The Explanation

Simon had fished all night. Nothing. Not even one little fish. He was tired, and he was washing his empty nets on the shore.

Then Jesus came. He stepped into Simon's boat and asked him to push out a little from the land. From there he taught the crowd. When he finished, he turned to Simon and said, "Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch."

Simon must have thought that was strange. Fish do not bite in the daytime like that. But he said, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net."

And the net filled up so fast it began to tear. Two boats full of fish, so heavy they almost sank. Simon fell down before Jesus. "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord," he said. He was amazed, maybe even a little scared. But Jesus said, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive." Simon, James and John left everything on the beach and followed him.

After that, Jesus met a man covered in leprosy, a sickness that made people lonely because no one dared touch them. The man fell on his face. "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. "I want to. Be made clean." And the sickness was gone.

Later some men carried their paralyzed friend on a mat. So many people crowded around Jesus that they could not get in. So they climbed the roof, made a hole, and lowered him right down in front of Jesus. Jesus saw their faith and said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." Some teachers grumbled: only God can forgive sins. Jesus knew what they were thinking. "Which is easier to say?" he asked. Then he told the man, "Arise, take up your cot, and go to your house." The man stood up, picked up his mat, and walked home.

What Does This Mean?

Every story in this chapter has someone who cannot fix their own problem. Simon cannot catch fish. The sick man cannot make himself clean. The paralyzed man cannot even walk to Jesus by himself, his friends have to carry him. But Jesus can do what no one else can. He fills empty nets, he touches the untouchable, he forgives and he heals. And he calls ordinary, unfinished people, like a tax collector named Levi, to follow him.

The Common Thread

Jesus does not just talk about God, he acts like God. Only God can forgive sins, the teachers said, and they were right. That is exactly why it matters that Jesus could say it and back it up by healing the man. Jesus is not only a teacher with wise words. He is God's own Son, come to fix what is broken in people, from the outside and from the inside.

For You

Maybe you feel like Simon after that long night of fishing. Tired, and nothing to show for it. Jesus still says, "Put out into the deep." He asks you to trust him even when it feels useless. And when something is wrong inside you, something you did that you are sorry for, you do not have to hide it. Jesus does not run from broken people. He walks toward them, like he walked toward the man with leprosy.

Talk About It

Why do you think Simon obeyed Jesus even though he did not believe it would work?

The paralyzed man could not get to Jesus by himself. Who helps you get closer to Jesus?

Praying Together

Jesus, thank you that you see people others walk past. Thank you that you can heal and forgive. When we feel empty or stuck, help us trust your word, even when it does not make sense yet. Amen.