There is three version of this story between three of the Gospels. Luke gives the most information perhaps because as medical doctor would have been curiosity of what would cause a person to get up and follow. The Gospel of Luke is given by Doctor Luke to Theophilus, but it contains the testimony of Peter, and is perhaps the same transcriber of the Pauline letter’s and Acts. The author being more then just a writer but the orator of the stories that formed the book of Luke. The doctor would of wanted to know what caused the disciples to follow a man that took away his practice while he walked this earth. The book of Luke is a book to the nation or world. It was a book that told the testimony of Peter and also the women. Yet it contained the miracles Jesus performed both healing and other things. Yet it is the only book that contains the healing of a blind man that took two times of healing instead of one by the hand of Jesus. The book of Luke is necessary to understand that following Jesus sometimes needs to be looked at beyond the simple come follow Jesus story. It nice to think someone just picked up their mat and walked, or that the fishing story was as simple as to let down your nets. Yet is is more complex then just simply words of following and obeying. There is story behind the obedience to obey and follow.

The story of the letting down and nets and come follow is based on the fact Jesus was paying these fishermen for use of their boat. No one wants to think of the need to pay for place to be minister, but Jesus paid where he preached. He paid with a net full of fish. Being the prophet and teacher he was, he never went without paying someone to listen or to work for Him. How they were paid and how listen had to do with miracles render at his hand, and provision of manna from heaven. A draught was a large number of fish and Jesus told the men he was with to let down their nets and receive a draught. He had used their boat for ministry to teach the people from. Peter had fished the night before and had caught no fish and so he figure I will not catch any fish even though this man told me to lower my nets. Yet he obeyed, why not. What did he have to loose. Yet He told Jesus he caught no fish. As the nets filled up and began to break he nodded to his fellow fishermen for help with the fish he caught. Everyone was going home with fish that day because of the abundance. Yet they left their nets and follow after Jesus. Yet first Peter would have to ask Jesus to depart from him because he was sinner. Jesus response was “don’t fear, hence forth though will catch men. “

Now think for a moment if someone told you to catch men and you were a man, in this day age one would get beaten up. Yet these men would of understood that Jesus was talking about gathering the fish/men. To pull them into the ark of God. Pulling them out of the world of sin to follow God. Not only Peter but sons of Zebedee were with Peter whose names were James and John and they too forsook all before them and followed Jesus.

If someone offered to take care of all of your needs, would you follow. Would evidence of a miracle be enough. The truth of the matter it takes more then a miracle for most people to follow Jesus. In truth perhaps there was for Peter, because he recognized Jesus as being a teacher, for he called him Master. With a Jewish up bring he would not question Jesus was speaking truth. First he heard what ever Jesus spoke on the water to the crowd on the shore and also witnessed a miracle. He knew what Jesus taught was evidence of who He was and also the miracle spoken of Jesus being a prophet. At this point in Luke Jesus identity is not given or revealed to Peter at this time beyond him being a teacher.

It not unusual for people to follow their teachers in life for a time at least, but most teachers are feeding their students something if they are following them. Yet Jesus was offering more then just teaching but provision. Peter lower those nets and caught provision for obedience and listening to Jesus’ teaching

Abraham without obedience would of found no provision nor forgiveness and mercy through out his life. Righteous comes with a price of obedience. The story of how Peter, James and John came to following Jesus was more then a simple come follow Jesus story. If a ice cream truck goes down a road one might follow it to get a treat. Running after it to make it stop so one can buy it treats. Yet if one never heard the music or the sound it makes no one would of ever turned their ears to listened to the call of the ice cream truck. The bell makes one curious enough to go see what going on. Those approaching seeing it is a movable ice cream stand from the pictures on the wall of the vehicle. Yet without a window or a door the ice cream truck can not deliver, so it is with God’s word with no window or door, no opportunity to share the word of God those in the world neither hear or understand the sound of God’s word anymore. Jesus transportation from the crowd and to the crowd was a boat. It was his pulpit. The words of Jesus teaching enough for Peter to say Master and then to obey by lowering the nets. The reward for obedience was a life time job of catching men that would meet their needs.

Is hearing the Gospel enough or do you need a miracle in your life to believe? I can not give you job, and I can not give you life support, but I know the one that can. His name is Jesus. You need Jesus in your life always. His ways and provision is much greater then our understanding. It is time to listen first to Jesus and allow for his provision.

Dear Heavenly Father enable us to trust in you and Your Son always. Learning to listen first, obey second and third to follow. In Jesus precious name, Amen.