To fully appreciate the twenty-first chapter of the Gospel of John, we must go back in time and get to know a bit of history of one of Jesus' first disciples.
We meet
Pete aka Simon in the earliest days of Jesus’ public ministry. It’s Pete’s little
brother, Andrew who introduces him to Jesus first.
Simon, meet our long awaited Messiah, Jesus.
Jesus, meet Simon, my bro.
But, Jesus
needs no introduction. With one look He sees into Simon, skips all the pleasantries
and changes his name:
You are Simon the son of John;
you shall be called Cephas (which is translated Peter (meaning Rock). John 1:42
Jesus
sees something in this weathered fisherman that nobody else sees and names it.
Peter.
Rock.
The seasoned
fisherman experiences the biggest catch of his life, only to realize that he has
been caught in the net of God’s purposes far exceeding his wildest dreams or
expectations. And he is terrified.
Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man. Luke 5:8
I am not Your kind of guy,
Lord. I am damaged goods. Second-hand material.
Go, find Yourself somebody else, some seminary-educated, cream-of-the-religious-crop polished dude who doesn't swear and cuss... who isn't...
But,
Jesus is not deterred. He knows He has just the kind of guy He needs for what He desires to accomplish...
Do not fear. From now on, you will be catching men. Luke 5:10
Peter responds
to Jesus with wholesale abandon, dumps his old fishing nets and follows Him.
Over
the years, we see Peter walking on the water with Jesus... as well as sinking - in more ways than one.
Out
of Peter’s mouth come some of the most profound truths and some of the dumbest statements
recorded in the New Testament. But, in all
his bumbling devotion to Jesus, one thing is abundantly clear.
Peter
loves Jesus.
He may
not always understand Him. He may not
always like what Jesus is saying. In fact, at times, he is positively upset with Him.
But he loves Him.
He loves Him so much that he is even willing to
die for Him.
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