The Deep

Here is Simon. He is tired. He is smelly. He is discouraged. He just wants to sleep. He still has to wash his nets and go home to his wife's list of honey-dos(you have to know Greek to see that in the text). He knows he will not get a pay check that day (The wife won't like that either). On top of all of this Jesus uses his boat for a pulpit. Then, Jesus tells him to put out into the deep and let his nets down again. This is streching Simon. You know that feeling inside when you know you need to listen to Jesus and do what he says but you are tired and you just don't want to do it. It is the struggle of flesh and spirit-remember one is willing and the other is weak. Grab that feeling. That is where the human and divine intersect. That is the point between casual and captive.

But to Simon's credit he says, "because you say so I will do it." The captive Christian often does the right thing only because Jesus says so. Jesus is Lord. You know the rest of the story. It worked out for Simon and his partners. So many fish were caught that the nets were breaking and it took two boats to haul them in. Simon was so humbled that he fell at Jesus' knees (check it out-its not feet) and told Jesus to "Depart from me for I am a sinful man." That's what happens when we are held captive by Jesus-we realize we have no business in his presence. But, Jesus tells him "Don't be afraid." But still Simon does not get to go home and rest. Jesus is not done.

"Come after me and I will make you a fisher of men." And Simon went.