Welcome to the first week of our study of the Life of Peter. The Apostle Peter was one of Jesus’ closest friends (of all his disciples, Jesus was closest to Peter, James, and John). Peter is a regular guy, who will genuinely remind us of ourselves in many instances, that God was able to use in an extraordinary manner to lead the first church more than two thousand years ago.
The story this week is from Luke chapter 5 and relates how Jesus called Peter to follow him. Most likely this wasn’t their first meeting, as John chapter 2 has that story (Peter’s brother Andrew, a former disciple of John the Baptist, introduced them).
The passage this week is just eleven verses long and we’re making five stops along the way, so each day’s portion of the text is just a verse or two. For that reason we encourage you to pay attention to the Related Scriptures this week, as they will be useful in your daily meditation.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
Seeker Not Sought
Observe
The story opens with Jesus coming to the beach where Simon Peter was tending to his nets after a long night of unsuccessful fishing. Without waiting for an invitation, Jesus climbs into Peter’s boat.
{Luke 5:1-3 ESV}
{1} On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, {2} and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. {3} Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
{2 Timothy 1:9 ESV}
{9} who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
{Isaiah 43:1 ESV}
{1} But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.
{John 10:3 ESV}
{3} To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
{John 15:16 ESV}
{16} You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
{Romans 8:29-30 ESV}
{29} For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. {30} And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
There is a debate in theological circles about whether we seek God or God seeks us. It may seem like that doesn’t matter as long as we wind up in the same place. If we are saved by believing that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to pay for our sins and rose from the dead to give us life, and it has nothing to do with how good we are (because no matter how good we are, it can never be good enough), then why does it matter how we got here?
If God generally calls everyone and we choose whether we want to respond, that prompts the question of whether he is in some sense settling for whoever picks him. However, if God is seeking you specifically then you can be assured it’s you he wants. Whenever self doubt sets in, you can know that you are valuable because he has been seeking you since before time began.
- You attend two parties, one where the public is invited and anyone who wants to can attend, and the other where the host invites you personally and you arrive to find a place at the table with your name on it. Which do you prefer, and why?
- Why does God calling specific individuals to faith not change the fact that we share the gospel with everyone?
Dear Lord,
You have prepared a place for me and welcomed me into your family. I look for the day when I will be together with all the saints in heaven at that great wedding feast. Knowing that you sought me out and pursued me, as the good shepherd going after the one lost sheep, gives me comfort in the hours where I doubt myself. Thank you God for calling me your child.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 2
The Word
Observe
From his position in Peter’s boat, Jesus taught the crowd on the shore. This may have been Peter’s first time paying any significant attention to Jesus, and it involved hearing Jesus teach the word of God.
{Luke 5:3 ESV}
{3} Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
{Hebrews 4:12 ESV}
{12} For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
{2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV}
{16} All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, {17} that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
{Isaiah 55:11 ESV}
{11} so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
{Colossians 3:16 ESV}
{16} Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
{Proverbs 3:1-6 ESV}
{1} My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, {2} for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. {3} Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. {4} So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. {5} Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. {6} In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
{John 8:47 ESV}
{47} Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
It seems as though people in the world today are seeking experiences. There’s nothing wrong with an experience. We plan hard, weeks in advance, to provide a great worship experience on Sunday mornings. And yet, if your takeaway from a Sunday morning is that it was a great experience, then we have failed.
It is the word of God that is primary in our worship experience. The songs we sing are full of God’s word and while it’s perfectly okay (even sort of wonderful, right?) if you find yourself caught up in the great music or the skill of our worship leaders, they will be the first to tell you these songs exist to put the word of God on your lips, and by extension, in your minds.
When the pastor opens God’s word and teaches from it, change begins. The Spirit works through the word of God to transform us. Romans 10:17 tells us “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
- How does the worship experience on Sundays bring God’s word to you? (Specifically you, not generally.)
- What do you love most about the word of God?
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me your word. It’s where I go to find out about you and about myself. It’s where I learn what is true and let it correct me. I find there a guide that shows me your will. Let me find satisfaction in its answers to my questions. It is your word that leads me to faith that brings eternal life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 3
Stepping Forward
Observe
After he’d finished teaching, Jesus asked Peter to drop his nets again. Which Peter does, even though they’d caught no fish all night long, and he knew the odds of catching any fish during the daylight hours were slim indeed.
{Luke 5:4-7 ESV}
{4} And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” {5} And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” {6} And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. {7} They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
{Hebrews 11:1, 6, 8 ESV}
{1} Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. … {6} And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. … {8} By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
{2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV}
{7} for we walk by faith, not by sight.
One of the elements we’ve seen repeatedly in the just-concluded Desiring the Kingdom series is God asking for a step of faith before he works a miracle. When the armies of Israel and Judah were about to die from dehydration in the war against Moab, they were told to go out and dig ditches before the water came. The widow was told to go collect empty vessels before the oil began to flow. Naaman was told to wash in the Jordan before his leprosy was healed.
Peter was asked to do a similar thing here, and it was no small ask. Each time these fishermen let down their nets, there would be damage to them and once they were brought back up repairs would need to be made. Not only was Peter willing to let down the nets and catch nothing, he was willing to spend the time repairing the nets afterward. All at the word of Jesus.
- Why do you think God at times will ask for that initial step of faith? How does it benefit us?
- What has been your experience in this regard? What have you believed God asked you to do, and what happened as a result?
Dear God,
How many things have I missed because I lacked the faith to move? What first steps could have yielded so many more steps to follow? Forgive me for those times when my faith was not strong. Fill me with the power of your Spirit and give me strength to move when you say move, believing that you will bring glory to yourself through what follows.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 4
Worthy
Observe
When Jesus demonstrated his miraculous power over nature, Peter was convinced. This was more than just another religious figure that his brother Andrew was following. Andrew had introduced Jesus to Peter by saying “we have found the Messiah,” and Peter had no response then (at least none recorded). Now, Peter believed.
{Luke 5:8-10 ESV}
{8} But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” {9} For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, {10} and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”
{Luke 12:6-7 ESV}
{6} Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. {7} Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
{Romans 5:8 ESV}
{8} but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
{John 3:16 ESV}
{16} “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
{Exodus 14:14 ESV}
{14} The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
{Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV}
{8} It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
When Peter believed that he had the attention of the Lord God himself, he revealed his most deep-seated need. He fell at the knees of Jesus and declared himself to be a sinful man, asking Jesus to depart from him. Like so many of us, Peter had a desperate need to feel clean, to experience forgiveness. But also like many of us, Peter didn’t believe he was worthy of those things.
It’s possible, even probable, Peter knew what was written in the Torah—that no one could see God and live (Exodus 33:20). If Jesus actually was the Messiah, then Peter’s life was in danger. Except this wasn’t Isaiah pronouncing woe on himself after seeing the glory of God who was seated on the throne. Peter wasn’t having a vision of heaven and hadn’t left the natural world. Jesus met Peter where he was and told him there was nothing to fear. God had come to us! We are worthy of forgiveness.
- If you found yourself standing before God today, not in heaven but here on earth, what deep-seated need would you express to him?
- When someone says they are not worthy of forgiveness, how does the gospel apply to that feeling?
Dear Lord,
You chose to come live among us, to become one of us and experience everything we face. Despite facing every limitation that comes with being human, you kept all of the Father’s commandments and statutes perfectly. You completely fulfilled the law and kept the covenants. Because you did, we can be forgiven. Being worth your love and sacrifice forever settles the question of our value.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 5
Immediate
Observe
Jesus tells Peter, James, and John that they are to become fishers of men. He’s calling them to the mission and their responses are without hesitation.
{Luke 5:9-11 ESV}
{9} For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, {10} and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” {11} And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
{Joshua 24:15 ESV}
{15} And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
{Matthew 8:19-22 ESV}
{19} And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” {20} And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” {21} Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” {22} And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”
{Matthew 16:24 ESV}
{24} Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
{Matthew 19:27-30 ESV}
{27} Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” {28} Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. {29} And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. {30} But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
{1 Peter 2:21 ESV}
{21} For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Think about this for just a moment, “they left everything and followed him.” Let the weight of that sink in. Try to imagine doing the same thing. They left their boats and their nets behind. That’s like quitting your job and also selling whatever it is that you used in order to do your job. In Peter’s case, given that John records Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law, there was a family. A wife, probably children. Imagine sending THAT text message home to your wife or husband! “You’re not going to believe what I did today…”
There was no indecision, no consideration, and no half-measures. They left everything, it says, and followed him. That’s the importance of becoming fishers of men. The mission of taking the gospel to the whole world is worth whatever you have to give up to accomplish it.
- What gets in the way of us becoming fishers of men? Why do we so often hesitate to bring the gospel to those around us?
- God certainly doesn’t want every one of his followers abandoning careers and families to wander the land as itinerant preachers, so how do we leave everything and follow him without leaving everything? How does it apply to us?
Dear God,
There is no greater mission than bringing your gospel to the nations, and we should start with the people right in front of us. In your wisdom you have decided to use us as your agents to carry this out, and because we know that you truly are wise, we will not question and we will be ready to leave behind whatever holds us back from following you, without hesitation or half-measures.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.