God will custom, tailor-make a miracle for each person He is trying to reach.
This is what He did for Peter on the Sea of Galilee.
Luke 4:40 (NKJV) When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.
Luke 5:1-11 (NKJV) So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, (2) and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. (3) 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. (4) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (5) 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.” (6) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. (7) 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. (8) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (9) For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; (10) 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.” (11) So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Jesus is rejected in Nazareth by the people there so He relocates His ministry down to the city of Capernaum. As soon as He arrives, He goes into the synagogue and is met there by a demon possessed man and casts the demon out of the man.
- Jesus always makes the most of every teaching moment.
Luke 5:1-3 (NKJV) So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, (2) and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. (3) 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.
Jesus wanted to minister to the people so He used what was available to Him – Peter’s boat.
Jesus will use any vehicle or vessel available to Him to bring the Word of God to as many people as possible.
- Jesus will never use something of yours, including yourself, without blessing you for it and making it better than before.
Luke 5:4 (NKJV) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
Jesus wanted to do something for Peter to show His love for Him. Whatever you give up for the Gospel’s sake, will be returned to you.
Mark 10:29-30 (NKJV) So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, (30) who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
- Your miracle could very well be on the other side of your obedience to Jesus.
Luke 5:4-6 (NKJV) When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (5) 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.” (6) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.
Peter was exhausted from working all night long and not catching anything. Peter was also a fisherman; Jesus was a carpenter by trade. Peter could have thought, “What does Jesus know about fishing?”
What is it that Jesus may be asking us to do and our miracle is on the other side of our obedience?
- Jesus ministers to Peter step by step until He has won his heart.
Andrew, Peter’s brother, had been ministered to by Jesus’ Baptism by John and in turn introduced Peter to Jesus. (John 1) After doing this, he leaves the synagogue and enters Peter’s house and heals his mother-in-law. But even with all of this happening, Peter is not yet a fully committed follower of Jesus or a disciple. Up to this point Peter had never repented of his sin and made Jesus the Lord of his life.
But Jesus wasn’t discouraged with Peter and continued to minister to him. Could it be we give up on people too soon when ministering to them?
Luke 5:5 (NKJV) 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.”
Peter eventually calls Jesus, “Master.” Peter was literally saying, “You are the One in charge here” and was willing to let down the nets again.
- The outcome of Peter’s obedience was a miraculous, un-containable catch.
Luke 5:6-7 (NKJV) And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. (7) 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.
The word “partners” means “legitimate business partners.” In other words, Peter’s fishing business was a large enterprise with others involved.
This catch was so overwhelming that they filled two boats with fish, so much so, that they almost sank. These boats were 32 ft. long and 10 ft. wide and could hold 5-6 tons of fish each. So this means that they caught upwards of 10 tons of fish because of Jesus.
- Jesus performs a custom tailor-made miracle to win Peter’s heart.
When Jesus touches Peter’s business or money, it finally won Peter’s heart to Him.
Luke 5:8-9 (NKJV) When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (9) For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;
Peter had already seen the healings and miracles of Jesus but when Jesus touched his business, he could no longer keep his composure. The phrase “fell down at Jesus’ knees” in the Greek says that Peter “collapsed” at the knees of Jesus in surrender.
Notice in verse 8, Peter says, “depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” The word “Lord” there in the Greek is the word “Kurie” meaning “absolute master or lord, one with total authority.”
- This miracle affected more than just Peter. It affected the men with him.
Luke 5:9-11 (NKJV) For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; (10) 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.” (11) So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
The word “astonished” in the Greek means “dumbfounded to the point of shutting down.”
These men were so greatly affected, that they forsook their business permanently and followed Jesus. The word “followed” means “to follow after someone or something in a very determined and purposeful manner.”
In other words, Peter, Andrew, James and John decided to follow Jesus and really put their hearts into it.
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
This Jesus in this story is still the same Jesus today and He wants to work a custom tailor-made miracle in your life!