Peter and James spent all night fishing and caught nothing and now they are just cleaning the fishing net so that they can do this all over again the next night. Then a carpenter asks to use the boat as a podium. Sure carpenter! Water must provide great acoustics. Peter gives permission to this carpenter to use his boat as a podium and then the carpenter tells the fisherman where to fish! Umm excuse me! You may know how to build a boat but I know where to fish in this sea. I grew up playing with this sea. I know all her temperament. I know when not to go into the water because she is raging. I made my first boat with a dry leaf and sent it into this sea. I grew up dreaming of fishing in this sea. I helped my dad catch fish in this sea for years now. So please when I say I toiled all night, I mean I tried every good corner of this sea. Since you seem like you are wise, I will drag this boat again into the sea and make my net dirty again. Jesus you know you are cutting into my sleep time.
I do not think this is what Peter was thinking. He seems like a rash man but he has a good heart. Someone asks to use his boat, he allows it. When Jesus asks him to fish again in the day time when fish might be less active, when he is less likely to catch something, he let Jesus know that he already tried but he will do it again at the word of Jesus. Peter did not talk about dawn and dusk are the best time for fishing. Peter did not say “No Jesus, night the best time for fishing”. “No Jesus, that is not one of the best spots for fishing” Peter just obeyed the word of a carpenter and teacher.
While Jesus was teaching the crowd from the boat, He who knows the angst of every heart must have heard Peter’s disappointment at his futile hard night. Jesus heard every sigh that Peter made while cleaning the net. Peter was not harsh because he had a hard night. Humans have a tendency to lash out when they are tired and frustrated. Peter did not lash out when Jesus asked to borrow the boat nor when Jesus asked Peter to fish again.
Are we like Peter? Peter is usually painted as a rash and irrational man, but here Peter was respectful to a man who is a carpenter and teacher. Are kind to others? Are we respectful? Also, do we have the guts to do what Jesus asks of us?
