Irritated With Christ?

This time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!

Luke 5:6 

 

Remember in "Forrest Gump" when Forrest first bought a shrimping trawler and spent day after day catching nothing but tires, license plates and various garbage from the sea floor?  Peter and his crew had spent the entire night fishing with absolutely no success.  As you can imagine, they were probably exhausted, frustrated, and ready to go home to rest.  Yet here came this "Jesus" guy wanting them to take him out a little way from shore so he could teach.  When he finished teaching, Jesus told Peter and company to go out deeper and cast their nets again.

 

Now, Peter and his crew were sore, exhausted, and frustrated, so when Jesus told them to go out further and throw out their nets, I'm willing to bet that Peter was more than a little irritated.  After all, Peter's business was fishing.  He, most likely learned the trade from his father going back several generations.  Peter knew fishing better than the back of his hand. So to have this Carpenter's son tell him where and how to throw out his nets must have been a bit chafing.  I mean, who is THIS guy to tell the PROFESSIONAL how to do his job?  That would be something similar to telling a trained mechanic how to change your oil.

 

But while Peter knew about fishing...Jesus knew Peter and He also knew fish because God had created both.  So, I imagine with a snort of derision and a touch of sarcasm, Peter told his crew to head out into deep water so they can toss out their nets.  Imagine how embarrassed Peter was when THIS TIME, their nets were so full that they began to tear.  Not only that, but they were so full that Peter had to call for help.  Both boats were so full that they were both on the verge of sinking.  Peter fell at the feet of Jesus and begged Him to go away and leave him alone because Peter disbelieved.

 

Now...look at the end of verse 10: [Jesus said to Peter] "Do not be afraid, from now on you will be catching men."  Have you ever wondered why Jesus tells people over and over "Do not be afraid"?  Because we become fearful with Jesus shows us a new way of thinking, a new way of ministering, a new way of relating, a new way to reach others for Him.  We may get stuck in the idea of "This how we have ALWAYS done it before" that we close our minds to what can be!  Open your ears, open your eyes, open your hearts!  There are people that need to know what it is to just be loved!