The Fisherman
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every
one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your
children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will
call."
(Acts 2:38-39 NIV)
“We found the Messiah,”
Andrew told Peter and then brought his brother to Jesus. But Peter went back to
his job as a fisherman. One day Jesus told him to lower his nets for a catch.
Peter protested, “Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught
anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets” (John 1:5).
Astonished at the catch of fish that threatened to break their nets, the
fishermen signaled their partners in another boat to help.
Peter then fell at Jesus'
knees saying, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But Jesus said, “Don't
be afraid; from now on you will catch men.” Peter left everything and followed
Jesus (John 1:8-11).
After Jesus’ death and
resurrection, Peter probably felt that Jesus had no need of a fearful man who
had three times denied knowing Jesus. Peter returned to fishing again. One
morning, after a night of not catching anything, he and his companions saw a
man on the shore.
“Friends, haven't you any
fish?” the stranger asked. “Throw your nets on the other side of the boat.”
When they were unable to haul in the net because of the large number of fish,
John cried, “It is the Lord!” Remembering the other time Jesus had given them
such an incredible catch of fish, Peter jumped overboard and swam ashore.
On the sand Jesus had built a fire. The flames may have
reminded Peter of the night he had warmed himself in the high priest’s
courtyard and denied that he knew Jesus three times. This time as Peter warmed himself by the fire, Jesus asked
him, “Do you love me?” Three times Peter replied that he loved him. “Then feed
my sheep,” Jesus said, reminding Peter of his call to “catch men.”
Jesus had not given up on
Peter (John 21:1-19). Sometimes when we fail to act as we should, we're tempted
to think that Jesus might give up on us. But He knows our weakness. He forgives
our failures.
DIG
DEEPER:
- Read Luke 22:31-34 and John
18:12-27. What details show that
Jesus knew ahead of time that Peter would deny him?
- Read John 21:1-19. What
details show that Jesus planned ahead of time to forgive and reinstate Peter as
a “fisher of men”?
- Read Acts 2:14-41. Peter
later overcame his fear and became a fisher of men as Jesus predicted. In Acts
2:38-39 Peter ended his first sermon with a plea to receive forgiveness for
sins. How did the audience respond?
Nancy J. Baker