1
Once when he was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, the crowd was pushing in on him to better hear the Word of God.
2
He noticed two boats tied up. The fishermen had just left them and were out scrubbing their nets.
3
He climbed into the boat that was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Sitting there, using the boat for a pulpit, he taught the crowd.
4
When he finished teaching, he said to Simon, "Push out into deep water and let your nets out for a catch."
5
Simon said, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets."
6
It was no sooner said than done - a huge haul of fish, straining the nets past capacity.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.