A Foundation of Grace: Grace Gives Big Time

As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, He was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then He sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat."

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing! But at Your word, I’ll let down the nets.”

When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear.  So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!”  For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they took,  and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people!”  Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed Him.-Luke 5:1-11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

For the last few years, I have started spending more time looking at people and the way they responded to Jesus in the Gospels and the way He responded back to them.  We can learn so much about his character in this way, who he was/is, how he treated people, and this will give us insight into how he is treating us now.  Because a lot of people really don't have an accurate picture of how God is relating to them.

I was reading this story this morning and a few things about Jesus' encounter with Peter stood out to me. 

This was an early meeting of Peter and Jesus.  Peter did not yet really know Jesus based on his actions. He was not traveling with him yet. But he goes through a little transition during this meeting.

The Bible says Jesus saw two boats.  He chose to get into Peter's boat that day.

He asks Peter to push the boat out a little from the edge and then starts teaching the people.  Peter was still in the boat listening to Jesus teach.  After Jesus finishes, he tells Peter to let his nets down for a catch.  Peter doesn't think that is a good idea.  He has just fished all night, caught nothing, and doesn't believe it will do any good.  But because Jesus just told him to, he decides to do it.  He has been teaching in his boat after all. 

What Peter doesn't realize, as many of us don't, is that Grace is sitting in our boat.  Even after an encounter, it takes us a little bit to get it.

So, he lets down the net and they catch so many fish (somebody else is in the boat with Peter, but he's doing all the talking as usual) that they have to call for their partners to help and then both boats began to sink.  That is a lot of fish!!!  How many fish would it take to cause a boat to sink?  They are made to be buoyant.  They were carrying grown men and there were so many fish in the boat it started to sink!!

Peter still didn't get it completely, who Jesus was, and what he was about.  We can tell by his response to Jesus.  I plan on talking about that more later.

But, my oh my, we can learn about Jesus in this passage, and about the Grace He brings with Him.

The Grace Jesus brings gives big time! The Grace He brings is a superabundantly, overflowing, boat-sinking type of giving!