Jesus' followers had been fishing all night. They were out of their boats and washing their nets when Jesus came up to them.

"Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch," he said.

Peter answered, "Master, we have toiled all night and took nothing! But because you said so I will let down the nets."

When they did they caught a huge number of fish, so many that their nets were breaking. They asked others to help them and filled the two boats full. When Peter saw this he was astonished and also fearful. Even though he had seen Jesus heal the sick, this miracle seemed to impress him even more. It showed that even the fish of the sea, nature itself, was subject to Jesus' power.

"Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord," he said. He felt he wasn't good enough to be with Jesus. But Jesus had other ideas.

"Do not be afraid. From now on you will be catching men." We don't need to be afraid of being too sinful to be with God. He will take us just as we are and teach us and use us to work for his kingdom.

The Bible says, "And when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him." Jesus showed them his power to supply all their needs so they left everything, their only means of monetary support, and followed him.

Jesus Turned and Looked.

When Jesus was on trial, Peter was watching from courtyard. He had run away when Jesus was arrested, but he and John had found out where they took Jesus and followed. Three people asked Peter if he was a follower of Jesus and Peter denied it with cursing and swearing.

Luke says that when the cock crowed, while Peter was still speaking, "The Lord turned and looked at Peter." Peter ran out and, "...wept bitterly." Luke 22

That look from Jesus must have been a look of love and forgiveness. Later, when Jesus had risen from the dead, angels gave instructions to the women who came to the empty tomb, "But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.'" Mark16:7 Perhaps this message, in which Peter's name is emphasized, was to give Peter comfort and the knowledge he was forgiven.

When the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the authorities, they said, "The Lord has really risen, and has appeared to Simon (Peter)." The Bible never tells us what Jesus and Peter talked about when it was just the two of them together after the resurrection. I would guess that Peter was filled with guilt and perhaps thought God would never forgive him. Jesus must have had a message of love and forgiveness because Peter became a mighty worker for God. Thank you God, for loving and forgiving us no matter what we do.