Another significant lesson from this very significant account comes from verse 4 of Luke 5:
“When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let your nets down for a catch.”
Simon had helped Jesus, and Jesus was about to help him. He had a purpose for telling Peter to launch out into the deep, and part of it was to isolate Peter from the crowd. This shows Jesus well understood the power of peer pressure. Many of those who would consider the truth are often held back by the idea “what will those who know me think?”
This is a significant problem to the church. People regularly hear the gospel, pray to accept Jesus, and then lose their boldness when the preacher ask someone to come to the front, raise their hand, or just check a box on a card. Many refuse to do this, and revert back to the sinful patterns of their lives just because they were terrified of accepting what publically declaring themselves as saved could mean. Their family and friends could judge them. They don’t even have to be there to influence the newly saved individual. We can feel the crushing weight of those who would judge us even when they’re not present. Society is ever present, and always ready to make us feel stupid for doing anything that opposes the world.
Do not feel anger for someone who fears, but understanding. They are being asked to publically declare they believe in something unseen that could have a large and potentially devastating impact on their relationship with those they can see. It’s a tough choice. That’s why many preachers spend so long explaining to people sitting in their congregations who have just made the decision to follow Christ why it is so important to make such a declaration. Peer pressure is powerful, and those who consider casting out their salvation for it need to understand that the love of Jesus is a far more powerful thing.
Whenever possible do as Jesus did. Isolate the person you’re trying to reach from that peer pressure. Jesus didn’t give Peter the chance to look bold in front of the people watching on the shore. He took Peter out to sea where he could more easily change him without society trying to interfere. He made sure Peter was without excuses, and could not ignore what was about to come just because some other people were watching Him. He gave Peter the chance to realize the truth without society trying to impact his mind. We should try to do the same. Get people alone with the Gospel. When they can accept God in private they can more easily learn to declare Him in public. Give them the chance to do that if that’s what they need to be saved.
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