There once lived a man. He did not have any education while he was a boy because he came from a family that lived on hope in poverty. He grew up and found his means for living by the waters. Waking up early in the wee hours of the morning was his daily routine. He would clean his net and check his worn out little boat and get ready to go to sea. He fishes for a living. He was a fisherman.

Of luck, of destiny or of divine intervention he went out fishing one day and caught a surprise. For three years he witnessed things that have not been seen before. He heard things that have not been heard before. His life was transformed. A new joy came into his life. He was filled with more reasons to live. He was determined to tell the whole world about this joy.

But soon the joy faded away (or so he taught).... He lost his determination.... and back he went to his old life being a fisherman.

He was Peter.

Luke 5:11
So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Peter, James and his brother John were done fishing that day and were busy cleaning their nets when Jesus came to them at the Lake of Gennesaret. Jesus told Peter to go back into sea and put down his net for a catch again. Peter must have taught that Jesus was kidding and that he was kind of crazy. But Peter did what he was told and viola! there it was, a great big catch that almost caused his boat to sink!

Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

So Peter, Andrew, James and John left EVERYTHING and followed Jesus. They would have probably left their catch there lying on the beach and their boats and nets and walked away from them all and followed Jesus. Or they would have given orders to their friends to care for their fishing materials while they are away and followed Jesus. Either way, their action showed that they LEFT EVERYTHING and followed Jesus.

For three years Peter and the other 11 disciples of Jesus spent their days and nights together with the Son of God. They lived and learned in the presence of Christ himself, the One that was prophesied about thousands of years ago. Jesus would have more than enough time spent with his disciples to make them realize the purpose for their lives.

Jesus was betrayed. Jesus was crucified. Jesus was laid in the tomb. Jesus was resurrected.

Peter did not understand.

When Peter saw the empty tomb of Jesus, Peter did not understand. After being in the presence of God himself for three years, he knew little, he could not understand why Jesus not in the tomb was. Peter did not understand why was Jesus not dead?

Peter gave up.

Peter would have probably been mourning over the “sudden” and “unexpected” death of Jesus for a few days. He probably would have gone on a hunger strike and did not eat of drink. He probably would have cried day and night for the “lost” of his Master. Peter was depressed.

Peter gave up and went back to his old life.

After mourning for a few days Peter said to himself, “All these for nothing? All the miracles, the teachings, the prophecies, the revelations, everything... All these for nothing? What am I suppose to do now? Jesus is dead and I have nothing to live for now.”

Luke 21:3
“I am going out to fish...”

Peter told his friends he was going out to fish. He gave up hope and decided to go back to where he begun. He would have probably thought that there is nothing he can do now that Jesus is gone so he went back to be a fisherman once more. Peter wanted to spend the rest of his life going out to sea and catch fishes for a living. This was what he had in mind before he met Jesus. And this is what he had in mind when Jesus was gone. Peter gave up what he has been called to do and live for and went back to his old life.

Peter gave up Jesus’ call.

Luke 21:6
He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”

Jesus appeared to Peter while he was fishing with his buddies and they could not recognize Jesus at all! Like the first time they met, Peter obeyed although he knew that it was impossible to get a catch and Peter threw the net into the water. He caught an amount of fish so large it was hard to haul it into the boat.

Peter went on to become one of the earliest and greatest church builders.

Matthew 4:19
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Zlwin Chew