The Fisherman
1. Why was Peter fishing when Jesus was preaching?
Luke 5:1 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, Luke 5:2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. Luke 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
ANSWER: Peter was not fully sure about following Jesus.
2. How did Peter respond when Jesus asked him to cast the net?
Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Luke 5:5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
ANSWER: Obeyed the words of Jesus, but doubted.
3. When the fishing net broke, was this a good or bad thing?
Luke 5:6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
DISCUSSION QUESTION: If it is good then why? If it is bad then why?
SUGGESTED ANSWER: Braking of the net was not good because most likely some fish escaped. Jesus brought the fish but Peter threw the net with doubt. Doubting spirit of Peter made the net imperfect.
4. How did Peter respond to the miracle?
Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
ANSWER: He called himself a sinful man and asked Jesus to depart from him.
5. What was Peter thinking when he said to Jesus, “depart from me” while at the same time he was, in a sense, holding Jesus’ knees?
ANSWER: When Peter said, “depart from me”, he felt his nothingness. At the same time, when Peter was holding to Jesus’ knees, he felt that without Jesus, he was helpless. In short, Peter needed to feel his own nothingness in order to hold on to Jesus with full surrender. This type of mindset is required from all those that would follow Jesus as “fishers of men”.
MONDAY
Peter’s Character
1. What did Jesus say about the character of Peter, based upon following verses?
Matt. 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Matt. 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
Luke 22:45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow
Mark 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
John 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
ANSWER: Peter could doubt, get discouraged, turn coward, and get violent so easily.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Why did Jesus work with Peter when his character was so bad?
Do you think that God cannot work in you? If you do, why? This seems like a very personal question that people may not feel comfortable answering out loud in a Sabbath school class setting. I would rephrase it to say, “Some people feel that God cannot work with them. Why do they feel this way?”
TUESDAY
Peter’s Fire
1. What did Peter do right after he denied Jesus for the first time?
- John 18:17 Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not. John 18:18 And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.
ANSWER: He warmed himself in front of “a fire of coals” with the servants and officers.
2. Why did Peter warm himself with the servants and officers?
ANSWER: He made himself look like he was one of those people who brought Jesus to the court.
3. In front of what object did Peter deny Jesus twice times?
John 18:25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. John 18:26 One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? John 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
ANSWER: In front of the coals of fire.
4. Who did Peter see right after he denied Jesus?
- Luke 22:60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
ANSWER: Peter saw Jesus
5. What did Peter hear right after he denied Jesus?
- Matt. 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
ANSWER: He heard the cock crewing. Notice: Usually cocks crow in the morning hours.
6. How did Peter respond to the cock crowing?
- Matt. 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
ANSWER: He remembered the words of Jesus and this made him weep bitterly.
7. So every time when cock was crowing or when Peter was in the front of a fire of coals, what event was Peter remembering?
ANSWER: How he denied Jesus three times.
WEDNESDAY
Jesus’ fire
1. What event did Jesus remind Peter of when he and other disciples caught the multitude of fishes in the sea of Tiberias?
- John 21:1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. John 21:2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. John 21:5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. John 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
ANSWER: When Jesus called Peter to be a “fisher of men” by the lake of Gennesaret.
2. What hour of day did this event take place?
- John 21:4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
ANSWER: In the morning.
3. What else did Peter see when he came to the shore to see Jesus?
- John 21:9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
ANSWER: A fire of coals, fish, and bread
4. What do you imagine what Peter was thinking when he saw a fire of coals, fish, and bread?
ANSWER: How he denied Jesus in the front of a fire of coals. At the same time, he was reminded of feeding the thousands of people with fish and bread.
THURSDAY
Peter’s Restoration
1. What was the condition of the fishing net after the great catch?
- John 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. John 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
ANSWER: “Yet was not the net broken”
APPLICATION: Why wasn’t the net broken this time?
2. What did Jesus say to Peter in the morning, after the miraculous catch, surrounded with other disciples, eating fish and bread and in the front of the fire of coals?
- John 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
ANSWER: Feed my sheep. In the beginning Peter was called to catch fish, but now he is called to feed His sheep. It is one thing to catch, but it is another thing to “feed”.
3. Now, what event did Peter recall every time he saw a fire of coals?
ANSWER: The way Jesus restored Peter, the love of Jesus.
4. What do you think Peter was thinking when he saw the “fire” at the day of Pentecost?
- Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
ANSWER: I let you imagine =)
APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
- Do you have your “fire” experience with Jesus?
- Why don’t you have fire for Jesus?
- Have you experienced the love of God personally?
- What was the conversion of Peter that prepared him to receive the Holy Spirit?
- What experience do we need in order to receive the “latter rain”?
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