FIRST GOOD SAMARITAN BAPTIST CHURCH
The Caring Church, Preparing the World by Sharing the Word

WEEKLY WORD

PETER’S DILEMMA AND DELIVERANCE
[Part I]

21 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”

They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
John 21:1-3

When looking at this passage, we will put our emphasis of exposition on the dilemma of Simon Peter. For us to understand the dilemma of Peter is to see the dichotomy in Peter that reveals the Simon and Peter side of one person. Simon was his family name but Peter was the name given to him by Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:15-18 [msg bible]. When it comes to Simon Peter, there are two perspectives that speak to the dilemma and deliverance in this passage. Simon’s dilemma focused on the “we caught nothing” but Peter’s deliverance will focus on “the one who is able to do an exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think, according to the power that worketh within us.” [Eph. 3:20]

What is clear is the dilemma before us. It is the resolution that fishing that brought no production. The text shares with us that they had fished all night and caught nothing. One of our valued points was to recognize the experience of fishermen who on the boat. We account for 7 men but at least 3 of them were professional fisherman in the natural sense of the word.

Remember now, Jesus called them to be fishermen of men in the spiritual sense but they were experienced fishermen who couldn’t catch anything. The point we desire to make is that you can have the right experience people around you but if you don’t have the right one then you can end up with nothing. Some people felt that they have met MR. or MRS. right…but only to find out that the relationship was empty…NOTHING! Whatever experience you have surrounding you, if you exclude Jesus then the result will come up empty.

However, what is key in this passage is, whenever you are down to nothing…JESUS IS UP TO SOMETHING. Next week in part 2, we will look at the NECESSITY OF NOTHING that will contribute to Simon Peter’s Deliverance.

Dr. James A. Simmons, Senior Pastor