IMPULSIVE FISHERMAN FEEDS LAMBS

Since my earliest memories, Peter was the apostle I could best relate with. Before I could read, I

loved to listen to stories of Peter from the Bible Story books. I still remember those first glimpses of the

story of his calling to become a fisher of men after the miracle of the great catch of fish, of his near-

drowning after his prideful walk on the water, of His denial of Jesus at Calvary. Then after his

conversion, I relished the stories of the Peter who would not fear death or prison, but boldly preached

the truth.

I am so thankful that my mother learned lessons from how Jesus trained Peter. Just like Jesus

admonished Peter, she would repeat, “And the Lord said, Esther, Esther, behold, Satan hath desired to

have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when

thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32) She expected me to rise above

disobedient ways and become a missionary like Peter.

The Bible account of Jesus' call to Peter has always held hope for me. And Jesus, walking by

the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the

sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And

they straightway left their nets, and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20) Jesus called a fisherman—

someone who obviously was not afraid of work, yet had not had the privilege of a proper schooling.

Jesus does not discern between our temporal differences; the rich and the poor have equal opportunities

to follow Jesus. But the Master looks at the heart. Does she willingly do the task at hand? The pen of

inspiration wrote, In the common walks of life there is many a toiler patiently treading the round of his

daily tasks, unconscious of latent powers that, roused to action, would place him among the world's

great leaders. Such were the men who were called by the Saviour to be His colaborers. (Education p.

85) So he calls me. I may not come from a wealthy home. I may not have the advantage of having

education in a fancy school, but if I will willing do the simple things around me, I will become
qualified for doing work for Jesus.

For each person, conversion is different. For some, they simply look to Jesus and begin walking

the narrow path. They are naturally less impulsive and rebellious. Others are truly converted, pursue the

right way, yet fall again and again. These have conversion experience after conversion experience.

Such is the story of Peter. One story that speaks to me in particular is found in Luke 5 and also is found

in Desire of Ages in the chapter called “The Call by the Sea.” This is the first of the several times that

Jesus sends His fishermen fishing when they don't think it is advisable. Peter, outspoken as always, tells

the Carpenter that this is not a good time to fish. However, he does acknowledge Jesus' authority and

lets down the net. Quickly the net fills with fish and even with two ships trying to haul them in, they

nearly sink. Suddenly Peter is struck with his own sinfulness. He falls at the Master's feet crying,

Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, Oh Lord. (Luke 5:8) The pen of inspiration elaborates on this

event by comparing it to the call of the prophet Isaiah. It is after the prophet exclaims, “Woe is me!”

that he is is given the divine message. In just the same way, after this experience of renouncing self and

acknowledging the power of Christ, Peter is given the call to be a fisher of men.

Jesus saw in Peter potential for service. Peter was prompt and zealous in action, bold and

uncompromising; and Christ saw in him material that would be of great value to the church. (4th

Testimonies p. 488) I can relate with Peter in this way. I have a very stubborn personality and have a

tendency to demand my own way. However, when I surrender my heart and will to Jesus, He can then

use my stubbornness to stand firmly for the right. I remember when I was fourteen, I went away from

home for the first time. I was in a group of young people who held much lower standards than I. They

encouraged me try wearing pants and laughed at me when I ordered a 7-layer burrito without cheese. I

stubbornly refused to change: in fact, it seemed to be a stimulus for holding tighter to what I knew was

right. Since that time, I have had many opportunities, when surrendered to Christ, to stand for Him. I'm

sure Peter must have been the same way. His zealousness, when combined with the Divine, was seen to

bring many to Christ.

 Jesus sometimes used extreme ways to teach Peter lessons he wouldn't forget. Peter's walk on

the water is one of these. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee

on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the

water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he

cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said

unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:28-31) Here I see that Peter is

impulsive, yet this springs from a heart of eagerness to show love for his Master. I watch as Christ

refines him by allowing him to walk on the water. As pride shakes his faith, he sinks. Suddenly he

forgets the Saviour's power. He forgets how Jesus has raised people from the dead, fed 5,000 people

with only a few loaves and fish, and given sight to the blind. All he can do is focus on self. As he sinks,

Jesus sternly rebukes his pride and faithlessness, yet saves him regardlessly. Here Jesus wanted to teach

him a lesson that would prepare him for the great test. Ellen White wrote that, Had he learned the

lesson that Jesus sought to teach him in that experience on the sea, he would not have failed when the

great test came upon him. (Desire of Ages, p. 382.2) I know I am just as weak and erring as Peter, but I

pray that I may learn from his experience: When Jesus teaches a lesson, I want to learn it the first time

around so I will not be liable to fall for the largest test.

I think one of the most heart-rending stories in the Bible is of Peter's denial of Jesus at Calvary.

Peter is impulsively cursing and swearing, trying to prove that he wasn't Jesus disciple. He is trying in

his own power to protect himself; Jesus' disciples were known for their purity of speech, so in this he

was attempting to cover up his identity. But written across his face were his true feelings. When he had

just barely completed his third denial when he heard a rooster crow. And Peter remembered the word

of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and

wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:73-75)

The apostle Luke recorded that at this time, that Jesus turned and looked at him. Ellen White

expands on this, At the same time Peter's eyes were drawn to his Master. In that gentle countenance he
read deep pity and sorrow, but there was no anger there. (Desire of Ages p. 712) This look struck his

heart worse that any blow could. It was a blow that would wound to heal, yet at the time, all looked

bitter to the now-repentant disciple. He rushed all the way back to the garden of Gethsemane where he

sobbed out his heart, wishing he could die. He knew he had added yet another terrible burden to the

heart of his hurting Master. Going back in memory, he recalled the Saviour's patience and love for him,

and wept at the thought of having let down the one whom had loved him so.

I think of Jesus' look at Peter and know He is looking to me now. It reminds me of the hymn

that goes, Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow

strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. The things of earth, my sinful pleasures, the desire to

fit in with the world, these will become unimportant with one look into the face of the one who did no

sin. My sins weigh on his shoulders just like Peter's. I should be just as ashamed. Yet for Peter there

was hope and for me there is hope also.

Jesus needs to finish teaching Peter a lesson before He is satisfied that the apostle has indeed

become healed from the blow. Peter and some of the other disciples had spent a night fishing without

success, much like the time several years before. Again Jesus calls from the shore to cast the net. As

they cast it on the right side as instructed, no murmur is heard. The once-impulsive Peter submissively

obeys. They cast the net and it soon fills to capacity. While the first miracle of drawing fish was to

teach them that Jesus would supply their needs, the second time was to teach them how dependent they

were on His help in the work of fishing men. Only when they had cast the net into the right side, facing

the shore on which stood the Master did they bring in a catch of fish. I want to learn this lesson too—

too often when working for God, I want to use my own plans. I try to reach hungering souls while I

have nothing to give them, and Christ is not there to draw them. Just like me, Peter was prone to be

independent too, but he was willing to learn from Jesus: I want to be also.

On the shore Jesus had prepared a simple meal for his hungry disciples. Here it was that He

designed to give Peter the “Final” after the big trial. Jesus wanted to make sure that the blow had
indeed healed Peter. Jesus asked, Simon, son of Jona, lovest thou me more than these? (John 21:15)

Jesus was testing to see if Peter was still prideful—did he still think he could love the Master more than

the other disciples? Peter's response was, Yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. (vs. 16) Three times

this question was asked in front of the other disciples and three times Peter humbly answered thou

knowest I love thee. Then Jesus bid him to feed His lambs—a job that he had not previously been at all

qualified for. However, his experience after his denial of Jesus had made his heart more tender. From

now on, he would be more gentle with the erring, more thoughtful about his speech, most completely

dependent on the Master. Because of his fall and complete conversion, he would understand the weak

and fallen, and be able to point them to his Source of Strength.

The disciples, including Peter, had concluded that probably the erring disciple would not be

permitted to remain in their company. However, Jesus had lovingly gave him the opportunity to redeem

himself by this public confession. I am thankful for Jesus' willingness to give me a second chance too.

It hurts to confess sins to those who have witnessed them, but from Peter's experience, I see that it is a

vital step to a closer walk with Jesus.

The priests and Pharisees did not witness this confession. They figured that the Peter who had

denied Jesus would easily fall prey to their threatenings. But were they in for a surprise! Peter and John

had gone to the temple one day. As they walked in the gate, they met a lame man whom they healed in

Jesus' name. This aroused the curiosity of those in the temple and Peter began preaching about the

Jesus who died and was risen again. Dismayed at the powerful works of Jesus' followers, the priests

decided to take action against them. They were not really worried because they remembered the

weakness of Peter and the other disciples at Jesus' trial and they were sure that it would not be too

much of a problem to silence them now. However, the weakest was now made strong. With power Peter

preached. Not a trace of fear marked his words as he preached about his Master.

Peter had truly been converted and from henceforth would strengthen his brethren. The school of

Christ had trained him. Ellen White wrote, The converted Peter was very different. He retained his
former fervor, but the grace of Christ regulated his zeal. He was no longer impetuous, self-confident,

and self-exalted, but calm, self-possessed, and teachable. He could then feed the lambs as well as the

sheep of Christ's flock. (DA p. 812)

Jesus is calling all of us to attend His school. The Master is eager to take us as we are teach us.

Our personalities and inherited tendencies, He will take and refine. I want Jesus to do with me

whatever it takes to make me in instrument for Him. And like Peter, when I am converted, I will

strengthen my brethren.