Daily Devotional | Follow Me

Jesus gathered around Him unlikely disciples from various vocations: fishermen, tax collectors, and even political zealots. The first of these, recorded by Luke, was Simon Peter. We know that Jesus already knew Peter since He had healed his mother- in-law not long before. One day, Jesus stood on the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee). Because His teaching had become so popular, a crowd of people had gathered.

Jesus singled out Peter and his companions for a particular encounter. Climbing into Peter’s boat to avoid the crowd, He asked Peter to push out into the lake. Peter was probably exhausted from a long night of fishing, but he did what Jesus said. He only resisted when Jesus, the carpenter’s son, told him to lower his nets. The seasoned fisherman explained, “We’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” (v. 5). At midday, it seemed foolish to try again.

Nevertheless, Peter did what Jesus said. He probably was thinking of the miracles he had already witnessed— even one in his own family. Miraculously, the nets overflowed with fish, so much so that the boat began to sink and Peter had to call for help.

Peter recognized this was a miracle and Jesus was an agent of God. His immediate response was not gratitude, but repentance. Confronted by the deity of Jesus, Peter recognized his sin. In response, Jesus called Peter into discipleship—for his own sake and the sake of others. We are told that Peter immediately left everything to follow Jesus.

Jesus’ ministry of teaching and healing continued. Luke records how Jesus healed a leper and a paralyzed man. The disciples who answered His call and followed Jesus would continue to be amazed and challenged. Their time with Jesus would change their lives.

>> Reflect on your own call to follow Jesus. Share that moment with someone else today. And, if you haven’t yet answered Jesus’ call, repent, and turn to Him. He is waiting!