Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 14)

What a relief!  I have just heard that Jesus is now at the Sea of Galilee, safe and sound.  In fact, he has crowds of people following him – not to try and kill him this time but because they really want to listen to him teaching.  Apparently, they are hanging on to his every word.  Wow, my son is a teacher, one of those learned rabbis that people are slightly in awe of!

Crowds of people were so desperate to hear what he was saying that they squashed in nearer and nearer.  In the end, Jesus realised that it would be better if he were able to speak from a bit further away.  Galilee is famous for its acoustics but probably not when the speaker can’t even move!  Jesus spotted some boats and decided to use one of them.  The owners were fishermen.  They were washing their nets so they had obviously just returned from a fishing trip - they were not going to be needing the boats at that moment.

So one of them, Simon his name was, got into his boat with Jesus and rowed a little way from the shore.  Then Jesus taught the people from there, apparently it worked really well!  Everyone could see Jesus and hear what he was saying.

When Jesus had finished speaking, he told Simon to row out to deeper water, so that they could catch some fish.  Simon had been fishing all night and caught nothing, so that made me smile a bit – Jesus is a carpenter by trade, not a fisherman!  I know he is clever, but Simon has been fishing for years: I think he knows his job!

Anyway, Simon did as Jesus asked.  I think he was pretty doubtful about it, though.  He emphasised that he had caught nothing all night, and was only trying again because Jesus asked him to.

Well, Simon was right to listen to Jesus.  They caught so many fish that the nets began to break!  Simon had to call his partners to bring their boat and help.  The fish filled both boats and the boats began to sink, that is how many fish there were!

Simon saw what was happening and told Jesus to go away because he (Simon) was a sinful man. There was obviously a bigger power at work here, and it made Simon feel small and aware of how far from perfect he was.

Rather than go away, Jesus told Simon and the others to follow him – and they did!

So now my son is not only a teacher, but one who has disciples.  I am not sure why he asked them to follow him though, usually it is the other way round – people ask the Rabbi if they can follow him.  In fact, now I think about it, I don’t think I know of anyone else who has actually handpicked his disciples like that…but Jesus is not like anyone else, as I am becoming more and more aware.

A shoal of fish

Simon was willing to give Jesus a chance, even though the evidence suggested otherwise. Simon had been fishing all night and caught nothing. He could have thought that he knew best, fishing was his business. Why would things be any different this time?

Because of Jesus.

Jesus was there, and that made all the difference.

Simon realised that Jesus knew better than he did, and he got on board (literally!) with Jesus.

Do you?

Simon saw just how much better Jesus had made things, he saw all the fish, and he backed off.

He backed away from blessing.

“Go away from me. I’m a sinful man.”

Simon not only told Jesus to go, he told him why.

I’m a sinful man.

Maybe we push Jesus away sometimes.

I’m ill.

I’m boring.

I’m stressed…..

You won’t want to be around me, Jesus.

You won’t want to be included with me,

or to include me with You.

I’m backing away from Your blessings.

Backing away from You.

Go away.

And Jesus stays.

Always.

Jesus knew that Simon pushed Him away because he was afraid.

Do you push Jesus away sometimes?

Assuming He won’t want to be included with you?

Or forgetting to include Him in your situations?

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in….

Revelation 3:20

May we remember to open the door, and let Jesus in.

He promises to come in.

Jesus’ reply to the man who was kneeling in front of Him, telling Him all the reasons why He would not want Simon, was

“Follow Me.”

Come where I am going.

I do want you.

Come close enough to follow.

And Simon did.

What does following Jesus mean for you?

Simon didn’t know what “Follow Me” would mean.

All he knew was that it meant he and Jesus would be together, wherever.

And Simon went.

Handpicked by Jesus to be ‘together’ with Him.

Just as you are.

…I chose you…

John 15

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for choosing me.

Help me to remember that I am chosen.

I’m sorry for the times I back away from You and Your blessings.

Help me not to do that.

Amen

May’s Memo I’m Handpicked by Jesus