PETER: THE CALL

Sermon Summary (7/7/19) “Peter: The Call” (Luke 5:1-11)

We are embarking on a new sermon series: Peter, flawed, impetuous, passionate, imperfect Peter. He wants to believe but denies Jesus.  He wants to be a faithful follower but loses faith.  He wants to be a leader and runs away.  Peter is a lot like us.  We will learn much about ourselves as we study this great disciple. 

How do we know about the flaws of Peter?  Normally, we would never write such things about our heroes, yet it’s there in the text.  More than likely, Peter told the stories about himself. 

Today’s story is about the call of Peter.  All the gospels tell the story with John’s a little different.  But it is in John that Jesus says, “You are Simon.  You are to be called Cephas (which is translated Peter.)” (John 1:42)  So Peter is called Simon, what his Mom named him; Cephas (Aramaic for Peter) and Peter (Greek).  Cephas and Peter mean Rock.  Not only was it a term of affection, but of expectation.  Later Jesus would say, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” (Mt 16:18)

According to Luke, Jesus begins his ministry in his hometown Synagogue where he is rejected.  He moves to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee where he is widely acclaimed because he spoke as one with authority.  He then casts out demons, heals the sick, including Peter’s mother in law, then proclaims the good news throughout the cities.

Then one day he comes to the seashore where Peter and Andrew are cleaning their nets after fishing all night.  He steps into Peter’s boat, teaches the crowd, then tells Peter to push into deeper water and let down his nets.  ““Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”  Now, you would think a hero would have no hesitation about obeying Jesus.  You can almost hear him say, “What does this carpenter from a landlocked village like Nazareth know about fishing?”  Finally he relents.

And when they did so, they caught so many fish that they began to break their nets and filled another boat to hold all the fish.  Peter falls at Jesus’ feet saying, ““Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”  reminiscent of Isaiah’s vision of God on the throne, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man with unclean lips living among a people with unclean lips ;yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”  (Isaiah 6:5)  “Jesus tells them, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”  When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.” So may Jesus be our priority. Amen.