Peter

Luke 5:4-9 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,

John 21:6-7 6 He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

What's the difference?

Peter on one hand assumes himself to be sinful and when Jesus comes, asks Him to go away

Peter on the other hand KNOWS himself to be sinful very very well (he's just betrayed Jesus) - and now runs to Him

the difference is now he knows Jesus, and really knows himself, and yet knows himself in relation to knowing Jesus

why do we have such difficult times praying, meditating on God's Word, serving Him - because we don't really know Him... so we run away to other things

Peter in the course of his life (John 6) came to a point where there was nowhere else to run to... but yet not quite yet running to Jesus

but Jesus longs for us to come to a point where we run to Him, knowing He knows all about us, and is here to save us


We move from loving ourselves (being in the world).... to despairing in the light of the law (the shadow of Christ).... to being lost from leaving the world (entering the wilderness).... to being found in Christ (being embraced by His light)