“One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” Luke 5.1-3
Jesus was about his Father’s business. And God’s business is to spread the good news about the Kingdom of God, repentance and salvation. Jesus just finished telling the people in Capernaum, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” This is exactly what he was doing.
Much of Jesus’ ministry and miracles were around the Lake of Gennesaret, i.e., the Sea of Galilee. He was still in that area, standing by the lake, and like what often happens when Jesus showed up and began to speak, “people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.”
Consider this for a moment — we often hear the Word of God. We read it, hear it preached, listen to it on a podcast. But this was the Word of God proclaiming the Word of God. This was THE Word in the flesh, proclaiming the goodness about God’s Kingdom to all who would listen. No wonder the crowds were pressing in, people were hearing real truth, hope and love for the first time in their lives.
As Jesus was preaching, and the crowds were almost too close for comfort, Jesus makes a creative decision — he steps into a boat which becomes his stage to proclaim the gospel. Then he requested the boat is moved a little bit from shore so that he could preach to the people without being mobbed. The boat belonged to Simon Peter. Jesus sat down and taught.
How I wish I had been there that day, hearing the Word preaching the Word. How I would have loved to hear that “ship sermon.” What was it about, specifically? Why wasn’t it recorded? Perhaps the real sermon was the miracle that would follow.
Thank God that the Father sent Jesus to deliver salvation to a world deep in hurt. A world, not unlike the one we are living in today, a world lost and living in darkness. Jesus is the light of life who brought the Kingdom of God to earth.
Why not listen to his voice right now? Allow the Word to speak to you, bringing you life, and filling your life with hope just as he did to those on the shore of Galilee so many years ago.
“O Lord God, I love it that you were a real human, used real life examples, interacted with people. I love how you preached from a boat, using creativity to call forth your people. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with your power and love. I praise you Father for being my Lord and my Savior. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen