Discussion and Learning:

Read Luke 5:1-11. Talk about Simon’s reaction, Matthew’s reaction, your reaction to the events of that day.

Did you catch the letter on the fishing bobber? It read “Z” in Hebrew. For Zebedee. As in “James and John, the sons of Zebedee” – close friends (and in the Bible, fishing partners) of Simon and Andrew.

Did anything cross your mind as Simon had his ear cut by a Roman soldier? See John 18:10. Be watching for allusions like this throughout the series!

Historical note: The movie has John the Baptist baptizing on the northern stretch of the Jordan River, just after it leaves the southern end of Sea of Galilee. Historically this is almost surely not accurate, but a) it matches with a site that is often visited by tourists, allowing them to avoid the Palestinian-controlled West Bank and b) it allows the movie directors to compress the stories we’ve seen thus far, keeping them within a day’s walk of Capernaum.

Recall the monologue that Simon has with God while out on the boat.
“And I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the heavens.” And then what, huh? Make the chosen as many as the stars, only to let Egypt enslave us for generations. Bring us out of Egypt, part the Red Sea, ________ only to let us wander in the desert for 40 years. Give us the land, ________ only to let us be exiled in Babylon. Bring us back,_________ only to be crushed by Rome. This is the God I’ve served faithfully my entire life. You’re the God I’m supposed to thank.”

From Simon’s recitation, it seems that God has continually let His people down. Simon recites some bad things that he seems to blame on God … but his historical recounting is missing some stuff (the blanks, marked above by _________). What’s he missing? (HINT: In each case, it’s the same sort of thing). How and in what situations are you tempted to the same type of historical mis-remembering in your life, blaming God for stuff … and conveniently forgetting your own part in things?

What did you like about the backstories presented here? Is there anything you’d change, given what you’ve seen so far?

How did Jesus appear to you? Like you thought? Different?

What will you take home with you and ponder further?