In July of 2012, I started teaching Sunday School for the Junior High and High School Group at Heritage Bible Church. And this morning, 14 years later, I taught there for the last time. So smiling through the tears, I taught on my favorite story in the Bible…the post-resurrection restoration of the Apostle Peter. I think we probably can all relate to this tale on a certain level, so hopefully you enjoy this synopsis of our discussion. Or you can just read John 21…either way, I hope it blesses you.
Everyone loves a good redemption story…from Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities to Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment to Lance Armstrong, it’s human nature to “root for the underdog” and to desire atonement for past wrongs. And my favorite redemption story is that of the apostle Peter in John 21.
Peter was a successful fisherman before Jesus called him to be his disciple. And Peter’s life was characterized by both stratospheric heights and colossal failures of subterranean proportions. He briefly became the first imperfect person ever to walk on water…and then had to rely on Jesus to save him from drowning when his faith failed him. He boldly declared Jesus to be the Messiah in Matthew 16…then a few verses later was rebuked for speaking on behalf of Satan. He was privy to a foreshadowing of the glories of Heaven on the Mount of Transfiguration…and then couldn’t stay awake when Jesus’ only command was to keep his eyes open.
On numerous occasions, Peter had proven that the entrance to his mouth was demonstrably foot-shaped, and he even brashly claimed that he would die for Jesus. But when Jesus was in his darkest hour, as He was being spat upon, mocked, beaten, and scourged before his crucifixion, Peter denied that he even knew Jesus. Not once. Not twice. But three times.
And at that point, Peter knew he had failed. He had REALLY wanted to be a disciple of Jesus. He had REALLY wanted to demonstrate that he was worthy of this high calling. But he knew that his resume was sorely lacking. He knew that he deserved to be “cut from the team.” And he knew that whatever Jesus was looking for in a disciple, it surely wasn’t somebody like him.
But at least he was good at fishing…or so he thought. But when he tried to return to his old occupation, he spent all night long out on the lake with his buddies…and caught nothing. This is sort of like selling Pest Control door to door for commission only…the only thing I ever got when I did that job for a week was a brutal farmer’s tan and a few granola bars from people who felt bad for me…pretty depressing.
And then Jesus showed up on the shore. “You guys haven’t caught anything, have you?” the omniscient Lord of the Universe asked rhetorically. (This had to be aggravating…sort of like when Uncle Tony used to ask you how your football game went when he knew full-well that your team got demolished 54-0). “Why don’t you try the other side of the boat?” Jesus suggested, as if somehow the fish in the Sea of Galilee had chiral preferences. And, of course, they instantly caught 153 fish. Realizing that Jesus had orchestrated this miraculous haul, Peter impulsively splashed towards the shore, leaving his friends to laboriously lug the catch to shore. Despite his failures, all he ever wanted was to be with Jesus.
And then Jesus asked Peter a simple question. “Peter, do you love me?” Three times, Jesus asked Peter that question…the same number of times Peter had denied that he even knew Jesus several days prior. And the first two times, the Greek word that Jesus used for love was agape, which means unconditional love…the type of love that Jesus Himself had demonstrated to the world. Peter knew that his love didn’t measure up, so he answered, “Well, yeah I phileo you (not a reference to a longitudinal trout cutlet, but the Greek word meaning “brotherly affection”). The third time, Jesus asked Peter, “Do you even phileo me?” Peter was truly shattered. This once-proud bombastic brute, formerly bursting with bravado, had been brought to his knees. And that’s exactly where he needed to be. Because Peter had to learn that Jesus was the one who was not only in control of the fish in the sea, but in control of the type of fishing that Peter would be doing the rest of his life. And that impulsive failure of a fisherman, his cowardice changed to courage by the transforming love of Christ, became the Rock upon which the church was built. He became a Fisher of Men.
In many ways, I feel a lot like Peter. I’ve had the immense privilege of dipping my toe in many waters and plumbing the depths of scientific discovery. I relish the Deep Dives of exploring previously uncharted biochemical territories, and sometimes I become so entranced that I don’t even want to come up for air. I’ve achieved some measure of success in these proverbial fishing expeditions by earthly standards. But ultimately, I believe that God has, more importantly, called me to be a Fisher of Men.
There have been times in my life that I’ve tried to “go back to fishing.” I know I haven’t loved Jesus with the perfect love with which He has loved me. I’ve failed over and over again, and I’ve felt unworthy to be called His disciple. But I know that despite my imperfections, God doesn’t leave projects unfinished. And I take solace in the fact that He will never, ever give up on me.
So do you love Jesus? Because He first loved me, I know I do. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know who holds it, and I know my desire to make Him proud hasn’t changed. And as this beautiful chapter comes to a close, I trust that I’ll simply be casting my line in a different pond.
