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TITLE: Empty Hearts Empty Nets. 4/26/21 By Laurie Kiel 04/26/21 |
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The wiry older woman scowled. It looked like her son-in-law wasn't back yet from washing his nets. She hoped he wasn't going to keep her waiting too long. She was not a well woman; she really shouldn’t be out in this weather. But no one ever believed her when she would say she was sick. She had always said that she would have on her tombstone, "Now will you believe I was sick?"
She shivered as she remembered the time everyone had to admit she was right about being sick... in fact, she was almost dead right.
She had lain in bed for days while the fever burned her brain, like a flame gobbling up the wick of her life until soon she would be as lifeless as a pool of wax.
This time, no one could dispute that she was sick. But somehow, that was cold comfort.
And then, something strange happened. Somehow through her delirium, she heard her son-in-law and his friends begging someone named Jesus to please heal her, that she was...dying? And why did they keep calling her son-in-law Peter? What was wrong with his good Jewish name?!
And why were they asking Jesus to heal her? He was some street preacher who had mesmerized her son-in-law. So, now Jesus thinks he’s a doctor? She should be so lucky.
Jesus took her hand and commanded the fever to leave. And immediately, it was as if she had never been sick! She had never felt better in her life. Jesus had just poured an overabundance of health into her. She had to do something with all that energy. So, she got up and served them. She was glad to do it, especially for Jesus. Not that she would ever admit it to those boys.
"No, no. Don't get up, " she told them. " You boys finally paid me a visit, the least I can do is get off my death bed and serve you. After all, you boys need your rest after spending all day sitting on the grass listening to sermons.â€
She couldn't admit her gratitude and appreciation for them all. But even as she scolded the men, Jesus watched her with a smile at the corner of his mouth. She wasn't fooling him one bit.
She jerked herself out of her reminiscing as she saw her son-in-law. Finally, he had finished washing his nets. Fishing all night like that, his nets would be full! And a good thing too, the cupboard was getting pretty bare. Not that she was complaining, mind you. She was sure Simon was doing his best to try and be a good provider.
That look on Simon’s face couldn't be good. Oh no! They hadn't caught any fish! Well, she was sure they would get by … somehow.
What was Jesus saying? "Put out into deep water and let down the nets for a catch."
Back into the water? So now Mr. Synagogue Preacher was an expert on fishing? The men fish at night, so the fish don’t see the nets. She folded her arms and watched, waiting for Simon to set the rabbi straight. What! Simon was putting the nets back into the water!
Well, Jesus was going to look pretty silly in a minute when they pulled the nets back up and they were emp—full of fish! The nets were full of fish! "Watch out, the nets are breaking!" she wanted to say, "Don’t come running to me to fix them."
Jesus had just taken empty nets and because of Simon's -- no, PETER's-- obedience filled them with an overabundance of fish that almost broke the nets! Well, why not?
Jesus had taken a sick, empty. dying woman and filled her with an overabundance of vibrant health that threatened to stretch and break the nets of her self-serving ways.
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What could Jesus do with what YOU offer to him in obedient service?
Give him your emptiness in obedient faith, and who knows what he will lavish into your life with such abundance it will pour out into those around you and threaten to break the barriers of the nets of your current limitations.
Got any nets that need filling… and breaking?
The story is based on Luke 4:38-39, Jesus healing Simon Peter's mother-in-law, and Luke 5:1-11, Jesus filling the empty nets.
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