Yesterday, I wrote about three of Peter’s impetuous outbursts, trying to tell Jesus what to do, and Jesus’ three different responses. Today, let’s contrast Peter’s responses to two miraculous catches of fish: Luke 5 and John 21.  
The fish-catching events set up the same.

• Peter had fished all night and caught nothing. (Luke 5.5, John 21.3)
• Jesus directed them to try again. (Luke 5.4, John 21.6)
•  Peter obeyed. 
  • “At your word I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5.5)
  • “So they cast [the net].” (John 21.6)
• They caught more fish than they could handle. (Luke 5.6. 7, John 21.6)

At this point the responses differ.

In Luke 5, Peter says, “Go away for I am a sinful man.” This is the fear-based response of someone raised in rules-based, perfection-requiring religion with “holy men” separated (that’s what “Pharisee” means – separated) from regular people. 

In John 21, Peter can’t get to Jesus fast enough. “When Simon Peter heard it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment for he was stripped for work and threw himself into the sea.” (John 21.7) This is the response of someone in a love relationship with Jesus (as the discussion in John 21.15 – 17 shows). 

Interestingly, both stories end the same.

• In Luke 5, they leave their nets to begin the adventure:

And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. (Luke 5.11, ESV)

• In John 21, Peter plans to continue the adventure

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep…Follow me.” (John 21.17…19, ESV)

Our choice is clear:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4.18, 19, NIV)