An Intimate Moment with Peter

Peter is my favorite Bible character (you know, besides Jesus) because I identify with him completely. We are so much alike at times. We are both head-strong and heart-strong. We often rush in whole-heartedly, sometimes before our brains can catch up with what we are doing or saying. My husband calls it “being passionate.”

I love this passage with Jesus and Peter. It is really intimate. And for one of the only times that I can remember, Peter does something without question. His comment gives his thoughts away – he was a little wary of what Jesus was asking him to do. But he still was polite and obedient.

Here is a man. A fisherman. A good fisherman. A guy that is a professional – he knows what he’s doing. And with all his skill, he hasn’t caught anything that night. He begins to clean his nets – an arduous task that will take a bit of time, but he is skilled so it comes naturally. But it is still work, even for Peter. Here comes some guy, crowded around by people – people that that probably didn’t help the fisherman, more than likely they got in the way. Jesus asks for his boat, so Peter complies. Then Jesus asks for something bigger - put out your nets. He didn’t ask when Peter and his crew were fishing, but rather after they had gotten done and were cleaning their nets.

And Peter does it – no questions or excuses. And it pays off. This is not the Peter we are used to seeing, but then again, this isn’t “Peter” – its Simon. From now on, Peter will follow the Savior – and he will do it with all of his heart! He will be the first one in. The first one ready with the sword. And the first to leave everything and follow. His passion was ignited only after he quit being Simon the fisherman, and started being Peter, the fisher of men.