Decisions
There are always times in our lives when a single decision makes a huge difference in the rest of our lives. I’m sure you can think of some in your life – college, job, spouse, children. We’re going to look at a couple of these times in Peter’s life and see how they apply to us today. The first was when Jesus called Peter to follow Him.
18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
Peter and Andrew had already met and spoken with Jesus (Jn.1:35-42). They knew that there was something very different, very special, about this man, Jesus. This was probably the biggest decision of their lives.
We know that Peter had a family that he had to support. If he just walked away from his fishing business, how could he do that? Besides being his job, it seems like he probably enjoyed it, as well.
Jesus was asking Peter to walk away from his entire life, everything he knew and everything that defined him. Peter weighed the cost and followed Jesus, along with his brother Andrew and two other fisherman brothers, James and John.
Pearl
Jesus told a story of a pearl merchant who came upon a once-in-a-lifetime pearl.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls,
46 and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matt.13:45-46)
Jesus was saying that the kingdom of heaven is so incredibly valuable that it can’t even be compared with anything else. As a matter of fact, He went even further than that.
Hate
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. (Matt.14:26)
Jesus preached quite often about love. He even said that the greatest commandments were for us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, as well as loving our neighbor as ourselves (Jn.23:37-39). In comparison to our love for God, though, every other relationship should seem like hate. Some people want to simply “add Jesus” to their lives. Jesus is saying that we need to make Him our whole life, not just part of it.
Own Cross
“Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Matt.14:27)
Everyone wants to live an enjoyable life. The problem is that we think that the things around us can give us an enjoyable life. Joy comes from fulfilling our purpose in the eyes of God, not other people or even ourselves.
Fishing
Peter committed everything he had and left everything he had, so he could follow Jesus. He told Jesus that he would even die for Him. When the time came, though, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. Peter then repented and turned his life back to serving Jesus.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared a number of times to His disciples, for 40 days. One of those times is recorded in the Gospel of John. Peter was with several of the other disciples when he said he was going fishing. They said that they would go with him. They fished all night, but they caught nothing. Then, the sun was just starting to appear. They saw Jesus on the shore.
So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.“
So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.“
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. (Jn.21:5-6)
Jesus
All night long, Peter and the others labored in their own strength, and they caught nothing. Then, Jesus appears and tells them what to do. When God directed their work, it was fruitful. I would imagine that they needed money at that point, and didn’t know where to get it. Now, they could sell these fish and have what they needed.
Peter jumped in the water and swam to Jesus on the shore. The other men used the boat to drag the nets full of fish to shore, as well.
So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. (Jn.21:9)
Jesus already had fish and bread cooking, waiting for the men.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” (Jn.21:10)
Jesus didn’t need their fish, but He wanted to show them again how He provided. He also wanted them to be able to participate in this miracle. They ate together, then Jesus asked Peter something very important.
Love
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” (Jn.21:15)
Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter’s mind and emotions were probably on a roller-coaster – up and down, up and down. He had followed Jesus for over three years, then denied that he knew Him. Now he was looking for direction.
Jesus knew that this was the moment of truth for Peter; he had a decision to make. Once again, Jesus was asking Peter if he was willing to give up all of these things.
That’s a question that Jesus has for all of us – do we love Him “more than these?”
Think of all the things in your life. We live in this world, so that is how we probably define ourselves and our place in this world. But do we love Jesus “more than these?”
After Peter replied, Jesus gave him direction – simply, “Tend My lambs.” Sometimes, we wish that God would be more specific. Peter could have asked, “What does that mean?” Jesus knew that Peter knew what He meant.
Jesus then asked Peter two more times, and Jesus told him basically the same thing.
Elisha
When the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, was old and his time here on earth was up, God told him to go call his replacement.
So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. (1Ki.19:19)
Elisha was a farmer. He was probably a very prosperous farmer, because he had 11 other teams of oxen and plowmen who were plowing with him. When Elijah threw his mantle (cloak) on Elijah, he knew that Elijah was calling him to follow him. Elisha knew who Elijah was, and he knew that this meant leaving everything that he had and everything that he knew.
Burning Bridges
He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” (1Ki.19:20)
Elisha wanted to tell his parents good-bye, before he followed Elijah. Everyone knew this was a lifelong calling.
So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him. (1Ki.19:21)
Elisha sacrificed the oxen and plow that he had. He was saying that his old way of life was over, and he was ready to follow God’s calling. It was like he was burning the bridges behind him. There was no turning back, no retreat. This was his new life.
More Than These
“Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” (Jn.21:15b)
Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love Me more than these?” What are we telling Jesus today? Do we love Him more than all of these things around us, or do we love these things?
A new, wonderful life is waiting for everyone who gives Him the right answer.
Yes, Lord, we love You more than these!
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