The Meeting with the Christ
The Meeting
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh Lord, please leave me - I'm too much of a sinner to be around you."
Luke 5 :8
It was another ordinary day in the life of Peter, the fisherman. They worked hard last night, but all their efforts were in vain, no catch of fish, empty nets. Then a man called Jesus, the carpenter from Nazareth stepped into his boat and asked him to push it out into the water. Then the man sat in the boat and taught the crowd from there.
To Peter, Jesus is just another spiritual leader giving spiritual insights and instructions to people. For him he is the carpenter from Nazareth turned preacher of God's Word, nothing very special. When Jesus finished preaching, he turned to Simon saying, "Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish."
At first, Peter is hesitant to heed the instruction, but he obeyed it anyway. What happened next, is the event that totally transformed Peter and changed his impression of Jesus forever. "A great catch of fish!" The nets were so full that they began to tear. A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. When Simon Peter realized what had happened he fell down to his knees before Jesus and said, "Get away from me Lord, I am a sinful man!"
Now Peter addressed Jesus as Lord. The miracle transformed him completely. Jesus is no ordinary spiritual leader. He is not just another preacher of God's Word, he must be somebody much much greater. Greater than Abraham, greater than Moses and even greater than King David. He must be the Messiah, the Christ, his LORD. Before the miracle Peter called Jesus master, now he called him Lord. Peter has seen the glory of Christ as revealed in the miraculous catch of fish. When the glory of Christ is revealed to Peter, he saw his true condition before God, a totally depraved man and a great sinner.
Whenever the glory of God is revealed, one will be aware of his unworthiness. When the glory of the Lord was revealed to the prophet Isaiah, Isaiah became aware of his unworthiness and pronounced, "My destruction is sealed, for I am a sinful man and a member of the sinful race, yet I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty. Only when one saw himself as vile hellbound sinner, only then he can know God by heart.
Peter's life was totally transformed after this meeting with Jesus. It made him forsake his everything to follow Jesus. Everything he considered dear to him, his family and his most cherished job, "fishing." It totally altered the direction of his life. From now on he became "fisher of men." Later in his life, he even died for his Lord when he was crucified upside down..This is indeed true Christianity. When one truly experienced the miracle of the new birth, he will have a radical transformation.
Comments
Cristina Santander (author) from Manila on November 05, 2020:
Thanks to all those who gave time to read this hub. Stat safe and blessed.
Cristina Santander (author) from Manila on June 27, 2010:
Hi Loves to Read. Thank you for visiting and appreciating this hub. Regards.
Loves To Read on June 24, 2010:
Great hub Christina, like Peter we are all sinners. But thanks to our wonderful Lord and Saviour, we are washed clean by His precious blood. Thank you for your work.
Blessings and Hugs.
Cristina Santander (author) from Manila on January 15, 2008:
Thank you Patty. Regards and God bless you.
Patty Inglish MS from USA and Asgardia, the First Space Nation on January 15, 2008:
Thank you for this series you are providing us! Many more to come, I hope.
Cristina Santander (author) from Manila on January 15, 2008:
Thanks Wehzo for the generous comments and for the additional fedback.
Cristina Santander (author) from Manila on January 15, 2008:
Thanks Wehzo for the generous comments and for the additional fedback.
Wehzo on January 15, 2008:
Another great one Cristina327. You are absolutely right, God touched Peter at the very heart of his passion, fishing. There was no other area in Peter's life that consumed so much of his time and efforts. When Jesus touched it, it compelled Peter to stand up and take notice. That's all Jesus needed, was his attention. That's what He need from us, first, our attention. So don't be surprised when He touches your passion, but, Cristina, I believe He has already touched yours. Thank you for sharing this
Cristina Santander (author) from Manila on January 15, 2008:
thanks Peter for appreciating this hub.
Peter M. Lopez from Sweetwater, TX on January 15, 2008:
Yes, yes, yes, and the prophet Jeremiah saw it centuries before: Jer 16:16 “'But now I will send for many fishermen,' declares the LORD, 'and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill and from the crevices of the rocks.'"
Great hub.
