Simon was a good fisherman. He and his brother, Andrew, had a nice comfortable business arrangement with their friends, John, and John’s brother, James. John had connections in Jerusalem, with the chief priests, for the sale of their catch, and at a good price. Simon hated being under Roman rule, but despite that, things were going well.
Simon was born in Bethsadia. Bethsadia had a strong greek and roman cultural influence. Once Simon’s business began to thrive, and he had enough money, he moved his family to Capernaum, a city of his own people, a Jewish City.
Then came Jesus and everything changed….
“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)
Simon left his boat, his business, and everything he knew, he left everything behind and followed Jesus. Simon even left his name behind, to be called the name Jesus gave him, Rock, or Peter.
The furthest Simon had ever traveled was Jerusalem but soon Jesus would take Peter to Syria and finally to Rome. Pagan cities, full of pagan people that Peter began to love.
Peter, became the leader of the church, the group of followers of Jesus whose membership was rapidly growing across the Roman Empire. The church not only included jews but pagans from a variety of cultures. All this without a single spear being thrown or army being raised. Peter lead the Council of Jerusalem to keep Church unity as the Church grew in the midst of conflicting jewish and pagan cultures. This was quite a change from his being a small town fisherman. Peter did things he never dreamed of, and over time, slowly at first and not perfectly, he started to become the person Jesus wanted him to be.
Jesus may not be asking you to lead his church, or to travel to foreign cities, but he does have a plan for you, a great God-given adventure, if only you take that one first step, and then follow it with another, and then another.
Turtles, McClane Creek Nature Trail, WA USA
