Introduction
Luke 5:1–11: Jesus teaches people gathered on the shore of Lake Gennesaret (the Sea of Galilee). Then he tells Simon, a fisherman, to venture out into deeper water and let down his nets. Simon and his partners are amazed at the large catch of fish. They leave everything and follow Jesus.
Today’s Key Verse: Luke 5:3b
Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd.
Reading
5 One day Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret while the people pushed their way up to him to listen to the word of God. 2 He saw two boats pulled up on the beach; the fishermen had left them and were washing the nets. 3 Jesus got into one of the boats—it belonged to Simon—and asked him to push off a little from the shore. Jesus sat in the boat and taught the crowd.
4 When he finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch.”
5 “Master,” Simon answered, “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6 They let them down and caught such a large number of fish that the nets were about to break. 7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full of fish that the boats were about to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord! I am a sinful man!”
9 He and the others with him were all amazed at the large number of fish they had caught. 10 The same was true of Simon’s partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”
11 They pulled the boats up on the beach, left everything, and followed Jesus.
Reflect
Why did Simon, James, and John decide to follow Jesus? Are you a follower of Jesus? If so, why? In today’s reading, the concluding words of Jesus about “catching people” (verse 10) are often cited as a call to evangelism, inviting others to join in following Jesus. In what ways do you, or your community of faith, invite others to follow Jesus?
Pray
Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me to follow and serve you. You have ushered in the Kingdom of God. Empower me to proclaim your message of love and salvation and invite others to follow you. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Luke 5:16–32: Jesus heals a man with leprosy and a paralyzed man and calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him.