Jump Start # 3976
Luke 5:5 Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”
It seems that some people just love to argue. It seems to be in their nature. When the sun is shinning, they will question whether it is truly daytime or post night. Politicians argue. In a ballgame, the coach argues with the refs. The players argue with the refs. The people in the stands argue with the refs. And, the guy at home argues at the refs through this TV. Teens argue with parents. Husbands and wives argue. But, the worst kind of argument is when one is fussing with the Lord. That is always a lose-lose situation.
Here in the context of our verse today, the Lord having finished teaching the crowd, sees Peter washing his fishing net. Jesus tells Peter to launch out into the deep and lower your nets. There are three things implied in the Lord’s words. First, there are fish in the water. Second, they are in the deep. Third, you will catch them.
Our verse today illustrates Peter’s reply. Jesus, the carpenter, was telling Peter, the fisherman, how to fish. Peter may have thought, ‘You stick with teaching which you are good at and let me stick with fishing which I’m good at.’ Peter has nearly a point for point reply to the Lord. First, we’ve been out on the sea already. Second, we worked hard for a long time. Third, we caught nothing. There was no need to try this again. It’s like the two were at a stalemate. You say there are fish. I say, we didn’t catch any. Whose right?
But, tucked in this is a wonderful expression. The NASV states this as, “I will do as You say.” Others word this:
CEV: But because you say so, I’ll drop the nets
ESV: But at your word I will let down the nets
CSB: But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets
At your word…because you say so. Peter submitted what he thought and felt was right to what the Lord said. Naaman, when told to dip seven times in the Jordan River to cure his leprosy, got angry and went away. Not Peter. He did what the Lord said.
At your word, Lord:
First, the Lord knows more than we do. At the beginning of this context, Peter calls Jesus, ‘Master (5).’ At the end, after the massive catch of fish, Peter calls Jesus, ‘Lord (8).’ We think we know as much as the Lord, but we don’t. God knows dangers that we are not aware of. God know how we can be stronger and resist the Devil. We can tell ourselves that we really do not need all those things, but we really do. God knows. God knows the importance of worship and fellowship.
Second, the Lord sees what we cannot see. The Lord can see what the doctor cannot. The Lord sees our tears. The Lord hears our prayers. The Lord knows the good that we have done. The Lord can see tomorrow. Peter didn’t see any fish. Jesus did. Jesus saw without being on the water. Jesus saw without being in a boat.
Third, the Lord can bring us to greater and better things. There were so many fish, that two boats nearly sank because of the massive amount brought in. When we are tired and don’t think we can go on, the Lord knows we can. When we think what we say won’t matter, the Lord knows it will. Those very words can strengthen discouraged hearts and answer the questions that led to fear and doubt. The Lord not only can mend torn relationships, they can be better and stronger than ever before. The Lord can open doors that we thought were closed for good. The Lord can do things that we never thought of.
At Your word.
I can’t forgive that person that hurt me. But at your word, I will.
I can’t take up my cross and follow any longer. But at your word, I will.
I am too busy to attend worship. But at your word, I will.
At your word, means you trust the Lord more than what your eyes see and what your heart tells you. At your word, Lord.
Roger