Moreover, ‘Net’ symbolizes the less preparedness of Worker(s) to direct the ‘Souls in Need’ towards the ‘Kingdom of God.

Here, on the role of ‘Citizenship’ with the Saviour, an ardent worker should learn and practice all the lessons, that Jesus taught Simon.

The next verse says “So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them.” So, Simon calls his fellow workers to help him...Was it a realization for Simon to follow the path of the Saviour, The Jesus, to call others also to participate in the mission of expansion of Kingdom of God. Yes, by obeying Jesus, and being with Jesus ‘Simon’ gains maturity.

What happened when he asked for help?

And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. Yes, the boats began to sink, so it is a message to Simon again to call more people to participate in the mission. In addition, it is a message to Simon to prepare in future while he goes and preach the Kingdom of God. So, this is a message for all of us whom Jesus has called for a Citizenship.

Be prepared to help any kind of soul, who is need.

Be prepared, as the souls in need are numerous, your boats should not sink,

Be prepared, and filled with ‘Holy Spirit’ as you could not direct these souls towards the kingdom of God, because you are a sinner. And the next verse says it all. Luke 5:8 - ^“ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

So, what all Lord the Saviour taught Simon, during the “Fishing experience in the Sea of Galilee?”

1.  To listen to him, by putting the boat a little away from land.

2.  To participate in the mission of gaining souls by letting the nets down for a good catch.

3.  To call more people to the kingdom of God, by asking help as the ‘Souls in Need, the Souls in Darkness’ are numerous.

4.  To be prepared and filled with Holy Spirit every time, to direct the souls to the Kingdom of God by being away from sin.

And as he calls you and me, for this citizenship, Lord gives the same message to all of us, and that is the ‘Good News from the Sea of Galilee.’

The Saviour then gives a sweet message to Simon and his friends. A message of assurance, for not to be afraid, as it says in Luke 5:9,  For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

So, what are we waiting for?

As Simon and his friends did, as it says in Luke 5:11, so when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. Just Forsake and Follow Jesus.

Let us recite a small prayer,

Oh Jesus the Saviour, give me the Wisdom, fill me with Holy Spirit, so that I may follow you.