Why Did Peter Repent?

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. [Luke 5.8-9]

Back in 2014, I wrote the article Let Jesus In The Boat based on this same passage. As I went back and re-read that article, I found no reason to expound further on the topic of "letting Jesus in the boat," but saw instead the need to discuss repentance as it relates to us knowing and being in God's will.

Why, in the event of that great miracle of such a haul of fish would Peter feel compelled to repent?

Why indeed!

Call me skeptical, but many (of what people call) "miracles" today are supported by the debt, insurance, medicine and technology of man (idols). I compare these "tentative miracles" today to Abraham's story and how it would have been entirely different had he taken along a lamb just in case (tentatively) when he went to offer Isaac. I, for one, find it hard to get real excited about a "tentative miracle" that involves interest-accruing debt, years of high-premium insurance, expensive drugs and medical procedures and technology that seems to stay just a step ahead of income. Still, I try to be grateful, but admittedly, I have reservations in the back of my mind... Is it just me? 

Peter had unsuccessfully labored at his fishing trade all night with dismal results. In Luke's account, Peter is quoted as saying, "we didn't catch a thing." Basically, what Peter was saying was, "All available resources and methods have been utilized without success."

While Peter's willingness to launch out once again and let down the nets is a topic of discussion all by itself, let's fast-forward to the overwhelming success of his obedience and then his response... Rather than doing a "victory dance" after hauling in an unprecedented amount of fish, Peter fell to his knees in repentance confessing, "I’m such a sinful man." Doesn't that seem odd?

Here is my stance on this: while it is one thing to let loose and start jubilantly praising God when we witness a "tentative miracle" (as described earlier), it is another thing altogether to have one hundred percent assurance that the miracle was entirely and unequivocally all-God. When God does a miracle with no possible explanation otherwise, there is something unmistakably holy about it. And, when man comes into contact with God's holiness, there is without exception only one response: repentance. 

Peter's mind and body were thoroughly exhausted of any hope that there were any fish to be caught at that time in that place. What Peter experienced then, with the net-busting haul of fish, was unmistakably and undeniably the handiwork of God, not a tentative miracle, but the real deal. Peter realized he was in the presence of God. And, what did he do? He repented.

God's holy presence strikes awe in the heart of man. God's holy presence strikes fear in the heart of man. God's holy presence can only be responded to in repentance first. Biblically speaking, what consistently happens after genuine repentance is that God (or His Angel) says, "Fear not..." followed by specific instructions. Let's look how this played out in Peter's case:

His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” [Luke 5.10]

It goes like this: first, repentance followed by God's assurance (don't be afraid) and then direction (From now on you’ll be fishing for people!).

If we are not awed to the point of repentance by the miracles we see today, perhaps they are only tentative miracles. Should we not seek out instead real miracles that inspire us to repentance so that God might assure us and then tell us what to do? (the correct answer is "yes.")

The widespread absence of repentance in the Church today says much about the her present condition. If we continue to respond incorrectly to God's presence, without repentance first, there is little likelihood we will ever experience His full assurance and clear direction. There is no amount of worship or praise that will bypass our need for repentance. In fact, it is only after genuine repentance that any human can effectively worship God even though worship and praise may bring a person to that point. Simply put, without repentance, one can never truly experience God Himself.

But repentance is not the end of it! Repentance leads to assurance that leads to direction! Doing God's will is the ultimate goal! Yes, doing God's will is the ultimate goal, but we will only accomplish that goal after we experience His holiness, repent before Him, and receive His assurance. Only then is His will and direction for our lives made crystal clear.

Father, I don't want tentative miracles in my life - I want real miracles that can be explained in absolutely no other way except that You did them! Consequently, I want to experience true and genuine repentance as I encounter You in all Your glory because "experiencing miracles" is not the goal. Furthermore, I realize that repentance is not the ultimate goal either but that I might, in full assurance, do Your will in the earth while I am here (as did Jesus).