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The Weight from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

The Apostle Paul wrote that the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25 NKJV). One day Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, and a large crowd of people pressed in to hear Him. 

Jesus saw two boats on the shore, and the fishermen were washing their nets. So He got into one that belonged to Simon Peter and asked him to put out from shore a little. Then He used Peter's boat as a preaching platform and taught the people on shore. 

The typical Galilean fishing boat (click on image to enlarge) was about the size of a modern-day UPS truck, about 27 feet long, 7 feet wide, and 4 1/2 feet deep. It could seat about 15 people and hold an estimated 30,000 pounds of fish. 

When Jesus was done teaching, He wanted to reward Peter for using his boat and time, for the Lord always repays His debts. He told Peter to push out into deep water and let down his net for a catch. 

Peter, Andrew, James, and John had fished all night and caught nothing, and they were professional fishermen. Now a Galilean Carpenter / Wiseman was telling them how to fish better. That would be like me telling a pro basketball player how to improve his shooting. You have to admire Peter's humility. He said, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net" (Luke 5:5).

(Luke 5:6–7 NKJV)  And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

The net caught so many fish that they completely filled two 27 feet long boats until they began sinking. That's estimated to have been over 62,000 pounds of fish. Their value would have been over 25 years of salary for a common laborer for each of the four fishermen. "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men." When He tells you to do something, you listen.

(Luke 5:8–11 NKJV)  When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 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.

Peter was in awe. God Almighty was in the boat with him, his boat. He fell down at Jesus' feet and confessed that he was a sinful man. Jesus, always so understanding, comforted Peter and told him don't be afraid. He had a plan for Peter, and when they got to land, they left everything behind and followed Him. 

Imagine what Peter felt like to realize that Jesus accepted him just as the "sinful man" he was. Just as I am, Lord, I come to Thee. Though he had done nothing to earn it, Jesus lifted the weight of sin from Peter's shoulders. There was nothing to be afraid of. Peter had to feel so relieved. The author of Hebrews wrote:

(Hebrews 12:1 NKJV)  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

Jesus called others to follow Him, but they began to make excuses. Some were too busy with life (Luke 9:59). They would never know the freedom that Peter did that day, for their burden of sin remained. 

Oh yes, following Jesus requires good old-fashioned repentance. A turning away from sin. Laying aside every weight that slows us down. Marathon runners don't carry weights along with them for a reason.

An excellent example of repentance for us is King David. When he was bored one Spring evening, he arose from bed and took a leisurely stroll around the rooftop of his house. He spied a neighbor's wife bathing next door and apparently, liked what he saw. Though he already had several wives of his own, David sent for Bathsheba. And after an evening together, she returned home pregnant. She told David, "I am with child." (2 Samuel 11:1–5).

Well, that night greatly complicated things for the good King David. Bathsheba's husband was Uriah, one of David's mighty men, and he was away with the army, so it couldn't have been his. One sin led to another as David worked to cover up what had happened. Eventually, he had Uriah killed and married Bathsheba. 

Things were quiet for about a year, but your sin will always find you out (Numbers 32:23). The Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David, who told him a story about a rich man with many flocks of sheep. There was a poor man who only had one small ewe lamb that he raised like it was his daughter. It ate his food and slept in his arms. 

When a traveler came to visit the rich man, instead of taking one of his own sheep, he sent for the poor man's lamb, and they ate it for supper. David, who grew up as a shepherd, was furious. 

(2 Samuel 12:5–6 NKJV)  So David's anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity."

(2 Samuel 12:7–8 NKJV)  Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man! Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!

David was crushed. The weight of sin on his shoulders was more than he could bear. The Lord knows how to make a point, and it cut David to the heart. He repented deeply for what he had done. His prayer is recorded in Psalm 51. Here are parts of it: 

 (Psalm 51:1–3 NKJV)  Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

(Psalm 51:10–12 NKJV)  Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

You can remove the weight of sin from your life today, or let it drag you down with it. 

(1 John 1:8–10 NKJV)  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

You can pray this with me if you like: 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for the things I have done wrong. Lead me and I will follow. Create in me a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Please don't cast me away from Your presence, or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!