Leave "the catch" behind

Luke 5:4 – 11 (NCV) When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish."  Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will." When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking. When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!" He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people." When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Each year I try to read through the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in a different translation of the Bible and as I read through, my eyes are fascinated by what I find there. I try to imagine myself at the scene. What are the sights around me, how do I feel, how do I react to the events taking place? These are just some of the questions that come to mind.

In the fifth chapter of Luke, the story is told of Jesus calling his first disciples. A mass of people are gathered around Jesus ready to listen to whatever he had to say. As he prepares to teach, Jesus noticed two boats on the shore of the lake of Galilee.  These boats had been left by fishermen while they went off to clean their nets from their work the night before.  Seeing the boats and the lake as an opportunity for voice projection, Jesus saw Peter and asked him to push him off from the land so he could continue his teaching.  

Have you ever stopped to wonder what was going through Peter’s mind at this point? Think about it, he’s been out fishing all night. Peter has got to be tired. He’s probably in desperate need of a shower and something to eat. But how does Peter respond? Does he say something like “Dude, I just want to finish my work and go home.” No. Peter did as Jesus asked. He didn’t complain, grumble, or ask Jesus to get someone else to do it. He just did it, no questions asked.

After Jesus finished talking to the crowd, he returns to shore and has a second experience with Peter.

“Take the boat into the deep water, and put your nets into the water and catch some fish.”

Now I don’t know about you, but I know what I would probably be thinking here. if I were Peter. 

“Is this guy for real? He has got to be crazy. I’ve been at this all night long and I’m tired. Every bone in my body hurts and all I want to do is go home and go to bed.”

But what does Peter say?

“Master”

What? Master? Peter recognized that there was something different about Jesus. Jesus had some type of authority. Peter continues “we’ve worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing.  But if you say to put the nets in the water, so I will. (v. 5)” (Emphasis mine)

WOW!  Did you catch that?  Peter bumped into Jesus that morning on the shore yet there was something about him and again Peter did as he asked. In went the nets and out came the biggest catch of Peter’s life.  The story doesn’t end there.  Jesus said to Peter “from now on you will fish for people.  Come follow me. (v. 10)” 

Peter dropped everything, even the biggest catch of his life, and followed Christ… without question and without hesitation.

Picture yourself on the shore that morning. Would you have been like Peter and left the most lucrative catch of your life to follow Jesus?

Let's bring it back to present day...what will you leave to follow where Christ is leading?

Will you deny Him?

John 19: 10 – 11 (NCV) Pilate said, "You refuse to speak to me? Don't you know I have power to set you free and power to have you crucified?" Jesus answered, "The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God. The man who turned me in to you is guilty of a greater sin."

Judas has betrayed Jesus for his own gain by leading Jewish authorities right to him in the Garden of Gethsemane. The guards bound him and led him to the house of Annas, the High Priest. Just as Peter had always done, he follows Jesus.

As Jesus goes into the house to be questioned, Peter is faced with a question of his own, “Hey! Aren’t you one of his followers?”

In this split second, Peter has a big decision to make. “No, I’m not!”

What? Can you believe what you just read here? I betcha he wanted to get those words back huh? But Christ said that it would happen, and not days, but just a few hours later Peter denies Jesus for the first time. But this wouldn’t be his only chance, he will be asked two more times and both times he will say the exact same thing… “No, I’m not!” Whoa!

Jesus already knew Peter would utter these words; not just once, but all three times and yet he still used Peter in a mighty way. Have you ever imagined what was going through Peter’s mind each time he denied Christ? I have tried so many times to picture myself at the scene. Peter is warming his hands like others in the courtyard. The girl approaches Peter and asks her question. Immediately after his response I try to imagine the expression on Peter’s face. I wonder if he’s shaking his head in disbelief. I can almost hear Peter’s thoughts “I can’t believe I just said that!”

Have you ever wondered why Peter denied Christ in the first place? We know from reading the Bible it was going to happen. Jesus predicted it. But as you read through the Bible for the first time or perhaps learned about Jesus and his disciples did you ever consider Peter would be the one to deny him? Peter had been the first to identify him as the Messiah. He was on Jesus’ inner circle. I sure wouldn’t have guessed it would be Peter denying him.

What about you? How do you respond when someone questions your faith? Do you stand up for Jesus when asked or do you tend to shrink back into the crowd for fear of what the crowd may say or do? These questions lead me to another point…public pressure. Jesus was innocent of the charges they had brought against him. Pilate knew that. At the end of John chapter 18 (John 18:38-40), we see Pilate trying to figure out why Jesus was even before him.

“I find nothing wrong against this man. But it is your (the Jews) custom that I free one prisoner at Passover. “Do you want me to free the King of Jews?” Pilate throws the ball back in the Jews court and the Jews stood their ground.  

“No! Let Barabbas go.”

So there you have it. Pilate gave the Jews the opportunity to do the right thing, but they choose another path. He (Pilate) ordered the guards to take Jesus away to be flogged.

Pilate dances around the public pressure issue. “I’ve told you, I find nothing against him.” Jesus is brought out barely recognizable. The hair is ripped out of his scalp and beard. His back is has been pulverized as a result of the flogging.

“Crucify him!” the crowd chants.

“Crucify him yourself!” Pilate responds “I have found nothing against him.” (John 19:4) This is the third time Pilate would offer the Jews this statement.

“He should die because he says he is the son of God” the Jews shout.

Fear washes over Pilate and he returns to the palace. He approaches Jesus and says “Don’t you know I have the power to set you free or to crucify you?” (John 19:10) At this point Pilate is just trying to understand why Jesus just doesn’t say something… anything to plead his case. But Jesus knew the source of His power “The only power you have over me is the power given to you by God.”

Again, Pilate returns to the Jews trying to convince them to let Jesus go, but the crowd was relentless “Crucify him!” They continued to chant. Finally Pilate gave into the pressure. It had to happen this way. Jesus had to drink the cup his Father had given him.

What do you think was going through Pilate’s head at this point? He has just sent an innocent man to die. He could have freed him; but instead he gave into peer pressure.

What about you. How do you respond when you know in your heart something is right? Do you stand up or do you give in?