John 21:8 English Standard Version (ESV) The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

Now to address the second type of Christ followers. Allow me to address this first, they were close, close enough to see and hear Christ, but they are not there yet.

Psalm 73:28 English Standard Version (ESV) But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

The boat represents a safe haven for the accomplishment of good works. Men will find refuge in this place but it is not being with God, it is merely being close. It is a sanctuary of worship and obedience but they fail to take that leap of faith for fear of losing the fish the Lord had identified as being where they were fishing.

Read John 21:4-8 again and notice that Jesus addresses what they are doing and helps them. Nowhere in that telling story does He say “bring those fish to me”. The purpose of the boat was to fish and they were laborers doing the work of the boat.

Doing the work of the church does not mean we have taken that leap of faith and come to Christ leaving everything behind except who we are as flawed humans. Do not get me wrong, those on the boat can take that leap of faith. What keeps them from doing that is obedience to the call by the boat to do the work of the boat and perhaps for personal reasons.

It does not take talent or gifts to work for the boat. It only takes effort.

Matthew 11:28 English Standard Version (ESV) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

John 21:4-8 English Standard Version

⁴ Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 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. ⁸ The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.

These passages to identify two different types of followers of Christ. Today we will address the Peters among us.

Someone saw the hand of the Lord move in the presence of all. Some might say it was John, the author of this gospel, but that matters not. Someone declares this is Jesus.

Peter is dressed appropriately for work, the work of a fisherman. He then puts on his own garments and takes that leap of faith. He cannot wait for anyone else, he has to get to Jesus. Now we can see that first identity issue in coming to Christ. Peter did not put on someone else’s robes, he put on his own.

God called us to be sons and daughters in Christ. Who we are in Christ is a new creation but the same person. In this newness of self, we are not John the Baptist resurrected, nor are we another Billy Graham. We are who God has created with talents and then given gifts which we did not have before coming to Christ.

Ephesians 4:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”^{[and women]}

These gifts do not change who we are but rather changes what we are. We are meant to be a better version of ourselves, not someone else.