From the start of Jesus earthly ministry, he said, ‘follow me.’ Matthew 4:19 (NLT) “Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
What does it mean to follow Jesus? Answering Jesus’ call transformed ordinary fishermen into disciples. It empowered ordinary people to become agents of profound and lasting change. It changed a Simon into a Peter. John 1:42 (NLT) “Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John – but you will be called Cephas (which means “Peter”).” Both names, Cephas (from Aramaic) and Peter (from Greek), mean rock.
The call to follow Jesus is a call to discipleship.
The call to discipleship includes:
An invitation – Matthew 4:19a (NLT) “Jesus called out to them, “Come.” It is an invitation to come and discover who God is. To spend time in His presence and build a deep intimate and personal relationship with Him. Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT) “This is what the Lord says: Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!”
A call to action – Matthew 4:19b (NLT) “follow me”. Jesus is calling us to discipleship. Discipleship is a journey of being changed by Jesus to become more like Him.
An affirmation – Matthew 4:19c (NLT) “and I will show you how to fish for people!” Jesus gives us a promise ‘I will empower you to do what I have called you to do’.
A reassurance – Luke 5:10b (NLT) “Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! A reverent or respectful fear of the Lord is good. It means to stand in awe of Him. However, to be terrified of the Lord, only seeing law and judgement, is wrong. It shows a lack of understanding of the grace and mercy of God.
You are Simon, you will be Peter.
An opportunity – John 1:42b (NLT) “Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John – but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”)”. Why? Because Jesus saw the potential in Simon to transform from ‘you are’, to ‘you will be’. Look at an acorn, it is packed with potential. An acorn has the potential to become an oak tree – in the right place, under the right circumstances and with time. We are so much more than acorns, and only God knows our ultimate potential!
A choice to make – Jesus extended an offer to Simon to trust Him and commit to follow him. Although the offer was clear, no details were given of what this will mean. Neither did it include plans about how or where this will take him. Simon had a choice to make. Play it safe and stay Simon or discover what it means to be Peter. Simon could: (1) Count the cost and find the cost to high? Like, the young man who had to sell his possessions (Matthew 19) or the man that first wanted to bury his father (Luke 9) or greet his family (Luke 9). (2) Fear uncertainty? I know what I have. (3) Settle for life as it is? My life is good enough as it is.
Jesus didn’t expect Simon to be bold and brave enough to be Peter yet. The only thing He expected of him was to be brave enough to follow.
A life transformed
Simon had his natural strengths. He was outgoing, gregarious, transparent, outspoken (which can be both good and bad), strong-willed, energetic, passionate and enthusiastic.
However, in the natural (flesh) Simon was anything but a rock. Most of his actions showed an underlying insecurity in spite of his outward confidence. Think of some of his impulsive actions. His shameful and cowardly denial of Jesus. His presumptuousness and lack of self-control. At the transfiguration of Jesus, where Peter, James and John were invited to, Peter, the compulsive talker, interrupted the discussion between Jesus, Moses and Elijah (brash and rude) and ‘answered’ – even though no one had asked him anything or invited him to speak! First, he made an inappropriate comment and then went on to offer his unsolicited advice!
Later on, we read in Acts 4:13 (NLT) “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” Everything that we read of Peter in the book of Acts shows Peter became a role model of a humble servant-leader with a shepherd’s heart. His two epistles are filled with beautiful instruction on how to live a Spirit-filled life. The disciple Peter’s humility and lovingkindness is evident all through his two epistles.
Transformation happens in the presence of Jesus.
What made the difference? A life transformed by spending time with Jesus. “They recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” Peter was a fisherman. He hadn’t received higher education or training, nonetheless, Jesus called and equipped him to be a fisher of men. His time with Jesus transformed him from an uneducated and fearful man into a courageous and faithful apostle who became instrumental in the establishment of the church.
Not only did Jesus see his potential, his God ordained destiny, but He also saw and knew the flaws in his character. That did not stop Jesus from calling him. God’s Word is reassuring, if people like Peter and Paul could be transformed, then we know there is hope for us.
Being transformed
Transformation starts with a decision to follow Jesus. For Simon it meant:
- Personal intimacy – eat, sleep, live and travel together. For us, it means personal time spend together to get to know Him.
- A hillside classroom and road trips with teachings and demonstrations. For us, it entails devoting time to the Word of God. Learn and discover.
- Practical internship spent on assignment (Luke 9). For us the “in the name of Jesus” assignment remains. We learn by doing. The fear of failure can incapacitate us. We should allow ourself to become an instrument in the hand of Jesus. This is all He asks of each of us.
It is not the instrument, but the artist that produces the finest music.
Just like Peter, we have a lot to learn. Let’s look at some of the tutorials Peter attended:
- It is not who you are or what you have, it is what (how much of yourself) you are willing to place in the hand of the Lord
The multiplication of fish and bread was shortly followed by Peter walking on water (Matthew 14). Peter learned that spiritual possibilities are not determined by human abilities or resources, but by divine power.
In God’s hand 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes feeds 5,000.
These events show us what God can do when we trust God. When we willingly and expectantly place our meagre resources and our unlikely, unpromising, ill-equipped, but submitted and expectant soul in the powerful hands of Jesus. We and our assets might be inadequate, however if we make them available to the Lord, to become divinely empowered, He can do great things with them. More than adequate to achieve divine results.
- You may get commanded to do something that you don’t like or agree with
Between the multiplication of fish and bread and Peter walking on water there is Matthew 14:22 (NLT) “Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.” NKJV: “Jesus made His disciples get into the boat”. TPT: “told”. AMPC: “directed”.
We don’t know why the disciples may have been reluctant to get in the boat, maybe they were enjoying the aftermath of the miracle or perhaps being fishermen, they knew that a storm was brewing? What we do know is that Jesus ordered them to get in the boat and go to the other side. Sometimes, we forget that God is Lord. Sometimes He tells us to get into a boat we have no desire to board, and compels us to sail to a destination we have no desire to visit, yet we have to trust God and obey.
- You may be asked to do things that make no sense to you
Jesus asked the disciples, including Peter, to fill jars with water and then He turned them into wine (John 2). To throw out their nets to fish, during the day, after they caught nothing the night before. All good fishermen know that night fishing is the most effective time. And then they caught in abundance (Luke 5 and John 21). To untie a donkey and bring her and her colt to Jesus, without first asking permission from the owner (Luke 19).
The key to discipleship is obedience. Jesus may tell us to do things that makes no sense to us. Or to do something that goes against our grain, that are embarrassing, humiliating, or appear risky or counterproductive. We should use discernment to determine His will. To make sure that we act in obedience to a substantive word from the Lord and not merely following a whimsical thought. Ephesians 5:17 (NLT) instructs us “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.” Luke 11:28 (NLT) “He (Jesus) replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Be obedient.
- Tutoring will challenge you
As Peter followed Jesus from town to town, he had lots to think about. He had to rethink strongly held beliefs and decide his position on Jesus’ radical teachings. It was no fault of Peter that he had been born a Jew, had lived in Galilee, and earned a living fishing. He was to a large extent a product of his culture, a creation of the times he lived in, and so are we.
While time, culture and events form us, discipleship challenges the mould and remodels us. It requires confronting entrenched ideas, evaluation of cherished ambitions, analysing presumptions and relentlessly checking motives in the light who Jesus is, what He said, where He is leading us and what He expects us to do. There was a lot more to being a disciple than Peter had ever expected or imagined. Many of his previously held and deeply cherished ideas were seriously challenged.
In John 6:60 (NLT) we read “Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it? Verse 66 to 69 tell us “At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” Peter, ‘the rock’, stood firm. Not because he understood all that he was hearing, and certainly not because he agreed with everything that was going on, but he knew enough to know truth when he heard it and reality when he saw it. That should also be enough for us.
God is waiting to be gracious, and is willing to make us happy in religion, if we would not run away from him. We refuse to open the window shutters, and complain that it is dark.
Adoniram Judson (1788–1850)
Discipleship is all about following. As we confront the paradoxes of life and face up to questions that yield no easy answers, there should be enough comfort and conviction in the company of Jesus to hold us steady.
- Being humble is not easy
Peter went through humbling experiences again, and again, and again. For example, Matthew 16/17/18 and more. Peter, like us, was given the keys to heaven, and thus he had to learn to be humble. Humbling experiences served to teach him that if he was to amount to anything, or achieve anything of significance, it was directly attributable to Jesus. The Messiah called him, perceived the potential in him, patiently put up with him and therefore he owed everything to the Jesus.
As long as the disciples remained humble and continuously contribute their power to the Lord, and not themselves, they would remain effective instruments in the hand of God. Later in life, Peter wrote, 1 Peter 5:6 (NLT) “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honour.”
In Matthew 18, Jesus taught them that forgiveness is part of humility. Sadly, humans tend to hold grudges, make people pay, or demand retribution, rather than forgive. Our injured pride is mollified if we can exact some degree of payback. To forgive means our pride is left unsatisfied. It takes a humble person to accept wounded pride.
Humility is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
- Have a repentant spirit
Mark 14:72 (NLT) “And immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept”. When the crowing of the rooster reminded Peter of Jesus’ words at the Last Supper concerning his threefold denial of Him, he broke down and wept bitterly. Unlike Judas Iscariot, whose regret led him to end his life, Simon Peter repented of his failures.
Repentance is reviewing one’s actions and feeling remorse or regret for past wrongs. It is accompanied by commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better. It is a turnaround. Psalm 34:18 (AMP) “The Lord is near to the heartbroken. And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).”
Regardless of Peter’s faults and failures, Jesus had nothing but love and compassion for him. So, after Peter’s denial, Jesus knowing his devastation, left specific instructions with the angelic messenger to include Peter. Mark 16:7 (NLT) “Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” Just like with Peter, Jesus will not give up on us even when we fail Him.
Where does that leave us?
God calls us to trust and commit to the One who is totally trustworthy. He only has our best interest at heart. He won’t let us down. When He calls us to follow him, He doesn’t discuss the fine points. He gives each of us the opportunity to follow Him and discover how deeply He loves and cares for us. He envisions a future for us beyond our imagination. Like Simon’s opportunity statement, the offer is short on detail, but full of promise. Jesus offered Simon the opportunity to be actively involved in the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and He offers the same prospect to each of us.
Follow Me.
Answering the Master’s call
Despite Peter’s many failings and well documented weaknesses he continued to follow. We are called to follow Jesus in the ups and downs of our daily life. Jesus knows our potential and if we follow Him, He will transform us and the change will glorify Him.
He invites us to become deeply acquainted with Him. On the journey, He will walk with us, direct us, challenge us, ask questions and give answers to us. He will test us, allow us to fail or blunder, while remaining patient with us. He will give us His Spirit and send us on assignment. Today the Lord is extending the same invitation to us: ‘This is what you are in the flesh, but this is what you will be by My grace.’
We too can anticipate gradual transformation into the people He wants us to be. It doesn’t matter if we don’t know what we’re supposed to do for the Kingdom, or the potential God sees and has created in us. Love the Lord will all your heart, all your mind and all your soul and keep following. Just be brave enough to follow, spend time in His presence on a daily basis, like Peter did, and He will create an Oak tree from an acorn.
Peter ends his last letter in the Bible with these words: 2 Peter 3:18 (NLT) “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.”
Are you open to discovering God’s perspective on your life?
Prayer: Dear Father, thank You that You created me on purpose with a purpose. Only You can transform this acorn into an Oak-tree. I submit to the transformative power of Your Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen.
