They shushed him

Luk 18:39 And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

They which went before Jesus rebuked him, those were the ones that thought Jesus was too good, too busy to stop and help a beggar, apparently they had not been watching all along. That blind beggar and all the people like him were the exact reason Jesus was here.

This blind beggar was hushed, told to stand down and not bother the great man.

Do you think that if Jesus had come in any other manner than what He did, that this was a picture of what His whole life would have been? They would have kept Him unattainable, untouchable for the “common” man.

This blind man did not hush, no he cried the more and louder, he knew that his one chance at healing was passing by.

His faith was astounding, for all he had to go on was what others said, he had not seen any of it for himself. Imagine if you were having to rely on some of your friends and coworkers stories for the truth of the matter.

Here is something else that has always bothered me. All those that know the Savior and have benefited from Him are telling a man that truly needs Him to be quiet. They have been blessed yet they fail to talk and tell and allow that same One that Blessed them to bless others. They have been blessed yet the do not want others to bother Him and get the same blessings they themselves have already received. Does that not apply to us? How many we do not tell of this Jesus that has blessed us, Delivered us yet we keep Him to ourselves, how very selfish of us.

Let down your nets

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

Luk 5:5  And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 

Luk 5:6  And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 

Luk 5:7  And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 

Luk 5:8  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. 

Jesus had started His ministry, He had been going and preaching and teaching by Himself up to this point. He has already gone through the temptations and the Baptism of John, He had been rejected in Nazareth already, now He is going out and about.

Peter, who was a disciple of John the Baptist was at the baptism of Jesus, so he was aware of who Jesus was. He knew John revered Him so He listened to Jesus, though not expecting any thing.

However. take note that Jesus said let down your nets, Peter obeyed but only let down one net. Peter had a partner ship, Peter did not call for the other ship to let down its net. Peter did not fully obey for he was the fisherman, he knew when where how and why. Yet he did partial obedience, not prepared for the One who was sending him.

Peter knew Christ, respected Him, and listened to Him but not fully expecting anything, after all he knew fishing.

He had a head knowledge but not a heart knowledge as yet.

His (Peter's) net was nigh to breaking because he did not let down the "nets", he needed help getting the catch in because he was not fully prepared for the blessing God had for him. His fellow fisherman had to come over and help bring in all the fish, to catch the over fill so that both ships were close to sinking.

Peter for all his faults, at least listened to Christ, he did obey, even though it seemed futile as they had no return on their hard nights work to this point.

How many of us will listen and go out after all day or all night working for the harvest and having no catch to show?

Would we say I am too tired? What's the point? You can't be serious I was just there! Or would we half heartedly comply?

How many of us in the face of rejection, in the full course of an empty harvest, would be willing to go back and say yes Lord and fully comply?

Many times we get dis-spirited after an hour or two, that to go back out there at the Spirit's prompting to where we had just "wasted" time would be folly in our opinion.

Christ knew where the fish were that are ready for the harvest. Christ knows the hearts and minds of men. He knows when the time is right to let down the nets.

He said Peter let down your nets for the draught or catch. Peter listened but only with his ears not his heart.

We will serve the Lord! (As long as someone makes us)

Jos 24:19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

Jos 24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

Jos 24:21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.

They did serve the Lord until Joshua and all that served with him passed. As soon as the ones that held them accountable died, they stopped serving God and started serving self.

They married and mingled with the ones in the land of Canaan, they took their ways, their gods and they forsook God just a few years after they promised to serve with all their heart and all the days of their lives.

How fickle we are. How soon we forget.

Today, this day How many will say We will serve?

Today, this day how many will say I will teach and show my kids this God?

Today, this day how many will say I will remind them of the Lord, for He is God?

Have the old guard gone and we, with the writings, the memories, and the verbal recounting, have we forsaken Him for our own comfort?