Loading summary
Narrator
And he saith unto them, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Dear Lord, thank you for calling each and every one of us to a life of purpose, mission and fulfillment. We confess that we often feel weak and undeserving of the calling you've set before us. But we declare that it's not who we were that matters, but who we will become and who you will make us into. You will make us great. You will equip us for the challenges ahead. If we are faithful to surrender to you, you will put our hearts, heads and hands to use for your kingdom. So today we declare surrender to you. Use us Lord, for your glory and your good. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Announcer
How much are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness worth to you? This is the question America's founders had to answer. You see, for more than 150 years, America's 13 colonies governed themselves until Britain declared they had no right to self rule. So ordinary people had to make extraordinary choices and risk their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to fight for independence. And against all odds they won. And in victory, they built one of the most stable and lasting republics in history. The now experience the American Revolution like never before, thanks to our friends at Hillsdale College. Revolutionary America, a new documentary from Hillsdale Studios and narrated by Tom Selleck, brings the founding of our nation to life through the voices of those who lived it, alongside insights from leading scholars and commentators. At a time when history is often distorted, this is your chance to see the story as it truly happened and ask yourself what you would risk for freedom. Face the decisions our founders grappled with in Revolutionary America, a Hillsdale Studios film Only in theaters May 31 to June 2. Get your tickets now by going to Hillsdale Edu Revolution. You don't want to miss the opportunity to see this on the big screen. Go to Hillsdale. Edu Revolution to locate a theater near you and buy tickets now for Revolutionary America.
Commercial Voice
Ready to soundtrack your summer with Red Bull Summer All Day Play? You choose a playlist that fits your summer vibe the best. Are you a festival fanatic, a deep end dj, a road dog, or a trail mixer? Just add a song to your chosen playlist and put your summer on track. Red Bull Summer All Day Play Red Bull gives you wings. Visit RedBull.com BrightSummerAhead to learn more. See you this summer.
Narrator
Thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast. Dramatic stories from the Gospel told in new and exciting ways. Keep listening to hear the gospel inspired story of Simon and how Jesus brought Meaning to His Life if this podcast has brought value to your faith, we'd love it if you left a review and shared it with a friend. We want the story of Jesus to be known throughout the world because when Jesus story is told, lives are transformed. Gulls flew overhead as the sun crested gently above the horizon. The water was painted in light, shimmering with bright orange and pink. Simon rode his boat, cutting through the glassy, incandescent water. He was numb to the beauty of the morning. All he could think about was his failure.
Simon Peter
Neither night no fish, he grumbled.
Narrator
He and his brother Andrew had been up all night casting their nets for fish, but the sea yielded nothing. In the deeper parts of Simon's mind, he wondered if God was playing games with him. He rode in frustration until the boat finally made it to the shore. Simon leaned his forehead against the mast and sighed.
Simon Peter
Worthless.
Narrator
Simon resigned himself to a life of toil and aimlessness. Little did he know his destiny was walking toward him just a few paces up the shore.
Host (Zach)
Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror long enough to have that mini existential moment where you think, who am I really? For many of us, our sense of identity ebbs and flows with the various seasons of life. As we grow and change with our surroundings, our interests change, our priorities shift, our relationships begin and then end. When our circumstances and relationships are put under strain, it can be easy to lose sense of who we are. In the midst of it all, it's very easy to feel out of control. But what if our identity could be much more stable? Paul writes in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live. But Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me. It's incredible what we'll discover when we answer Jesus call to follow Him. As we learn about him, we find that we have much to learn about ourselves, too. Welcome to the Jesus Podcast, a year of stories showcasing the depth of Christ's love and the glory of God's truth. I'm Zach, your host from Pray.com and I'm excited to be with you today as we begin a new study through 20 unique encounters Jesus had in his earthly ministry. These people all have different stories, struggles and shortcomings. But what isn't unique about each of these individuals is what society labeled them as outcasts. Make sure to follow this podcast as we explore the transformative depths of God's love made available to everyone. In our first story of this miniseries, we'll be introduced to a man named Simon, but you may know him as Peter. On the surface, Simon was a meager fisherman simply looking to make ends meet. But underneath it all, the weight of life's struggles eat away at his sense of purpose with each passing day. The lull of repetition and failure, alongside the doubts of being able to provide for his family, brings a mixture of apathy and discontentment in Simon's life. Without thought, Simon allows the internal war of finding his own identity to spill out into resentment towards his brother, who seems to be finding purpose beyond life of the Sea of Galilee. In a moment of what some might call coincidence, he meets Jesus, the promised Lamb of God. Though he may not have known it at the time, his initial encounter with Jesus would change the trajectory of his life forever. Join me as we discover Peter's story and learn that our true identities can't be manufactured in and of ourselves, but can only be found by following Jesus.
Narrator
Simon leaned his forehead against the mast. The boat bobbed up and down, slowly lulling him to sleep. He groaned, knocked his head over and over again on the wood.
Simon Peter
All night, Andrew. All night. We're fishermen, and it's been weeks since we've even smelt a fish.
Narrator
Simon threw himself face first into a pile of nets and moaned to his brother. They had toiled all night to no avail. Their nets were empty, just like their pockets.
Simon Peter
If we don't haul an account soon, the tax collectors will come knocking on my door and take my wife's earrings right off her ears. What are we going to do?
Narrator
Perhaps we shouldn't be fishermen, andrew said with a shrug. He threw the anchor off the boat and tightened the rope, securing it close to shore.
Jesus
Maybe we're meant to do something else.
Simon Peter
Don't start that again, Andrew. I've heard enough about your locust eating friend. With the loud voice,
Narrator
Simon was referring to John, the baptizer. Andrew had been following his teachings for quite some time. Andrew couldn't stop talking about him. Andrew came to work every day, endlessly preaching about repentance, the coming of the Messiah, and making way for revolution. It all annoyed Simon to no end, if he were being honest. Simon was irritated that his brother had found some purpose beyond the monotony of fishing. Not that he didn't find fishing in itself a worthwhile profession. Perhaps Simon would have found more fulfillment in fishing if he had had been better at it. Yet each day was a struggle. Simon continually found himself in a maddening circle Toiling all night, casting nets, pulling them back to find nothing, and casting them out again. Mornings were spent cleaning the empty nets. Then he would sleep to repeat the process.
Jesus
You're missing out on something groundbreaking, Andrew
Narrator
preached to his brother.
Jesus
Just the other day John was baptizing when all of a sudden a man from Nazareth stopped him in his tracks. John told us that he was the Lamb of God, whatever that means. John was in near tears at the sight of him.
Simon Peter
A random man from Nazareth, you say? Oh yes. Sounds groundbreaking,
Narrator
Simon replied with a sarcastic smile. He threw his nets onto the sand and pulled his hair back.
Simon Peter
Let's clean these nets and get out of here. I'm hungry and I need a bath.
Narrator
Simon began tending to the nets. His neck ached and his eyes were weary from a night that seemed to drag on forever. Simon's thoughts bounced from self loathing to prideful denial of his failure. He ran the nets through a bucket of fresh water. Then he sat down and methodically untangled each thread. Another boat paddled up on the right side. It was James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They had fished all night as well and caught nothing. Simon gave them a resigned wave and gestured to his empty nets. Simon was the only one who hadn't been having any luck with fish.
Simon Peter
If I can't fish, then who am I?
Narrator
His words were soft and unheard by the rest. Simon had a knot in his chest, a tension of identity. He had failed at the only thing he had been asked to do his entire life. If Simon couldn't fish, he couldn't pay off his debt to the tax collectors. If he couldn't fish, he couldn't provide for his wife and sick mother in law. Creases of disappointment etched the sides of his eyes as Simon worked the nets. Just as he was about to finish, a small crowd walked down the beach. They were all following a man. He was of average height and wore craftsman's garments. However, there was a rabbinical sash around his shoulders. Clearly this man was some sort of teacher.
Jesus
Simon. That's him. That's the man I was telling you about. The one John said was the Lamb of God.
Narrator
Simon rolled his eyes and groaned. The man was approaching with a couple of dozen people behind him. Joyful clamors followed him and smiles shone brightly on their faces. Simon didn't care. He wanted to lay down and sleep before facing his wife and telling her once, once again, he'd failed to catch anything. Simon folded the last net and began walking away. Before he could take two steps, the man called out to him.
Jesus
Shalom, friends. My name is Jesus. Would I be able to use your boat for a few minutes? The crowd would be able to hear me much better if I was up there.
Narrator
The stranger's voice was kind but firm. Andrew perked up when he spoke, but Simon was still ambivalent.
Simon Peter
Rabbi, we've been fishing all night. We would much rather.
Jesus
Of course you can.
Narrator
Andrew interrupted with childlike glee. Simon turned to Andrew and gave him a glare that only an older brother could give. Simon groaned again and nodded for Jesus to climb aboard. Jesus steadied his feet and began preaching to the crowd. Everyone was transfixed by his words, including Andrew. Simon barely listened, dozing off as he leaned his head back against the nets. Just as Simon felt perfectly comfortable, Jesus turned to him and said, let's go
Jesus
out into the deep and let out your nets for a catch.
Narrator
Simon rolled his neck back and leaned forward.
Simon Peter
Rabbi, with all due respect, we've been fishing all night and caught nothing. There's nothing out there for us today.
Narrator
Simon looked down at the water. It was. It reflected his disappointment right back at him. Then he looked at Jesus. There was an earnestness about him that somehow made Simon relent.
Simon Peter
Nevertheless, at your word, I'll try again.
Narrator
Simon had faithless faithfulness. He didn't believe anything would happen, but wasn't about to argue with Jesus. The two brothers rowed the boat out a dozen yards. The water was glassy and still. With a reluctant sigh, Simon cast out the net. He sat down and waited. A few moments passed, and Simon looked at Jesus with a raised eyebrow, as if to say, told you so. But just then, Simon heard the sound of tightening ropes. The nets became taut and the boat leaned over. Simon and Andrew tumbled to the side and looked at the water. It was bubbling with activity.
Simon Peter
Pull. Pull the nets.
Narrator
Simon and Andrew heaved, but the nets were too heavy for them.
Simon Peter
If we don't hold this in soon, they're going to break.
Narrator
They waved to James and John to come over and help. They paddled swiftly to help haul in the massive catch.
Simon Peter
Almost there. Just a few more bushes.
Narrator
Simon's arms felt tighter than than the nets, and his hands burned under the moving rope. Jesus joined in and grabbed the edge of the net. With one final pull, they brought the catch into the boat. Fish scattered throughout the deck, so much so that the ship began to sink.
Simon Peter
Bring it in. Bring it in.
Narrator
Simon yelled with nervous laughter. James and John loaded fish over onto their boat to keep Simons from sinking. They reached the shore and leaped with unhindered joy, hugging each other and laughing uncontrollably. Standing in the background of laughter and pats on the back was Jesus. He leaned against the mast of Simon's boat with a satisfied grin. Simon held his head and laughed, but his laughter slowly turned upside down and he was overcome with grief. He looked to Jesus and shook his head.
Simon Peter
Who are you?
Narrator
He whispered, but the answer was clear. He was exactly who Andrew said he was. He was the Lamb of God, the hope of Israel, the Messiah. With a quivering lip and furled brow, Simon fell to his knees. He knew this was a miracle. Simon knew that Jesus was the reason he had called such an enormous catch. He felt unworthy of such a gesture. He felt the sting of an undeserved blessing. Who was he to receive such a gift? Who was he to be in the presence of someone so powerful and holy? Simon could barely look Jesus in the eye. With a shameful glance upward, he whimpered, depart from me, Lord.
Simon Peter
Depart from me, for I am a sinful man.
Narrator
Simon was shaking with shame. His heart ached from years of anger, sin and self doubt. Jesus, with compassionate eyes and a warm
Jesus
heart, said, you are fearful, Simon. I understand.
Narrator
Jesus leaned down to Simon and placed a hand on his shoulder. He met Simon at eye level, gazing into his soul and all the insecurities that had plagued him.
Jesus
Follow me, Simon. Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men.
Narrator
Simon looked Jesus in the eyes. They were glassy and still, like water. Only they didn't reflect his insecurity. Instead, Simon saw glimpses of his destiny. The aimlessness and self doubt weighing him down had sunk to the bottom of the sea. Simon stood up and left the fish to rot in the nets. He didn't need them anymore. Fishing had been a trade, but it was never who he was. Jesus saw the man behind the nets and the wounded soul. Underneath that rugged veneer, Simon was a boisterous, fighty and fragile sinner indeed. But it doesn't matter who you are before Jesus calls you. What matters is who you become once you begin to follow Him.
Travel Advertiser
Expedia and Visit Scotland Invite you to Come experience the beauty that awaits in Scotland. The sweep of wild coastlines, quiet lochs and untamed landscapes. Fresh cuisine that feels rooted in the land. Come experience the kind of stillness that stays with you long after you leave. Plan your Scottish escape today@expedia.com visitscotland in
Host (Zach)
Matthew 4 we enter into some of the earliest moments of Jesus public ministry. Having spent the majority of his life as a humble carpenter in the lackluster city of Nazareth, Jesus is quickly gaining traction among the local community. It's no wonder why this might be According to Matthew 7, the crowds were amazed at his teachings because he taught as one who had authority, while many of the other rabbis and teachers of the time would just recycle truths that they heard from one another. Jesus had original thoughts. And they weren't just original thoughts, they were scandalous. But they also cut straight to the heart in a way that they had never heard before. People were awakening to Jesus words and his ministry. The message of the coming kingdom of God that Jesus shared was profound. It offered a deeper look into the human soul than the vapid and repetitive teachings of his contemporaries. But Jesus offered more than in depth teachings. He was paving the way for a revolution. And it wasn't a revolution of politics, coups or violence. Nor was he making a bid to the throne and ascend to political power. The Jesus revolution was a radical transformation of how we view God, his kingdom, this world, and even ourselves, if we allow it. As we saw in today's story, Jesus spoke to the masses, but deliberately ministered to individuals. Individuals like Simon, individuals who were on the fringes and felt forgotten or perhaps ineffectual in their lives. Individuals who identified as failures and outcasts. Even individuals who had no sense of identity at all. These were the ones Jesus personally called to follow him because he knew they were blank canvases to create masterpieces on. Where others see failure, Jesus sees opportunity. Where some see success, Jesus sees pride. Jesus doesn't look at the world through our lens of success and failure. He looks deeper and into eternity, seeing beyond the accolades and straight into the heart. When people have a self determined mission or sense of identity, they are often hesitant to relinquish control. The danger of finding purpose and identity within ourselves is that as quickly as we can build ourselves up, we can be torn down. Maybe you lose your job, mourn the loss of a loved one, or struggle in a relationship. With each of these blows to the ego. Our identity wavers until it's bound to crumble. You see, centering our identities on something like a profession or a relationship or a hobby is shaky footing and shaky ground. Things change, but the Lord remains the same forever. We need a stronger foundation for our identities. So how might we have a deeper sense of identity? Well, like Simon, it begins with looking to Jesus. Think about the difference between the moment of looking at yourself in the mirror and the moment Simon gazed into the eyes of the Messiah. How quickly we can go from pondering who am I? To seeing everything we can be through Jesus Christ. You see, knowing God gives us a greater understanding of ourselves. When we look at ourselves through God's eyes, our purpose becomes much more clear. When we anchor our identities in Christ, we feel less anxious and out of control. Who God is and what he has called us to do is a far more firm and steady base to build our identities upon. He is not a God who looks down on us with disdain or frustration for our failures. He is a loving Father who looks at us with compassion and calls us to be his children. When we submit ourselves to following Jesus, we are welcomed into his loving arms, the starting point of understanding who we really are meant to be. As Peter contemplates the bleak night of fishing, he finds himself mulling over his purpose and his identity. Since he attached his purpose to his profession, he inevitably associated himself as a failure because he was failing to catch fish. And so hard set in his ways he was that he turned a deaf ear to his brother, who spoke of possible hope and finding more in life than just fishing. Simon's ambivalence towards his brother's message is a warning for all of us. It demonstrates that ambivalence towards Jesus can hinder, if not prevent, our ability to admire Him. Don't be too quick to dismiss others when they want to share what God is doing in their lives. You may think, oh yeah, I've heard it, I've heard it, I've heard it. You don't need to tell me about it. I've been to church, I've heard the messages. Stop preaching to me. But hold on. Maybe someone is getting a glimpse into God's character that you have yet to peer into. Maybe someone has found purpose and joy worth sharing to you. Andrew had a testimony to share, but Simon was too agitated and consumed with himself to listen. He needed to wake up to what was happening. It wasn't until Simon appreciated the significant role Jesus could play in his life that he turned his heart towards adoration. And all it took was a simple act of obedience. You see, at first, Simon was ambivalent about Jesus, but I love how he still had the attitude of, well, nevertheless, let's do it. Sometimes that's all it takes. Faithless faithfulness is what I like to call it. There's something honest about this entire interaction that Peter has with Jesus. He isn't sure what Jesus is up to, but he obeys nonetheless. You see, God can do a lot with that attitude. He can do a lot with our willingness to obey him, even when we're irritated, doubtful, tired, and aren't sure what's going to come of it. So even in reluctance, Peter's faithless faithfulness to obey the instruction of Jesus gave him the opportunity to witness a glimpse of his power. And if Jesus can fill Peter's empty nets, maybe he could fill his empty hearts if given the chance. Surely, if this stranger from Nazareth seemed to work with a greater purpose, even this lowly fisherman from Galilee could too. We can trust that God has a special plan for each of our lives. While we may not know every single detail of that plan, we can be sure that our purpose of following Jesus being made more like him and glorifying him along the way, will never change. And all it takes is our willingness to follow him with humble hearts of service and gratitude. Perhaps the plan isn't exactly what we expect, or even what we initially hoped for, but we can rest assured that God is in perfect control. With each step, may we all experience the glorious intersection of God's grace and our efforts. We can cling tightly to the fact that there is a greater good God wants to accomplish in and through us, while holding loosely to what that looks like precisely. You see, you're not supposed to know every single detail of God's plan. If you knew all of God's plan mapped out from beginning to end, you would just be looking for shortcuts along the way. Jesus doesn't want to just show you the end goal of what you're going to be. He wants you to follow him. He wants to take you along a journey and a process. It doesn't take great skill, eloquence, or charisma. It takes willing hearts and hands. In our story, we also met some fellow fishermen, one of them by the name of John. This man would also become one of Jesus closest disciples and a prolific leader in the early church. Eventually, he would write These words in 1 John 3, 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has yet to appear. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him because we shall see him as he is. We don't know the specifics of how God will uniquely work in our individual lives, but each of us, from the most socially accepted to the furthest outcast, has been given a purpose and a promise of being made like Jesus if we pursue Him. What a glorious purpose that is. A purpose that compels us onward. Our last point here is that it might seem daunting to walk away from the life we know, but it's worth it. Simon and Andrew's nets were empty. And they weren't very good fishermen, clearly, but at least they knew what their life looked like. At least there was a predictability, even if it was predictability and monotony. But to see a change, we have to make a change. We have to stop looking inward to find purpose and identity and begin to look to Jesus. We have to change our perception of what's possible and believe that our God is a God of miracles and our God can work miracles. In our mundane and ineffectual lives. We have to look beyond the mundane to see the splendor of a life lived for and by Jesus. So I encourage you to allow Jesus into your life and leave nothing hidden from Him. The more you give him, the more he will change you. God doesn't want to improve you. He wants to give you an entirely new life. And maybe, like Simon, we're not perfect. But a life of faith is not marked by perfection, but by consistency. Receive God's mercies that are new every morning and take that step of faith today. Failure isn't the end of faith, it's part of the process. So follow Jesus and you might just be surprised at what you'll find if you decide to give him your all. In our next story, we're going to meet another one of Jesus 12 disciples. This man is often unseen and unheralded in scripture, but we want to give him some light. It's a man named Nathanael. Thanks for joining us for the Jesus podcast. If you haven't yet followed, make sure to do so. That way you never have to miss an episode and it helps us to get seen by more people. Thanks for making the mission possible. We love that you're here and we love that you continue this journey with us.
Podcast Summary: The Jesus Podcast – Purpose: The Calling of Peter (May 20, 2026)
In this episode, "Purpose: The Calling of Peter," The Jesus Podcast brings to life the transformative moment when Simon Peter, a weary fisherman, encounters Jesus and receives a new identity and purpose. The episode weaves immersive storytelling with insightful commentary, exploring how Jesus calls ordinary people from lives defined by failure and doubt to embrace new beginnings and deeper meaning. Through dramatized scenes and theological reflection, the podcast reveals how following Jesus leads to radical changes in self-understanding and purpose.
The episode artfully combines vivid dramatic narration—placing listeners in the shoes of Simon Peter as he wrestles with failure and longing for meaning—with practical, heartfelt teaching. The conversational, honest tone of Host Zach helps listeners connect these ancient stories to their own search for identity and purpose, all while preserving the emotional impact of both the Gospel’s events and their modern application.
"Purpose: The Calling of Peter" uses storytelling and reflection to illustrate how Jesus meets us at our lowest and calls us to a life of purpose beyond our own making. Through Simon Peter’s story, listeners are encouraged to trust God’s calling, even amid doubt and discouragement, and to find their truest identity by following Jesus.
Next Episode Preview:
The series will continue with the story of Nathanael, another often-overlooked disciple, emphasizing that Jesus’s transformative love and calling extend to everyone.