As you think back over your lifetime, you will probably remember several people, who stand out as being exceptional role models. A month ago we were thinking about Biblical Role Models, and one we considered was Simon Peter. Between that week and now our church has begun a Lenten Study, Simon Peter, Flawed but Faithful Disciple by Rev. Adam Hamilton. Each week we view a video, where Rev. Hamilton takes us to places in the Holy Land where Peter lived and encountered Jesus. I’d like to share with you some of the encouragement we are receiving as we consider the challenges of being a disciple in Jesus’ day. The first week we began looking at the scripture, where Jesus called his first disciples to put down their nets and begin to fish for people. Simon had met Jesus before this incident when his brother, Andrew introduced them. Andrew had gone to see John the Baptist and witnessed John saying of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” (see John 1:29-42). When he got home, Andrew told Simon, “We have found the Messiah” and when Simon first met Jesus, Jesus already knew who he was. “You are Simon, son of John”, Jesus said. “You shall be called Cephas”, (which means Peter, the Rock). He saw in this young man the fulfillment of his future role leading Christians and forming the church. In the midst of this story Jesus asks to use Simon’s boat to speak to the people on the shore from the shallows of the Sea of Galilee. Later he asks Simon to put out into the deep water and let down their nets. The fishermen had been out all night and were very tired, yet because Simon was learning who Jesus was. He complied saying, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5:5) Rev. Hamilton says the phrase, ‘if you say so, I will . . .’ shows Simon’s reluctant obedience. There are many times this very feeling is real in our lives as well. When God nudges our hearts to do something, it may not always come at a time when we are excited to follow His lead. We are too often deeply involved in our own activities and it would be too easy to dismiss the call to serve with an, “I’m too busy right now”. Yet, if we know the reverence God has placed in our hearts and can remember examples like Simon Peter, we, too, can overcome our excuses and answer, “If you say so, I will go/do/help.” The second week of our study continued following Peter’s interaction with Jesus as a growing disciple. Jesus had just fed the five thousand on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and sent his disciples toward home in the boat while he dismissed the crowds. He had just learned of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, and retreated into the mountains to be alone and pray. When he returned, the disciples were in the middle of the sea rowing against a mighty storm which arose as they were trying to reach the shore. In Matthew 14:23b-33 (CEB) we read: 23b  Evening came and he was alone. 24  Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. 25  Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. 26  When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed. 27  Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” 28  Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.” 29  And Jesus said, “Come.” Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. 30  But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!” 31  Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” 32  When they got into the boat, the wind settled down. 33  Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!” As our discussion about this scripture deepens, we consider why the disciples reacted to Jesus’ walking on the water the way they did. What would we have done? Would we have had the courage and trust of Peter to get out of the boat as Jesus bid him to do? In the midst of storms in our own lives, do we know that Jesus is with us to steady us and give us courage, or do we look away from him and try to handle the situation on our own? Would we even have the courage to trust Jesus and step out of the boat or remain cowardly hunkered down in the boat, letting fear control our actions? Even though at first reading, Peter seems to fall short (and almost drown) in this story, he is so real, we can see him as a courageous example. When Jesus asks us to complete a task we are fearful of doing, we can hear him saying, “Be encouraged! It’s me. (I am with you.) Don’t be afraid. As you grow into this season of Lent, take time to consider Simon Peter’s life as we learn to follow more completely the way of our Lord, Jesus. Reference: Simon Peter: Flawed but Faithful Disciple, Adam Hamilton, Copyright © 2018 Abingdon Press

In the grace, Spirit and love of Christ, Carolyn Moe