Into The Deep

Often, what we see in the natural reflects what is happening in the spiritual realm. God is calling us out of complacency and into a deeper experience with Him, which is His heart for all believers.

In Luke 5:1–11, we see stages of growth in Simon Peter’s relationship with Jesus, illustrating how Jesus drew Simon into a deeper relationship. Jesus wants to draw us into a similar deepening experience with Him.

Luke 5:1–2 (NASB): "Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets."

As Jesus taught the crowd by the lake, Simon Peter and his friends were preoccupied with their own tasks and did not yet prioritize Jesus. Sometimes, we too start our faith journey with Jesus nearby but not central in our lives. As Matthew 6:33 implies, we need to focus on His agenda first, and He will care for ours.

Luke 5:3 (NASB): "And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little distance from the land. And He sat down and continued teaching the crowds from the boat."

Jesus got into Simon’s boat, shifting Simon’s focus to Himself. This boat became the instrument through which Jesus engaged Simon. What might Jesus be using in our lives to draw us into deeper obedience?

Simon could have refused Jesus, but he chose to obey. Are we willing to follow Jesus into a deeper purpose and destiny? We are His workmanship, created for good works as stated in Ephesians 2:10.

To step into our God-given purpose, we must walk through the doorway of commitment. Commitment demands sacrifice, bringing inconvenience yet yielding blessings to others. Simon’s simple act of lending his boat allowed others to hear Jesus’ message, showing that ministry is not about personal gain but sacrificial giving to bless others.

Luke 5:4–7 (NKJV): "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."

Simon’s obedience led to an incredible blessing. Rather than relying on his past experiences or expertise, he trusted in Jesus’ Word, and the result was miraculous. Our obedience to God’s Word has power to bless us and those around us. Are we willing to go deeper with Jesus?

Luke 5:8–10 (NASB): "But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, 'Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!' ... And Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not fear; from now on you will be catching people.'"

In this encounter, Simon’s understanding of Jesus deepened, moving from “Master” to “Lord.” When Jesus becomes our Lord, we recognize our need for Him. Simon realized the blessing of having Jesus in his life was far greater than the favor he thought he was doing for Jesus.

Luke 5:11 (NASB): "When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him."

Through this encounter, Simon discovered his destiny in Christ and left everything to follow Jesus.

Conclusion

Where is Jesus in our lives? What position does He hold? Christ invites us to go deeper with Him, as He has more in store for us.