Peter Called

Introduction:

Points.

Another key point

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Meet Simon Peter:

We find Peter, in Luke’s Gospel, doing what any Torah school dropout would do—at his Father’s business! Washing fishing nets.

You see, in first c. Judea,

Any Jewish father’s dream was for his sons to finish Torah school at 12yrs old & be chosen to train rigorously under a rabbi—a teacher of the law of Moses.

I child would train at bet seper (house of the book) until age 10, then transition to bet Talmud (house of teaching) until they graduated at 13.

After bar mitzvah, certain excelling students would be selected to study under the YOKE of Torah at the feet of a rabbi.

Peter, tending his nets by the shore of the Galilee had likely been doing so for the last 5 or 6 years, the humble career of a fisherman his lot.

But on this particular day everything for Simon Peter is going to change.

On this day,

Jesus catches Peter… and calls him to fish for People.

Peter had just finished a hard bout of night-fishing and had caught nothing when Jesus of Nazareth first came into his acquaintance.

This rabbi had been getting plenty of local buzz: healings, powerful teachings, and he seemed to have nothing but resentment for the leading Bible teachers at synagogue.

A rebel rabbi!

Jesus’ travels had brought him (& a huge crowd of people) to this exact part of the shore of the lake.

But

For Peter & the Zebedees washing nets nearby, they couldn’t help but feel like this meeting wasn’t a coincidence.

The shore was crowded, so

Luke 5:3 “Jesus got into one of their boats, the one belonging to Simon Peter, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people [on the shore] from the boat.”

Peter and the others sat behind him in awe as this Rabbi sat and taught with authority about the ‘Kingdom of God’:

“This could be someone special. There’s something so different about the way he teaches and the wisdom he uses to connect the dots in the Torah.”

Peter almost couldn’t believe it when the Rabbi addressed him, James, & John:

Jesus asked them to fish! He told them to try their nets on the other side of the boat; to try something new.

“Master”, Peter said—respectful of his position, but not yet familiar with his true glory,

Luke 5:5 “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.””

Not out of faith, but dutiful respect, they put their nets in… and pulled out a bountiful catch of fish!

A true encounter with Jesus leads us to new and better paths in life.

Like the disciples, Jesus offers us an internship. He asks us to follow him; to learn from him…

And to Peter, James & John, he prophesied:

Luke 5:10 “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”

"That’s exactly how a good rabbi speaks—in riddles! What does he mean? What kind of bait will we need? We’re going to need a bigger boat!”

When they came ashore, the former torah-students excitedly raced to be the first one by the Teacher’s side.

Luke 5:11 “They pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed [Jesus].”

//BEAT//

James & John were younger than 17. Peter was newly married. And they knew that this calling was going to transform their lives—permanently!

Hang up the nets and bait, dock the boats, & shelter the oars! They were under the yoke of the Torah now; learning at the feet of the Master, their Rabbi and Lord.

Peter left everything to apprentice under Jesus of Nazareth.

In the coming months and years, they would see Jesus do the miraculous:

Lepers healed, lame men walked, blind people see, the demonized set free from evil, and sins forgiven!

Not only that,

The disciples witnessed, in Jesus, the kind of lifestyle & priorities that leads to God’s power moving.

Times of solitude & prayer [conversation] with Father; refreshment with friends; sacrificing time, energy, & resources to help people confused, hurting, & lost.

They even got to participate, themselves, in the ministry of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus commissioned them:

Luke 9:1–2 “...He gave them power & authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Jesus trained and sent out his disciples (Peter incl.) to duplicate what He'd been doing—multiplying the mission!

But,

Even greater than freeing & healing, Jesus said, is that promise of an eternal life with Him. (Luke 10:20)

Luke 10:20 “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.””

Peter witnessed God moving in a powerful revival; the likes of which they hadn’t known since the days of Moses or David—yet so very differently!

What’s all too relatable, and yet still frustrating, for us to hear is that >>

Even Peter Deserted Jesus

//BEAT//

After 3 years of wandering the judean countryside, sleeping wherever they could, scrounging for food; preaching & teaching, helping & healing so many…

Jesus began to say some things that made Peter and the others very uncomfortable.

“The temple leaders will reject me.” “I am going to suffer.” “They will hurl insults, spit, and whips.” “I am going to be handed over & killed.”

Whether by incredulity, spiritual blindness, or both, Jesus’ closest friends gawked at these prophecies. They didn’t have categories for this kind of ‘end’ for THE Messiah.

So when it came time for these terrible oracles to happen, almost all of His most capable men fled.

At Jesus’ trial, only two friends stayed close by; one was Simon Peter:

Luke 22:54 “Then seizing [Jesus], they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.”

But Peter, staying close (enough) to Jesus, entered into a significant trial.

Keeping warm outside the place when Jesus was being questioned, Peter faced a questioning of his own.

First, by a little girl.

Luke 22:56–62 “A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour went by until another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

//BEAT//

“What am I saying? How could I do that?! I love that man like my own brother. I would die for him, and I meant it. Yet I can’t even admit that I know him. What a failure; what a mess-up I am! No better than Judas…

I’m sorry Lord. i’m sorry rabbi; my master…”

Peter stood in the courtyard, shamed by his cowardice, grieving his betrayal.

//BEAT// END SCENE \\

Despite Peter’s great guilt & shame that he felt—right as it may have been—

What happened to Jesus in the hours that followed would cover over each of his woes.

In fact,

The heart that Peter had—one that grieves over a betrayal, over a relationship lost—is the same heart Christ desires from us!

Already, Peter was in the correct posture to receive forgiveness!

Despite OUR posture (humble or not) >>

Jesus still Died so we Can Live!

Yeaers later, the AP would pen this truth:

Romans 5:7–8 “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus died for unrighteous, unrepentant sinners.

Can I get an AMEN?!

In this strange sort of way…

1. Jesus Calls Each of Us

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Even those who are far from him, Jesus has a calling for them.

He didn’t wait until Peter was perfect or holy or righteous to call him,

called him right from the boat into ministry.

And then he waded through the waters of life with him and 11 others: showing them, teaching them, and letting them practice Kingdom power.

No matter who you are in this room, there is a greater purpose for your life!

No matter how good we feel we are, living for Christ is better.

He is calling you and >>

2. He Wants our Full Commitment

Jesus gave a hard teaching once. He said:

Matthew 10:37–39 ““Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Peter, James, John, etc al… left everything!

Jesus doesn’t actually want us to hate our family, but he does want our best and our most precious time; our everything!

3. We Fail Regularly

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Even Peter, who lived it out, walked w Jesus personally, ate at his table, heard all of His teachings firsthand again and again… fell.

As much as we want to also shame him, too, we can relate!

In private or in public, we drop the ball. WE EACH fall short (even me).

You see, when we love the world or the fun or the excitement of worldly things more than Jesus, it’s impossible to live the life He calls us to.

This grieves the heart of God.

He wants you. He wants your affections, your friendship.

Aren’t you glad that

4. Jesus Died to Make us Right with Him

1 Corinthians 6:11 “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

by His Holy Spirit, we are made right with him.

Jesus is the goal and also the solution.

His sacrifice made it possible for us to be in right relat with Him.

Call ushers to come forward and begin passing out the elements.

COMMUNION:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Altar time?

Salvation call?