If You Acted More Like Peter?

Peter, after Christ’s resurrection that is.

In the last chapter of John, we find a very peculiar account, centred around Peter, his relationship with Jesus and his future ministry of starting the church.

“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ‘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.” (John 21:1-3)

“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No,’ they answered. He said, ‘Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.’ When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” (21:4-6)

Remember that Peter was a fisherman by trade.

In verse 3, Peter was the one who said “I’m going out to fish.” We also know that he was a fisherman by trade, so he likely had access to a fishing boat. And perhaps, we could also come to the conclusion that he owns this boat.

Keeping that in mind, take another look at verses 7-9.

“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.” (John 21:7-9)

Try to grasp the true nature of Peter’s spirit! What must be welling up inside of him at this moment? The moment John (speaking about himself as “the disciple”) yells the words “It is the Lord“, Peter automatically leaps into action! He throws on his outer garment, jumps out of the boat and begins to swim.

Peter left his boat for Jesus.

Sure, sure, the boat could make it to shore just fine. It wasn’t damaged in any way. And the disciples likely sailed it back or rowed back if there was no wind. Nevertheless, Peter needed Jesus now!

Peter obviously knew that if he leaped out of the boat immediately and swam for it, he’d be face-to-face with his Lord that much sooner! Why wait for the boat? Who cares? Jesus is back!

I’d like to think that I would be this excited to see Jesus if I was one of His disciples.

Can we live like Peter?

Too often in our modern Western church context, we play it safe.

“We might get wet! We might get hurt!”

“It’s embarrasing! It’s not our tradition!“

My challenge to you this week is to do something, Peter-like. When you hear that voice say, “It is the Lord!“, why not grab your coat and head out the door? Jump, run, act, speak, do, whatever it is that you are being called to. Just make that first move and leave what you were doing behind you!

Lord, help us all to be a little more like Peter today. Amen.