Left Everything and Followed - Notes - 2/8/2025 Jesus Calls the Disciples - Luke 5:1-11 What did Jesus see and experience that drew him to Simon's boat? Jesus experienced a crowd of listeners pressing upon him to hear the word of God. He also saw two boats at the shore. After a night of fishing with no results, the fishermen were washing their nets. He chose to get into Simon’s boat. What did Jesus request of Simon? After Jesus got into Simon’s boat, he asked him to move a short way from the shore. Simon’s boat then became the platform from which Jesus taught the crowd. Luke 5:4 tells us that “When he (Jesus) had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’” Why would Simon, an experienced fisherman, consider these instructions nonsense? Fishing was done at night in those days. The fishermen would spend the night in the shallows, tossing their nets and pulling in the catch. Then as dawn broke, they would bring the fish to shore and sell them at the market.” Jesus’ approach was against Simon’s better judgment and wasn’t the way things were done in his business. What is the significance of Simon addressing Jesus as “Master” when he expressed his resistance, then his compliance? Peter knew he was in over his head. ‘Go away from me.’ That’s the first thing he thinks to say in the face of someone who lived so much more deeply than he did. ‘Go away I can’t handle it; I’m not good enough for it; I don’t have the strength. When have you felt “in over your head” in your efforts to follow Jesus? What guidance does Simon’s honest outburst to Jesus offer you for growing through such times? What will you do to sense Jesus’ comfort and calling in the midst of life’s challenges? What do you need to leave behind to follow Jesus’ invitation to go deeper? How can your faith community help you hear and follow Jesus?