40 Days of MiraclesSample

First Miraculous Catch of Fish on the Lake of Gennesaret

From firsthand experience, fishing with nets is a hard job. The nets require proper maintenance; otherwise, the weights become tangled, and the nets become useless. The fishermen in this miracle report have been out all night fishing with no success. Jesus comes on the scene while they are busy cleaning and preparing their nets, which is crucial to their survival as fishermen, and asks Simon to stop and use his boat. Simon could have easily rejected Jesus’ request; he was tired, frustrated, discouraged, and busy preparing his net. Simon was busy doing good things but stopped and invited Jesus into his boat.

When Jesus tells Simon to cast his net into deep water, Simon responds with reasons why it won't work and has failed in the past, yet “But at Your word, I will….” It was a deliberate, conscious decision to obey even when things seemed hopeless. That was when the breakthrough happened. At that moment, those men saw Jesus for who He truly was, the Messiah. There is a difference between knowing of Jesus and knowing Jesus personally. They leave their boats, nets, and security to follow Him. When a breakthrough happens in your life, bring others into your boat to celebrate through sharing your testimony of God’s goodness.

Questions for Reflection

• What would welcoming Jesus into your boat look like?
• What situations have you been "fishing at all night" but found no answers?
• When things seem hopeless, will you say, “But at Your word, I will...”?