Peter's last fishing trip......

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. ² He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.   Luke 5:1-11

Some would look at these verses and categorize them as "Jesus calling his first disciples."  Today, let's think of them under the category of "Peter's last fishing trip."  Peter was a fisherman by trade, and apparently experienced in his work.  However that night, Peter and his crew had fished all night and all they had to show for it was some seaweed tangled in their nets. Cleaning nets and preparing them for the next catch was no small task.  It was then Jesus entered one of the boats and sat down and began to teach those who had drawn near. 

Following his teaching the asked Peter to take the boats out again, this time to the deeper water. There was such a catch, the nets were straining and began to break. Both boats were filled with fish, so full they were in danger of sinking.  Peter went to his knees before Jesus and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man."  Jesus informed him there was no reason to be afraid, and from now on, he would be fishing for men.  Verse 11 says they pulled their boats on shore, left everything and followed Jesus. 

I just know Peter had a little smirk on his face when Jesus asked him to take the boats out again.  After all, Peter was the fishing expert here.  When the successful catch was made, Peter, instead of praising the nice catch, had taken an inward look and was immediately aware of his sins.  Do you see the irony here?  Jesus came for people to come to him and in this miracle Peter ordered Jesus to get away, because Peter was a sinner.  Jesus explained it all better to Peter by letting him know he would now be a fisher of men. 

What is it that causes us the be like Peter?  In the moments when we need Jesus the most, we want to further separate ourselves from him.  Peter learned the lesson on his last fishing trip when he was told he would be a fisher of men.  What is our last fishing trip before we learn the same thing?

May we all be closer to Jesus, his ways and his teaching, so we, too, will be more useful in his work, bringing our neighbors to him.

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