Peter had given up on Easter. He had even given up on Christ. Although Jesus had initially called Peter to be a fisher of men and no longer a fisherman (Mk 1:17), Peter decided to go back into the commercial fishing business. Peter went back to B.C., that is, to his state before He had ever known Christ.
Jesus came to Peter. Instead of punishing him for his disobedience, He blessed Peter with his greatest catch of fish ever (Jn 21:6). Peter repented and jumped ship (Jn 21:7). He quit his job.
Many of us need to jump ship to have a real Easter, to move from B.C. to A.D. This may mean leaving a job, a sinful relationship, a bad habit, a prideful attitude, or a self-centered lifestyle. We must jump these ships. As much as we may like them, they are going nowhere but away from Jesus, that is, to death and ultimately to damnation.
There is no salvation in a job, a satisfying relationship, a pleasure, or a success. We cannot be saved by doing our own thing, getting our way, being popular, or feeling good. Jesus is the only "name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:12). Jump ship for Jesus.
| PRAYER: | Father, may I make any decisions necessary to truly celebrate Easter and witness for Your risen Son. |
| PROMISE: | "They were teaching the people and proclaiming the resurrection of the dead in the person of Jesus." –Acts 4:2 |
| PRAISE: | Praise the risen Jesus Who has brought us from death to life! |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College