The Way & Remembrance

This week, in reading through 2 Peter 1, I've been stirred by Peter's remembrance of the things he'd seen and heard from Jesus during their years together. As he is now an old man, not far from death himself, you can feel how lovingly he recalls every minute with his Savior. Consider the original accounts and then Peter's reflections back...

The day he was called -
     One day the people were crowding closely round Jesus to hear God’s message, as he stood on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. Jesus noticed two boats drawn up on the beach, for the fishermen had left them there while they were cleaning their nets. He went aboard one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to push out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and continued his teaching of the crowds from the boat.
     When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Push out now into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”
     Simon replied, “Master! We’ve worked all night and never caught a thing, but if you say so, I’ll let the nets down.”
     And when they had done this, they caught an enormous shoal of fish—so big that the nets began to tear. So they signalled to their friends in the other boats to come and help them. They came and filled both the boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell on his knees before Jesus and said, “Keep away from me, Lord, for I’m only a sinful man!”
     For he and his companions (including Zebedee’s sons, James and John, Simon’s partners) were staggered at the haul of fish that they had made. Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid, Simon. From now on your catch will be men.”
     So they brought the boats ashore, left everything and followed him. LUKE 5

Peter's reflection upon that day -
     He has by his own action given us everything that is necessary for living the truly good life, in allowing us to know the one who has called us to him, through his own glorious goodness. It is through him that God’s greatest and most precious promises have become available to us men, making it possible for you to escape the inevitable disintegration that lust produces in the world and to share in God’s essential nature.  2 PETER 1

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The Mount of Transfiguration -
     Six days later Jesus chose Peter, James and his brother John, to accompany him high up on the hill-side where they were quite alone. There his whole appearance changed before their eyes, his face shining like the sun and his clothes as white as light. Then Moses and Elijah were seen talking to Jesus.
     “Lord,” exclaimed Peter, “it is wonderful for us to be here! If you like I could put up three shelters, one each for you and Moses and Elijah—”
     But while he was still talking a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud: “This is my dearly loved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
     When they heard this voice the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. Then Jesus came up to them and touched them.
     “Get up and don’t be frightened,” he said. And as they raised their eyes there was no one to be seen but Jesus himself. MATTHEW 17

Peter's reflection upon that experience -
     We were not following a cleverly written-up story when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ—we actually saw his majesty with our own eyes. He received honor and glory from God the Father himself when that voice said to him, out of the sublime glory of Heaven, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’.
     We actually heard that voice speaking from Heaven while we were with him on the sacred mountain. The word of prophecy was fulfilled in our hearing! 2 PETER 1

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With the Risen Jesus by the Sea of Galilee -
     ...Then for the third time, Jesus spoke to him and said, “Simon, son of John, are you my friend?” Peter was deeply hurt because Jesus’ third question to him was “Are you my friend?”, and he said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I am your friend!”
     “Then feed my sheep,” Jesus said to him. “I tell you truly, Peter, that when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you liked, but when you are an old man, you are going to stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and take you where you do not want to go.”
     (He said this to show the kind of death—by crucifixion—by which Peter was going to honor God.) Then Jesus said to him, “You must follow me.” JOHN 21

Peter's reflection upon that prophecy -
     I shall not fail to remind you of things like this although you know them and are already established in the truth. I consider it my duty, as long as I live in the temporary dwelling of this body, to stimulate you by these reminders. I know that I shall have to leave this body at very short notice, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. Consequently I shall make the most of every opportunity, so that after I am gone you will remember these things. 2 PETER 1

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The questions for us: Are we so present to His presence right now that we'll, years from now, remember what He's actually doing today? Are we expert cataloguers of the glories we're seeing of Him right now so that our whole lives bear witness to His goodness?

Your day today is your opportunity to remember for tomorrow. Will you be one who deeply enjoys Him today on behalf of then?