“After pulling their boats to the shore, they left everything behind and followed Jesus.” Luke 5:17 TPT
When you leave everything behind to follow Jesus, you are actually in the position to have it all.
A few fishermen are about to open up a whole new world for you. This story in the Bible has a few characters: Jesus and Simon Peter being the lead roles and in the supporting roles you have Simon Peter’s trusted business partners James, John, and their dad Zebedee.
These men worked a lot of nights being in the fishing industry, and on this particular occasion they didn’t catch a thing after being out for hours. As they came in to the shore that morning, Jesus was on the shore teaching. Crowds grew rapidly, so Jesus decided to teach from a boat while the people stayed on the shore. Simon Peter’s boat was the chosen one and he kindly agreed to let the prophesied savior of the world teach from his measly, smelly fishing boat. Jesus was in the boat, not the crowd. When Jesus taught, it wasn’t for a typical 30-minute Sunday message you might be used to. No, He would teach for hours. Can you imagine sitting in boat listening to Jesus Christ teach? When Jesus finished teaching to the crowd, He had a word for Simon Peter.
*The plot thickens*
Jesus told Simon Peter to go out again and cast his nets one more time. Peter replied, “We’ve just come back from fishing all night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you insist, we’ll go out again and let down our nets because of your word.” Things change when you have a personal encounter with Jesus.
When the fisherman pulled up their nets, they were shocked at the amount of fish. Scholars believe it must have been at least a ton of fish because the net was strained to its breaking point- about a week’s worth in one cast! Simon Peter and his fishing buddies experienced a miracle. Immediately, Simon Peter through himself at the feet of Jesus and told him to go away because he was a sinful a man, and therefore unworthy. Feeling unworthy of Jesus moving in his life, he tried to push him away. Ever felt this way or did this?
When you feel as if Jesus couldn’t possibly bring anything good in your life and certainly wouldn’t do a miracle, I want you to remember something: Jesus wants to be in your boat. He climbed into Simon Peter’s boat on purpose. Jesus desires for you to experience His goodness, power, provision, and plans for your life! Ultimately, Jesus knew these guys were going to have doubts and fears. Scripture describes they were awestruck and shocked after this miracle occurred. These average joe men hadn’t ever seen anything like this before in their lives!
But Jesus… because He is so intimately acquainted with who He made us to be and the purpose for which we were created, He and only He can speak to the deepest core of who we are– He speaks to our identity. The words of Jesus shatter fear. His words dispel doubt. When Jesus speaks to us, everything that doesn’t align with what He’s saying has to go. Look what happens next. Jesus spoke to Simon Peter and said, “Don’t yield to your fears! From now on you will catch men for salvation!” Then, the verse that started our conversation today concluded this scene. “After pulling their boats to the shore, they left everything behind and followed Jesus.”
When you leave everything behind to follow Jesus, you are actually in the position to have it all. Jesus will be your everything.
What is holding you back from following Jesus with everything? Fear? Simon Peter had fear and Jesus spoke directly to that. He can speak directly to your fears too.
New life in Christ doesn’t compare to what you had or think you have now. If it’s not following Jesus with everything, I promise you there is so much more to life! I’ve experienced it. Leaving everything behind to follow Jesus was my single best decision I have ever made. Jesus is everything.
What have I gained since? Like Simon Peter, I discovered my true identity and purpose. How? I had a moment similar to his, except there wasn’t any fish. Jesus climbed in my boat (a.k.a. my life) and He can do the same for you.
Jesus wants to be in your boat.
When you leave everything behind to follow Jesus, you are in a a position to have it all.
Jesus will be your everything.
Jesus is everything.