When a Pastor Decides to Go Fishing Instead of Preaching
Peter himself can be considered the first ordained pastor of the Church for this reason. Do you remember the confession of faith he had in Matthew 16:18-19? Jesus already gave the assurance of the Rock where the Church will be built and the gates of Hell are not to prevail against it. Peter was now the first person to get the keys for preaching the Gospel. Peter himself was getting geared and ready as the first disciple to become a pastor. But later, something terrible happened. Not only did Peter deny himself as a follower of Jesus but he also temporarily left the ministry.
John 21 talks about Peter's restoration. The same chapter starts with the scene where Peter and the disciples went fishing. When the pastor goes fishing - so do the deacons. They had lost faith in the mission. Divine intervention had allowed Peter to be chastised. Did Peter forget that Jesus called him away from his fishing business into becoming a pastor? When God calls a man out of his profession to become a preacher - it's a very serious call! Unfortunately, Peter forgot that his call was to become a pastor for the New Testament church! They caught nothing when they were fishing. God Himself was sending Peter a message that you can't escape His calling. This reminds me of an anecdote where a pastor decided to go fishing with the deacons on Sunday. I wonder if this was based on a real event. The joke didn't end well as the pastor and his deacons fell into the river while they were fishing. The boat capsized and the whole fishing trip was a fiasco.
Peter had to be restored back to fellowship. Jesus granted yet another miracle of fishes but it wasn't so Peter would go back to fishing. Instead, we see Peter a backslid pastor brought back to restoration. Peter was then asked three times if he loved the Lord Jesus. Peter denied Jesus thrice. Now, it was time to restore Peter back to his position. Peter was told three times "Feed my sheep." three times. Peter was told that his work as a pastor can't be abandoned. Peter realized he had abandoned the ministry and that he wasn't alone when he backslid. He took away the deacons with him when he backslid. Jesus had to remind Peter, "Lovest me more than these?" to restore him and the other disciples back to fellowship.
John 21:18 has people believing that Peter would eventually die by crucifixion. If Peter's grave was in Jerusalem then it's possible that he was crucified in said place. It's possible that Peter was crucified on Golgotha - the same location where Jesus was crucified. It's said that he chose to be crucified downward because he still remembers his backsliding. Some say he was eventually brought to Rome in his final days. Remember, Peter was not in Rome when Paul wrote Romans. Yet, it's possible that he was eventually brought there. But it's also possible that Peter was crucified in Golgotha. The "Fox's Book of Martyrs" seems to verify that Peter was crucified. However, if Peter's grave was in Jerusalem then he must have died in Jerusalem instead of Rome. The place doesn't have to be Rome - it could have been Golgotha. Nero did rule Israel as part of his territory so there's no reason why Peter could've have been martyred in Jerusalem instead of Rome.
Peter eventually abandoned the fishing venture by the grace of God. Acts 2 would talk about the descent of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were told to rely on the power of God to do their missions. The same Peter that cowered on the night of Jesus' arrest became the same Peter that preached a fiery sermon in Acts 2. He called Peter unto repentance from their sins and to be baptized. Acts 2:38 doesn't talk about baptismal regeneration. Rather, baptism usually follows after one believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior then they are to be baptized. Peter continued his missionary work until the day he would eventually stretch out his hands.
See also:
John 21 talks about Peter's restoration. The same chapter starts with the scene where Peter and the disciples went fishing. When the pastor goes fishing - so do the deacons. They had lost faith in the mission. Divine intervention had allowed Peter to be chastised. Did Peter forget that Jesus called him away from his fishing business into becoming a pastor? When God calls a man out of his profession to become a preacher - it's a very serious call! Unfortunately, Peter forgot that his call was to become a pastor for the New Testament church! They caught nothing when they were fishing. God Himself was sending Peter a message that you can't escape His calling. This reminds me of an anecdote where a pastor decided to go fishing with the deacons on Sunday. I wonder if this was based on a real event. The joke didn't end well as the pastor and his deacons fell into the river while they were fishing. The boat capsized and the whole fishing trip was a fiasco.
Peter had to be restored back to fellowship. Jesus granted yet another miracle of fishes but it wasn't so Peter would go back to fishing. Instead, we see Peter a backslid pastor brought back to restoration. Peter was then asked three times if he loved the Lord Jesus. Peter denied Jesus thrice. Now, it was time to restore Peter back to his position. Peter was told three times "Feed my sheep." three times. Peter was told that his work as a pastor can't be abandoned. Peter realized he had abandoned the ministry and that he wasn't alone when he backslid. He took away the deacons with him when he backslid. Jesus had to remind Peter, "Lovest me more than these?" to restore him and the other disciples back to fellowship.
John 21:18 has people believing that Peter would eventually die by crucifixion. If Peter's grave was in Jerusalem then it's possible that he was crucified in said place. It's possible that Peter was crucified on Golgotha - the same location where Jesus was crucified. It's said that he chose to be crucified downward because he still remembers his backsliding. Some say he was eventually brought to Rome in his final days. Remember, Peter was not in Rome when Paul wrote Romans. Yet, it's possible that he was eventually brought there. But it's also possible that Peter was crucified in Golgotha. The "Fox's Book of Martyrs" seems to verify that Peter was crucified. However, if Peter's grave was in Jerusalem then he must have died in Jerusalem instead of Rome. The place doesn't have to be Rome - it could have been Golgotha. Nero did rule Israel as part of his territory so there's no reason why Peter could've have been martyred in Jerusalem instead of Rome.
Peter eventually abandoned the fishing venture by the grace of God. Acts 2 would talk about the descent of the Holy Spirit. The disciples were told to rely on the power of God to do their missions. The same Peter that cowered on the night of Jesus' arrest became the same Peter that preached a fiery sermon in Acts 2. He called Peter unto repentance from their sins and to be baptized. Acts 2:38 doesn't talk about baptismal regeneration. Rather, baptism usually follows after one believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When the person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior then they are to be baptized. Peter continued his missionary work until the day he would eventually stretch out his hands.
See also: