Fri.’s Devo - The Miracle of the Fish

Read Luke 4:40-5:8 The day is coming to an end and Jesus is still healing everyone who is brought to him. This is a picture of the end of time when the anointing will be on the earth to heal and deliver all who come to the Lord. He must have ministered all night long because when it became light he left to be alone. The people begged him to stay but he told them he needed to go preach God’s kingdom to others. He went to the synagogues to preach but apparently this wasn’t enough because we find him standing by the sea and the people begging to hear him preach. Jesus noticed 2 ships on the shore where the fishermen were washing their nets after their day of fishing. Jesus entered Simons and asked him to launch out a little from the shore so he could preach. When the sermon was over he turned to Simon and told him to go back out and let their nets down for a haul. Simon tried to explain to Jesus that they had fished all night and not gotten anything, but because you asked us we will do that. When they did they caught so many fish their nets started to break and they had to call to the other boat to come and help. They both hauled in so many fish their boats started sinking. Simon was overwhelmed at this miracle and bowed down and worshiped Jesus as the son of God. For Simon, it took a physical display to convince him who Jesus was. He heard him preach and even allowed him to use his boat, but when he saw the work, his faith became alive. James says it so well, “faith without works is dead”. The bigger picture of this miracle was that Jesus came to fish for men where others - the prophets, and judges had fished and come back empty. The preaching of the word would no longer be void and ineffective, but it would hit ears and hearts that were ready to hear and many would come in to the kingdom. Lord, may we do the works that you did so that many souls would come to the kingdom.