GRACE (Pt1)
"So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.' But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.' So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him." (Luke 5:1-11
/NKJV)
However God's Word and Spirit are so wonderful, this time as I read something else was brought to my attention;
"But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' " (Luke 5:5/NKJV)
"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' " (Luke 5:8/NKJV)
It is strange that Peter would respond in this way . After all the natural man would simply attribute what happened to "luck", "good fortune" or perhaps Jesus was simply a very good fisherman. In fact Peters initial response seems to reflect this thinking; (see Luke 5:5 above). It appears Peter is initially responding out of obedience and courtesy, even the very word he first addresses Jesus with - "Master" - reflects this as it is not the same word he uses moments later - "Lord" - when he falls at Jesus feet in Luke 5:8. In Greek the first word "Master" is epistates which means; commander or teacher. While the Greek word for "Lord" is kurios which can mean; Mr., Sir, master, supreme in authority, controller, or God/Lord. So why does Peter go from treating Jesus as a highly respected teacher (his first response) to falling at His feet and honoring Jesus as God or, at the very least, someone who speaks for and carries the authority of God (his second response) perhaps we should back up just a little and look at a few of the events that lead up to this one. By so doing we see the grace of God in Peter's life both publicly and privately/personally.
First we must remember (as Jesus so often states) He is not operating of His own accord. This event happens not long after Jesus;
, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21) and subjected Himself to the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1). Second we must remember this is not the first time;
, 36-37, John 1:40-42) but now there is no doubt he hears Jesus teach;
"Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat." (Luke 5: 3/NKJV)
and sees Him performing the miraculous;
"When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.' But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' " (Luke 5:4-8/NKJV)
Furthermore, this is not the first miracle Jesus performs which has effected Peter personally;
"Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them." (Mark 1:29-31/NKJV)
"Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them." (Luke 4:38-39/NKJV)
In the passages above we not only see Jesus entering Peter's home, but also (at their request) healing his mother-in-law. God's grace cannot get anymore personal then to enter someone's home and to heal someone in that home after they have asked.
"Ave Christus, morituri te salutamus!"
I am going to take another break from our faith discussion and write a little about God's grace. God's grace is truly amazing, normally as I read this passage the miracle draught of fishes is what is most prevalent to me;"So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.' But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.' So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him." (Luke 5:1-11
/NKJV)However God's Word and Spirit are so wonderful, this time as I read something else was brought to my attention;
- Peter's responses
- Jesus' response
"But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' " (Luke 5:5
/NKJV)
"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' " (Luke 5:8/NKJV)It is strange that Peter would respond in this way . After all the natural man would simply attribute what happened to "luck", "good fortune" or perhaps Jesus was simply a very good fisherman. In fact Peters initial response seems to reflect this thinking; (see Luke 5:5
above). It appears Peter is initially responding out of obedience and courtesy, even the very word he first addresses Jesus with - "Master" - reflects this as it is not the same word he uses moments later - "Lord" - when he falls at Jesus feet in Luke 5:8. In Greek the first word "Master" is epistates which means; commander or teacher. While the Greek word for "Lord" is kurios which can mean; Mr., Sir, master, supreme in authority, controller, or God/Lord. So why does Peter go from treating Jesus as a highly respected teacher (his first response) to falling at His feet and honoring Jesus as God or, at the very least, someone who speaks for and carries the authority of God (his second response) perhaps we should back up just a little and look at a few of the events that lead up to this one. By so doing we see the grace of God in Peter's life both publicly and privately/personally.First we must remember (as Jesus so often states) He is not operating of His own accord. This event happens not long after Jesus;
- is baptized and the Holy Spirit comes upon (fills) Him, (Matthew 3: 13-17, Mark 1:9-11,Luke 3:21-22, John 1:32-34)
- miraculously fasts for 40 days and nights, (Matthew 4:2, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:2)
- resists the tempter (Satan/devil), (Matthew 4:3-11, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:3-13)
- and consequently returns with the power of the Spirit. (Luke 4:14)
, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21) and subjected Himself to the Holy Spirit (Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12, Luke 4:1). Second we must remember this is not the first time;
- Jesus has taught/preached (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:15-32, 43-44)
- or performed miracles; (Luke 4:33-35,38-41)
, 36-37, John 1:40-42) but now there is no doubt he hears Jesus teach;"Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat." (Luke 5: 3
/NKJV)
and sees Him performing the miraculous;
"When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, 'Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.' But Simon answered and said to Him, 'Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.' And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!' " (Luke 5:4-8/NKJV)Furthermore, this is not the first miracle Jesus performs which has effected Peter personally;
"Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them." (Mark 1:29-31
/NKJV)
/NKJV)In the passages above we not only see Jesus entering Peter's home, but also (at their request) healing his mother-in-law. God's grace cannot get anymore personal then to enter someone's home and to heal someone in that home after they have asked.
"Simul iustus et peccator"*
*Martin Luther
*Martin Luther
images source;bleu elle
Jesus Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law
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