A Fisherman Pulled from the Water

Peter’s story with Jesus begins with water. It all starts in Luke 5. Peter is just a fisherman out on the lake, cleaning his empty nets after a long night. Then Jesus steps into his boat, teaching the crowds from there, and afterward, He tells Peter to cast his nets again. Though he’s exhausted and skeptical, Peter obeys—and suddenly, there’s this massive haul, so big it nearly breaks the nets. Overwhelmed, Peter falls to his knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). It’s as if he already senses that following Jesus might mean leaving behind everything familiar. But Jesus doesn’t turn away; instead, He calls Peter into a new life, promising he’ll now be “catching men” (Luke 5:10).

That invitation gets tested not long after in Matthew 14. There’s Peter, this time out in a storm, and suddenly, he sees Jesus walking on the water toward the boat. Heart pounding, Peter asks, “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:28). And he does it—for a few steps, Peter actually walks on water! But then fear hits; he starts to sink, and all he can manage to yell is, “Lord, save me!” (Matthew 14:30). Jesus reaches out and catches him, asking, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). It’s a reminder that even when Peter falters, he’s still being held. It’s not Peter’s perfect faith that keeps him afloat; it’s Jesus pulling him up and not letting go.

Finally, after everything—after the denial, after the cross, after the resurrection—there’s that morning on the shore in John 21. Back to fishing, Peter hears that Jesus is there, calling from the shore. And what does he do? He doesn’t wait, doesn’t ask questions. He jumps into the water, leaving the massive catch behind, to get to Jesus (John 21:7). There’s something raw and beautiful about this moment. It’s not neat or cautious; it’s all heart. Peter has to be near Jesus, no matter what.

We see a deeper truth emerge each time Peter finds himself on or in the water. He’s not just the fisherman Jesus called to leave his nets; he’s also the one Jesus keeps pulling back, even when he fails. And maybe that’s the point. Like Peter, we’re not asked to be perfect. We’re asked to keep coming back and trusting that Jesus is there—waiting on the shore, calling us in, ready to pull us up and welcome us back every time.

~PW 🌮🛶