Peter’s Boat: What is Your Boat?
Daily Reading: (Luke 5:1-4):
“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
The people are listening to the Word of God share the Word of God. The Greek word here that is used is logos and it is the same word John would identify Jesus as being “the Logos” in chapter 1 of his gospel. So, Jesus was sharing the Word/Logos himself with the crowd (Luke 5:1).
What was Peter involved in doing when Jesus was teaching the people? Washing his nets (Luke 5:2). At this moment in time Peter had not found his true calling of being a fisher of man, he was still pursuing being a fisherman. It is in Jesus that we find our true identity and step into our God-given calling. Jesus is in Peter’s boat so what does Peter’s boat represent and why does having Jesus in your boat give you a new life calling? Jesus actually gives us the answers to these questions as we progress in the text.
Jesus revealed how you fish for people as He taught the multitudes the Word of God as Peter and others tended to their nets. After placing the greatest calling on the life of all of His disciples to fish for men, they left everything behind to teach others about Jesus (Luke 5:11).
So, what this comes around to is what does Peter’s boat represent and why does having Jesus in your boat give you a new life calling?
Peter’s boat would represent the vehicle by which he made his living, or you could modernize this and call it your vocation. The thing you do that pays your bills is your vessel or boat. And even if you are retired or out of work you aren’t without a boat. You boat could be represented by your hobbies, social clubs, spheres of influence. We all have a boat, and the reason I know this is because every single follower of Jesus has the mission of making disciples- of fishing for people. The great news is Jesus is in your boat, as He was in Peter’s boat, and there is an opportunity because of that to land a grand catch for the kingdom.