In this passage, we see the calling of Simon Peter through a powerful encounter. Jesus tells the beleaguered fisherman to forget all the futility he’s experienced the night before and let his nets down once again. Although it’s doubtful how much faith Peter has in catching anything at that point, he obeys and the fish filled his nets to the point of breaking. In an instant, we see Peter grasping who stands before him—Jesus is not like other men. He has power over the fish in the sea.
So Peter tells Jesus to go away. He knows he is a broken, sinful man, and he can’t stay in the presence of Jesus. He’s afraid. Jesus, in his graciousness, tells Peter to put away his fear because he has a new task for him, no longer catching fish, but people. What comes next shows incredible faith. Peter leaves his livelihood of fishing and identity as a fisherman and follows Jesus.
The same is true for you. Once you encounter Jesus, you realize you are unworthy of his affection and kindness. You are aware of your sin. But Jesus redirects you. He gives you a new direction, a new identity, and a new task—to join him in the faith journey of telling others about Jesus. What a privilege!
2 Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
