The Crusty Disciple

The Crusty Disciple Thoughts on the big fisherman Offered by Doug Blair, Waterloo ON, 2020

Galilee, On Board June 20, 2020

It's finished now Brother Andrew has

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Severed my life with news Good News he says And I think I believe it Have now talked with Jesus Rare privilege And this boat is about To become history.

But this morning again The sun turns Galilee A matchless hue As neighbourly gulls Swoop by my bow Wondering about scraps And wondering about my stillness.

He wants me to follow.

But this boat is what I know And every turn of the Lake.

Some hopeful places to drop-net.

Did Andrew share this reticence?

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I think not.

Coming days of service Well-speaking, compassion Am I up to that?

In a Kingdom of God? Haven't really sorted it All out with my wife.

But Jesus' expression says yes To me, Simon, a cranky fisherman A lender of boat and time and purpose.

Hereafter.

So now I say yes Hold me up Sir, please.

LABELS:​ ​COME APART​ ​DISCIPLES​ ​LOVE DRAWS​ ​SPIRITUAL CURRENCY

The Convicting Aspect August 04, 2011

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In Luke chapter five we have the incident of Jesus instructing Peter to set out again in the morning after a night of futile fishing. A number of possible interpretations have been offered for Peter's response: 'Lord, we have been at this all night to no avail; nevertheless at thy word we will launch out.'

The extraordinary yield of fish which followed caused Peter to say "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man." Here is the rabbi, obviously inexperienced in the ways of fishing, showing some supernatural knowledge or authority concerning the fish.

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Perhaps Peter had responded in sarcasm or in doubt as to Jesus' prospects of success. The Lord's calm, sincere and hopeful demeanour had a convicting effect. It is likely that anyone who got within range of the Master's words or extraordinary deeds would respond in like fashion.

In am reminded of one of the Psalms which states, "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared." (Psalm 130: 4)

Later in the same chapter of Luke Jesus has healed and forgiven the palsied man lowered through the roof, has incurred the wrath of the scribes and Pharisees for absolving sin, and has gone to dine at the house of Matthew, straight from the publican's bench. His comment is very revealing as to his mission:

Luke 5:

31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

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32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

These days I hear a lot of talk about mimimizing doctrine and right orthodoxy and maximizing the winsome nature of the Man of Galilee. We should be looking for unifying points rather than fine-line distinctions. But this is a hazardous agenda masking the fulness of our understanding of the Carpenter and of what He accomplished.

Man hopes to behold the totally righteous One and yearns for an opportunity to unload his sin. Time and again it is shown that Messiah attracts, wounds by the evident contrast of His nature and then ministers healing and a fresh start. In one place in Acts the Gospel is described as "repentance unto life" (chapter 11:18).

Duty After Privilege August 16, 2011

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(Helpful thought from J. R. Miller in ​Come Ye Apart​)

“Lord, it is good for us to be here: & let us make here three tabernacles;”

Matthew 17:4

We should know that it was Peter who said this, even if his name were not given; it is just like Peter. He wanted to hold the heavenly vision on the mountain top, and not go back any more to the cold, struggling life of earth. It seemed such a heavenly place that he did not want to leave it. It certainly was good to be there; but they could

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not stay there long and yet be faithful to their duty and their mission.

There was work waiting in the sad world below which they must hasten to do. There was a poor demoniac at the foot of the mountain whom the disciples could not cure; the Master was sorely needed there. Then farther off were Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha for Jesus; He must make an atonement for the world.

Then for Peter there was Pentecost, with many years of earnest service, and martyrdom in the end.

Devotion is good. It is very sweet to commune with God in the Closet, in the church, at the sacramental table; but we must not spend all our time in these holy exercises. While the raptures thrill our souls we must not forget that outside there are human wants crying for help and sympathy; and we must tear ourselves away from our warmest devotions and most exalted experiences to go down to answer these cries. Religion is not for enjoyment only; God gives us spiritual enjoyment that we may be strong for all loving service.

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Hark, hark! a voice amid the quiet intense!

It is thy duty waiting thee without.

Open thy door straightway, and get thee hence; Go forth into the tumult and the shout; Work, love, with workers, lovers all about; Then, weary, go thou back with failing breath, And in thy chamber make thy prayer and moan.

One day upon his bosom, all thine own, Thou shalt lie still, embraced in holy death.

Peter Went Out April 07, 2011

"And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."

Read these seven words from Luke 22 and realize that they contain the kernel of sanctification.

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Peter had had all of this exposure to the power and promise of Jesus but he was still tempted to warm himself in the early morning chill at the fires of the world. Jesus had prophesied his three-time denial and it was happening.

Peter had felt that his loyalty to the Master was unshakable, even to the death. But here he was quaking and swearing before women and strangers that he did not even know the Galilean.

Believer, when Jesus gives you a candid look at the evil still within your own heart, pray that you will have the grace and the opportunity to do as Peter did. It will happen alone. It will be a Godly sort of repentance. It will be a milestone marking supernatural change.

And what is going on in that world which you are renouncing? It is still inclined to mock and to crucify Jesus and His "little ones", and to consider it entertainment. It does this in the face of the following:

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Luke 21:

25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

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No Nasty Memory February 26, 2012

We all have such trouble with our memories. Painful or disappointing experiences of the past which we cannot shake.

People we find it hard to forgive. Dark experiences which still bring on the scowl.

We need to take many hard and long looks at Jesus and the mighty reservoir of forgiveness available to Him. We need to supplicate for the mercy of forgiveness.

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Take a look at the story of the morning visit and breakfast on the beach after the resurrection (John 21). Some of the disciples had had a rough night at fishing. A man calls out to them from the shore, "Children, have ye any meat?" They answer in the negative, and he suggests that they toss nets again over the other side. There is then a miraculous haul. John recognizes that "it is the Lord".

Peter in his excitement leaps out and strides the waves to be the first one to the Master's side. I suspect that the others graciously held back so that their ring-leader could have a private moment.

That moment holds precious treasure for us! In three exchanges Jesus asks His friend "Do you love me?" Present tense. These three opportunities were gladly taken to flush out the pain of the three cowardly denials of a few days earlier. Jesus does not refer to that abandonment by Peter. It is forgiven. Eternal Life has a much more charitable agenda. The here and now is the thing. Do you love me? Oh yes, Master, most definitely.

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I am reminded of a passage in ​Micah 7:

18Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

19He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Let these thoughts rise to the surface the next time we have an episode of nasty memory or self-condemnation.

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