The Vine: Feb. 10, 2025
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”
This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)
“Once while Jesus was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.”
This story takes place early during Jesus’ ministry on the Lake of Gennesaret, also known as the Sea of Galilee or the Sea of Tiberias. Luke is the only one who calls it a lake and rightly so because it is only 13 miles long and eight miles wide. It is 680 feet below sea level and surrounded by hillsides and mountains, making its shores a natural amphitheater. It’s no surprise that Jesus is teaching the crowds there.
Because the crowds are so large and pressing in on him, Jesus decides to get into Peter’s boat to speak. The fishermen were washing their nets after a wasted night of fishing. Peter had already met Jesus in the synagogue and he and his wife had hosted Jesus for a meal. Jesus had even healed his sick mother-in-law. But in this story, Peter seems disinterested in Jesus’ teaching and just wants to clean up, pack up, and go home. But Jesus invites Peter to row out into deep waters and put out their nets for a catch. Of course, Peter balks at Jesus’ idea—after all, Jesus was a carpenter who knew nothing about fishing! But Peter replied, “Yet, if you say so, I will let down the nets.” Every was shocked when Peter and his companions hauled in a miraculous net-breaking-boat-sinking load of fish.
Peter and his partners were amazed at the catch, but something more happened in Peter’s soul. Peter ran up to Jesus not to celebrate his new business partner but to fall on his knees and worship him exclaiming, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Peter knew he was in the presence of the Holy One and that only God could have done this miracle. Jesus locked eyes with Peter and declared to him, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
In that moment Peter and those with him made a decision that would change their lives and the world forever: they left everything and followed Jesus. These fishermen became followers of Jesus Christ. The rest is history...and now, somehow, our story, too!
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Prayer:
God, thank you for walking with me in all the joys and frustrations of my everyday life. Remind me of your greatness, goodness, and love for me. Like Peter, grant me grace to trust you at your word and take the next step of obedience even when I don’t fully understand. Help me to leave behind anything that keeps me from fully loving and following you and your dream for my life. Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Who are you in this story? Are you part of the anonymous crowd on the shore pressing in to hear Jesus? Are you Peter? Are you in the other boat with James and John watching all this happen? Explain your answer.
2. Compare our reading from Luke 5 with Matthew 4:18-21. What are the differences in these two stories? Why do you think Matthew and Luke record them so differently? Is the point of the two stories the same?
3. After an exhausting, failed night of fishing and honest doubts about Jesus’ fishing skills, Peter reluctantly agrees to cast his net back into the water with these words, “Yet, if you say so....” The results were life changing. Have there been any times in your life that you have obeyed God even when you didn’t completely understand why?
5. Peter’s life was never the same because he did what Jesus asked. Pause for a moment and prayerfully consider what next step could God be inviting you to take in your life.
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