Launch Out Into The Deep…

Launch Out Into The Deep…

What do we see when words on a page appear different than written? Does another image, in our mind, appear than the one we have been told to see?

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” ~Luke 5:4 NKJB

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. ~Luke 5:4 KJB

One word can change everything. Catch and draught (draft) are quiet different words. Very different, indeed.

Jesus is speaking so, this should get our attention and we should breathe in each and every word. The Word of God is being spoken and if it doesn’t hold our attention, nothing will.

What is interesting is Jesus actually posing a question to Simon? Is Jesus asking Simon to look deeply within to see what he finds lurking in the deep? Jesus doesn’t say anything about a boat, fishing or anything to do with the activities Simon and Andrew were involved. This opens a window-of-opportunity to look at this verse, this story, from another view point.

With the KJB ending the statement with the word “draught (draft)” this opens the window a little further by removing any reference to fish or fishing what-so-ever. The statement, in fact, can be viewed from a multitude of vantage points.

Next up is Simon’s reply to Jesus

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” ~Luke 5:5 NKJB

Why does Simon refer to Jesus as “Master”? The two just met, Simon, it seems, has never met Jesus, doesn’t know anything about Jesus but yet refers to Him as Master. Then, in the same breathe, tells Jesus “at Your word I will let down the net”

Once again, this sounds like taking a personal inventory more than fishing – If Simon is fishing he is fishing for the ills in his life, the places where he wronged others, where he has separated from God.

This is supported by what happens next when, removed from “the multitude” and there is only Jesus and we presume Andrew while James and John are identified, Simon confesses –

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” ~Luke 5:8 NKJB

They have been removed from the multitudes the entire time – they have been in quiet where no one could here the confession and repentance of Simon, except Jesus and the witnesses.

and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. ~Luke 5:10-11 NKJB

This idea is supported further into the chapter, Luke 5, when Jesus meets the lepers and the man on the bed. Neither lepers nor the paralyzed man ask for an ailment to be healed, but rather the leper ask to be cleansed and the man on the bed is suffering from paralysis. If you have lived a life of sin, believe it, you need cleansing and strength to break free from paralysis. One has to have outside help, the kind of help that only Jesus Christ can provide.

In AA what is described above are Steps 1 through 6.

Either the Gospel is the divine Word of God teaching us how to live and how to be a reflection of Him, or it’s nothing more than a historical account of events.