[Journey with Jesus – Day 6]
I’m Simon the fisherman. Fishing is all we know in my family, going back generations – my dad, grandparents, great-grandparents – that’s all we’ve ever done. It’s all we’ve known. I’ve been on the water for as long as I can remember, going out early in the morning or even overnight with my dad and brother. We also worked closely with a couple of lads, James and John and their father, Zebedee. We clubbed together to afford the licence to fish the lake that we got from the local tax collector. Anyway, I enjoyed fishing. I enjoyed the adrenaline rush as the boat jerked once the fish get caught in the net and then as we fought together to haul the full net onto deck. And then, bartering at the market, getting the best price for our catch – I was good at that – I had the gift of the gab, you see. There wasn’t anything quite like it. Yes, there was lots of waiting around as well out on the water, waiting for the catch, but you can’t complain, not with the the view of the hills and mountains that surround the lake. I could never get bored of that. – and I wouldn’t have minded it being my life’s work as it was for my father and his fathers before him.
Andrew, my brother, he was different, less satisfied. He was always the deep thinker, more diligent about going to synagogue, asking those deep questions. He resented how the religious leaders seemed to be too satisfied with the rule of the Romans, whom he hated as oppressors. So, when he heard about this John the Baptist, who seemed to be launching a new move of God out in the wilderness, he was right there and took me to see him. I went, because it was something to do, more than anything. He was certainly different – wild, passionate, outspoken – I admired that about him. John talked about preparing the way for the Messiah, who was God’s anointed one, who was coming soon. We were to change our ways, prepare the way for the Lord. This Messiah was greater than him, he would come with God’s authority. Rumour has it that this Messiah had made an appearance one day and was actually baptised by John in the Jordan River It was exciting – God was doing a new thing. But it seemed to end rather swiftly when John was arrested in the dead of night and put into prison for criticising Herod. That was that, or so I thought. I’d carry on fishing and life would go on as usual.
Then, one day, early in the morning, a bloke appeared as me and Andrew were washing our nets. I vaguely recognised him, but Andrew definitely did … he nudged me in the ribs and whispered, “This is the one John was talking about — he’s the Messiah!” I took a second look at this bloke and shrugged – he didn’t look like a messiah to me. But then a moment later, I saw that people were following him – and within minutes, a trickle was becoming a flood. Soon there were what seemed like hundreds of people surrounding us. The man nodded at Andrew and said, “Hi, Andrew – and this must be your brother, Simon.” I nodded. “Look, I’m wondering – would you be able to lend me your boat so I can teach this crowd? Could you put it out a bit for me?”
“Sure,” I said. “We’re done for the day, anyway.” So he climbed into the boat with me and I rowed us out a little. He sat down and began to teach the crowd from my boat. At first I was only half-listening; I was exhausted from our exertions and frustrated too, because we hadn’t caught anything, but then the more he spoke the more captivated I was. I had been to synagogue since I was born but I had never heard teaching like this. I lost all track of time, but suddenly, Jesus said to me, “Thank you for lending me your boat.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied, “I’ll row you back to shore now.”
“Actually, why don’t you put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch?”
“But master,” I objected, “We’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing.” I paused for a moment and looked at Andrew, who shrugged. “But, if you say so, we’ll give it a go. I’ll let down the nets.”
So, we rowed out into deep water and let down the nets that we had spent what seemed like ages washing. And when we did, the boat jerked and heaved and the sea seemed to thunder – so many fish were coming into the net – in fact, so many that the nets were tearing. In wonder and not a little panic, I called out to James and John who had the boat next to us and had clearly noticed the commotion. “Help us – there are too many fish in the net – it’s going to tear!” They ran to join us. I looked up for a moment and saw Jesus in the corner of my eye. He was having a whale of a time – he seemed to be laughing – and he joined in with the four of us as we in our two boats tried to handle the enormous catch. Soon we had filled both boats so full that they were beginning to sink with the weight of it all. Somehow we got nets and boats to shore and found ourselves surrounded by so many fish we couldn’t count them all.
I looked at Jesus again, who was still smiling, and I fell on my knees before him. “Please, go away from me, because I am a sinful man, Lord.” In that moment my attitude towards this man had changed completely – I had previously respected him as a rabbi, but I now had a sense of fear – I was in the presence of someone who was holy – clearly connected to God in some powerful way, and felt sure that I didn’t deserve to be in his presence. I – and the others with me too – were so amazed at the catch we had taken.
“Don’t be afraid!” Jesus replied, “From now on you won’t be catching fish any more. Instead, you’ll be fishing for people! Follow me, and I’ll show you how it is done.” Andrew and I looked at each other and nodded. Jesus also looked across to our friends, and fellow fishermen, James and John – nicknamed the sons of thunder, because of their tempers, who were there in their boat with their father, Zebedee. Jesus called over to them, “Hey, you brothers, I’d like you to follow me – from now on you’ll be catching people for God’s kingdom,” he said. The lads looked at each other, and at their dad, He nodded, giving them permission – and they stepped out of their boat, joining us.
Suddenly we were a group of five of us and we went with Jesus all over Galilee. It was amazing. Jesus taught in the synagogues, telling people the Good News about God’s Kingdom – where everyone was loved and valued – and, incredibly, he healed every kind of disease and illness. The crowds were growing wherever we went. I could barely believe what I was witnessing. God was clearly at work, doing a new thing, and I had the incredible privilege of seeing it for myself, learning from Jesus, not only when he taught the crowds, but the way he was in private too. Suddenly I felt more alive than ever, in a way that I had scare lay believed was possible – all because I stepped out of my boat, left all I knew behind me, and followed him.
Halwill Publishing 