Breaking the Word

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,…

Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat…

 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing…

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. (Lk 5:1-11)

It is interesting to note that the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to listen to the word of God. The crowd was not only after miracles and favours they were also after the word of God. Jesus also responded to them according to their wishes. People are after God and Godly things and the people expect that this be fulfilled in their time and space.

Jesus was not a fisherman. But he spoke with authority to Peter and Peter could not refuse him. Jesus was already having influence on the people and he was doing mighty works among the people. Certainly Peter would have heard about it and he could have even witnessed some of the mighty deeds. So when Jesus asked him to cast the net he could not refuse but obey.

Personal experience of the divine presence in the events compelled Peter and his friends to throw the nets and boats away and follow Jesus. The presence of the divine made them feel afraid of Jesus. But the assurance encouraged them to go on ahead. They had to give up working for material gain (fishing) and in stead work for human welfare (fishers of men). 

After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.  At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them.  And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God." But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Lk 4:38-44)

Jesus did not limit his activities of preaching and healing to synagogues and the temple. His ministry was one of continuous activities. His ministry is carried out in the synagogue, in the temple, on the wayside, outside the land of Israel. There was not time limitation for activities as well. At sunset, at daybreak and always he was doing his ministry and including Sabbath. He was working always, everywhere and for anyone and everyone.

He rebuked them (the sickness and demon), he touched them (the people), and he healed them (the people). He also spent time in a deserted place. He was available for the people always but he found time for himself. Going into the desert would only mean for prayer or God experience. (The people of Israel were there in the desert for forty years – years of God experience)

He was clear of his mission and he kept moving and he could not be prevented by people. Successes did not prevent him from moving or successes did not tempt him to continue the work in the place of success. He was aware of his mission to all the places and hence he kept moving. Success was not his goal but doing the mission was his aim.