The Chosen Ep 4: Follow Me
This week is our fourth week in our “The Chosen” series. This week there are several scenes that jump out at us from the series. As we reported earlier, the writers took the first three episodes to introduce us to some of the characters and to develop the personalities and background of those characters. This week, the story line begins to follow more closely to the historical account of the Gospel writers of the bible, although not perfectly.
In this week’s episode, Jesus calls Peter and his brother Andrew, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee. As you watch the scene, and knowing the background of some of these men, a natural question arises: What does it take to make one worthy to follow Christ! Maybe a second clarifying question: What are the characteristics that Jesus looked for in the men he chose to be his disciples?
As you watch the scene unfold you realize that Peter had done everything he could, used all of his effort, to try and catch fish. If you remember, Peter is upside down on his mortgage of his business and his taxes. This isn’t in the bible, but in the series Peter has financial troubles and he is doing everything he can to try and right his “ship”. You might think that Jesus chooses him as his disciple because of his effort.
Jesus, seeing that Peter and his companions have worked all night for nothing, tells him to put down his nets on the other side of the boat. At first Peter objects but then relents and says to Jesus, ‘if you say so’, and so follows Jesus’ instruction. As you watch the scene you might be tempted to think that Peter’s compliance or maybe his ‘mustard seed’ of faith is what makes him worthy of being called as a disciple.
The disciples do let down their nets, as Jesus instructed, and what happens next is clearly a miracle brought on only by Jesus. The nets are so full that they are breaking and when they get the catch of fish into the boat, it threatens to capsize the boat. There are so many fish that other fishermen have to come to the rescue. Peter immediately recognizes the miracle and returns to Jesus. Falling on his knees he confesses, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
Jesus recognizes that he is in the presence of the divine and the illumination immediately shines on his sin. You might be tempted to think that Peter’s confession makes him worthy of being called as a disciple. This Sunday, as we gather for worship, we will look at this text from Luke 5 and ask ourselves, what make’s one worthy to be called as a disciple?
-Pastor Ken