Luke 5:1-11
1 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
2 He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
3 Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
4 After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch."
5 Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets."
6 When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.
7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."
9 For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him,
10 and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."
11 When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.
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There's undoubtedly a great difference between the Peter of the gospels and the Peter of Acts, following the descent of the Holy Spirit. Peter of the gospels doesn't really "get" the transfiguration, he hears Christ tell him "Get behind me Satan", and of course, he denies Christ on the night of the passion.
Personally I think the Peter of the gospels gets a raw deal. I often hear him described as a "blockhead." Take a look here though, in his early encounter with Christ. Jesus walks right into Peter's boat and asks Peter to move away from shore. When the teaching is over, Jesus tells him to go right back to where he'd been fishing all night and throw the nets in.
Peter obeys, even though it defies logic. A miracle happens. Immediately Peter confesses Christ as Lord, and confesses his own sinfulness. To which Jesus responds, "Be not afraid."
So there you have it. Peter allowed Christ to walk into his life and take command. He confessed Christ as Lord and his own sinfulness. And then he followed Christ wherever he went.
What better example could we have for our own life?
