Lk 5:4,5   When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.

It's difficult to know where to start and what to cover, when we come to Peter, because there is so much about him. Without doubt he is the leading apostle, at least in terms of things written about him. As we saw in the previous meditation, he had been with Andrew when they first encountered Jesus after being with John the Baptist. We normally have a picture of a big, brash fisherman when we think of Peter but he, likewise, had obviously left his fishing and gone down to be baptised by John. When Andrew had brought him to Jesus we read, “Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter).” (Jn 1:42) Both Cephas and Peter means stone or rock. Right from the outset Jesus declares his future.

So it is later that, when Jesus comes to Galilee, the incident in Luke 5 isn't without prior foundation. They had already encountered Jesus before and knew who he was. Matthew simply summarises what happened as follows: “Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee , he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.” (Mt 4:18) Whether Jesus had watched them previously fishing or this refers to what Luke expands on, we don't know. Luke gives us the details: Jesus, who has been teaching the crowds, asks Peter if he can borrow his boat to speak from and then afterwards tells him to cast his nets.

That's where we come to our verses above. Peter knows they fished the previous night without success (and assumes there are no fish to be had) but because of his previous encounter with Jesus, is willing to give it a try once more – with some effect: “ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.” (Lk 5:6,7) The effect is startling! “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (v.8) Suddenly his understanding of who Jesus is deepens.

So we've seen a seeker who meets Jesus and as a result has sufficient faith in him to launch out fishing again, but now that faith level has taken an enormous leap. Suddenly he realises he has someone in the boat with him who has the power to bring fish. The logical consequence of this is seriously challenging to him!

I like Peter for his simply honest humanity, and I wonder if this is why Jesus liked him. I'm sure Jesus must have liked him because he put up with him, again and again putting his big feet in it. Yet, for all that, he is a man of faith. It was only Peter who walked on water with Jesus: “Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” (Mt 14:28 ,29). It was also Peter who boldly stepped out and declared who Jesus was: “Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16). But being willing to be honest and speak what you feel can also get you into trouble: “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Jesus turned and said to Peter , "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mt 16:21-23). Peter didn't understand and, despite his honesty, earned a rebuke. He had been speaking on behalf of the enemy! Yet Jesus still clearly continues to love him.

His biggest downfall surely comes when he denies Jesus three times (see Mt 26:73-75). What made it worse had been his prior brash confidence: “Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” (Mt 26:33-35).

So why do I like Peter so much? I like him because he brings such reassurance. He speaks honestly, if not wrongly on occasion, and Jesus puts up with him and loves him. He gets it drastically wrong and fails Jesus at the most important time in the Gospels, yet, at the end of John's Gospel, Jesus completely reinstates him and sets him going again. He is the most human of followers and so, if he could make it, so can we.

He challenges us with his honesty and his willingness to speak out. I think Jesus liked him for his openness, more than people who bottle things up, say little and take the safe path. Peter lets it all out, says a lot and takes the risky path of faith. That seems to be have been the sort of person Jesus liked having with him.

He appears as one of the ‘inner three' – Peter, James and John – so his loud mouth seems to receive approval rather than censure. Perhaps the Lord would like more of us to speak out boldly and honestly! But a loud mouth alone is not what gives him his role; it must have been his faith. Peter is a man of growing faith and when you follow him into Acts he is still going strong. Never put him down for his failures for they just reveal his humanity. He is a man of faith and an apostle accredited by his lord and empowered by the Spirit. Now that is something to aspire to!