Week of January 2nd
The sermon series continued this week with the discussion about how the Christmas season continues. We want to make life into little snapshots and events but God it’s about process and presence. A great example of this is how “3D” Peter was throughout the Bible. We see his victories, his struggles, his boldness and his transparency with his faults. In fact, the whole Bible is full of not just the successes and triumphs of its heroes but also their failures. This week, let’s look at both these failures and victories and ponder on the implications of why Holy Scripture makes sure to mention both.
Monday, January 2nd, 2023
Luke 5:1-11
As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. 2 He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat.
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”
6 When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” 9 For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.
“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” 11 Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.
The text tells us that Simon Peter fell at Jesus knees and told him to, “Go away for me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” True, he was amazed by the miraculous catch of fish, but he also saw something in Jesus that made him fall at his feet. Why do you think Simon led with confessing to being a sinful man? Was it a confession of repentance? Was it an admission of being unworthy? What do you think he was trying to communicate to Jesus in that moment?
What can we understand about Jesus from his response to Simon?
Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023
Matthew 14:22-32
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.
27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.”
And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
This event immediately follows the feeding of the 5000 with five loaves and two fish. I can only imagine the elation, wonder and maybe a little bit of pride, the disciples felt after that miracle was performed. Read through the story above and notice how many different emotions are implied or stated for the disciples and, in particular, Peter. This story is hardly alone in that. Why would it be important for the Bible to attribute so many details about emotional highs and lows in its stories? What does that tell us about our emotions and our experiences from God’s perspective?
Why do you think Simon doubted?
