Peter: Fishing to Following

ILLUST - Funny job descriptions

Peter may be reflecting a bit, let’s put him at Saturday after crucifixion, or even later, maybe a couple weeks

He’s seen the miraculous

He’s had some challenges and rebukes

And he’s the guy Jesus wants taking charge

Let’s look at a defining moment for Peter

READ - John 6:58-69

On the heels of feeding 5000

After Jesus turns people away

Challenging teaching by Jesus

THREE MAIN FOCUS AREAS HERE:

1) The Galilean Fisherman

Peter - Background

Married (mother-in-law healed in Luke 4)

Brother Andrew introduces Him

(ASIDE - Who invited YOU to meet Jesus?)

From Galilee (outskirts of Israel, looked down on by elite Jews in Jerusalem)

Family business, Fishing - thoughts?

Relaxing, skip it when it storms, a good time with family/friend

Think Biblically, not Western, American culture

(challenge Overtons)

Not “fun” - not just fishing to feed his family some fish

Way of life for one in poverty, not highly thought of in society

Lots of taxes, fees, regulations by Rome

QUESTION - what kind of fish here? How do you catch them? Best bait?

Now...How about....Net-fishing (casting nets)

(challenge Overtons)

Took persistence, dedication, patience

“They left their nets”

“Mended their nets”

Long, hard hours, sometimes very little to show from that hard work

2) God’s Word Challenges Thoughts

Peter’s, yours

Peter knows the Word - he’ll quote it spur of the moment

A) God’s Word Requires Acceptance

His Word is THE authority - Peter clearly learned this growing up

Starting with salvation

Truth of Heaven and Hell

To transform your thoughts

Then you can challenge culture

Then you can challenge people

Then you can challenge the lost

The Word, in Eph. 6, is the only piece of the armor that is offensive

When Peter is attacked, he responds with the Word (see this later)

B) God’s Word Forces a Choice

“Who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16:16 NASB95

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter: “You are the Christ, Son of the Living God”

Not a blind choice, but educated, logical, rational decision

Peter has seen miracles (just a few here)

Mother-in-law healed

Feeding of 5000

Miraculous catch of fish

Transfiguration

Resurrection..

He has heard Jesus, and has been witness to Him back it up

SO I BELIEVE PETER! - And the Holy Spirit inspired him to write

2 Peter 1:16 NASB95

For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

C) God’s Word Prompts a Key Question

To what other source else can you go?

Where do you go for truth, answers to life?

You want candy? Sugar-coated ear tickling?

Jesus says, “keep looking, keep going, that’s not Me”

John 6, He states hard truth and keeps going, and most bail on Him

The events of Passion Week shook Peter

His friend was dead

Dark day - challenged His faith

he remembers - where else could I go? And He remembers that He decided to follow

Jesus Wants a Faithful Core

He started with Peter

“You are Peter...” “petra - rock)

Matthew 16:18 NASB95

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

The church starts with the confession of Peter (this rock), Who Jesus is

The church today - struggling with basics like this

Bible truth is still Bible truth, but many are leaving it behind - “It’s too hard”

Soon after Peter’s bold confession, the crucifixion rocked this rock

But Peter held firm

Dark days - challenge our faith

Will we hold firm?

There are fewer of us

The core here, specifically is small

116 combined on Easter

Today? _____________

So where do you turn, on those dark, hard days?

Where do people turn today? Or to what do they turn?

Where else but the Word?

Actually, people turn everywhere BUT the Word

Jesus wants faithful fishermen, and it starts with following

Why the fishing metaphor?

Think about “fishing for men” as Jesus predicted for Peter (and you)

Not “fun” or “easy”

Not based on raw skill (we’ve all got room to improve)

Work ethic is crucial (gotta really want to do this, even though commanded to)

Persistence, dedication are key

Evangelism is strenuous, often not much to show from it, but....

A good “catch” was thrilling, rewarding

Jesus found a follower in Peter

Our passage, John 6, Peter sees many have stopped following Him

Many who did not really believe

Many who didn’t like difficult statements (they hadn’t even begun to follow, they couldn’t get past what He SAID!)

They left Jesus, both physically AND spiritually

POINT: Some with connection to THIS church have done the same

Checked out, left, possibly never to return - true believers? No idea

YOU see that, so what do you decide to do with that?

Are you “IN?” I mean totally, 100%, ALL IN?

From fishing to following - That’s Peter, in light of hundreds, thousands leaving Jesus

Peter says “Where else would we go? You have truth”

GREAT question He asks, rhetorically

He remembers declaring his allegiance, “when others will fail you, I will not.”

So he’s “in,” a follower, with all that entails Luke 18:28

Luke 18:28 NASB95

Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.”

This is toward the end of Jesus’ ministry, which for Peter started with

Early in His ministry, Jesus asks Peter and Andrew to leave the family fishing business, knowing it meant He was asking them to spend 3 years plus the rest of their lives following Him, learning, growing, being challenged, encouraged, rebuked, strengthened

Mark 1:17–18 NASB95

And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Jesus calls you to a life of the same

Right now, maybe you are “fishing” - busy with life

Jesus is asking you to evaluate Him and the surrendered life, and decide to be ALL-IN following Him

Jesus told him, what He tells us, too... Luke 18:29-30

Luke 18:29–30 NASB95

And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Peter knows it will be worth it - So he decides to follow

You can know the same - first, decide to follow