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Beginning the Journey (for new Christians) . en Español

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10. The Call of Peter, James, and John (Luke 5:1-11)

Can you remember the first time you really understood who Jesus was? Perhaps when you first invited Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior? Especially if you came to Christ as an older child, teenager, or adult, the events surrounding that occasion are indelibly imprinted in your mind. Today we're studying what is surely an eyewitness account of the calling of Peter, James, and John, carefully transcribed by Luke, and placed in his Gospel. Matthew 4:18-22 and Mark 1:16-20 both record the call of Peter and Andrew, James and John along the shore. But Luke's account is especially vivid.

" 1  One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, 2  he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4  When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.' 5  Simon answered, 'Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.' 6  When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8  When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!' 9  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10  and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men.' 11  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." (Luke 5:1-11, NIV)

Crowding to Hear the Word of God (Luke 5:1)

I want you to use your imagination and try to put yourself at the shore of the Sea of Galilee this morning. Jesus is standing by the "Lake of Gennesaret" (another name for the Sea of Galilee) surrounded by people. They are "crowding" him. The Greek word is epikeimai , "press around, press upon, be urgent." 93 Imagine yourself as one of those people. Maybe you're wearing sandals, or perhaps you're barefoot, and you feel the round stones on the beach under your feet -- no sandy beaches here. You're straining to see over the people in front of you, because Jesus is speaking and you don't want to miss a word.

What an image! People crowding to hear "the word of God." Jesus didn't sugar-coat his message. He spoke plainly and urgently, with parables and stories. He would bless children and heal the sick. It was compelling, life-changing teaching. But with his listeners crowding around so, the confusion is getting in way of his message. He sees a pair of boats pulled up onto the rocky beach at the water's edge. The fishermen who own them are nearby, mending nets from their toil the night before.

Fishing Nets

Fishermen have fished the waters of this lake for thousands of years. Occasionally, people would fish with a hook and line (Matthew 17:24-27), but commercial fishing took place with nets and teams of fishermen to handle them. They primarily used two types of nets:

1. Casting net. Poorer fishermen who didn't own boats could use casting nets along the shore. The casting net was thrown out over the water. Weights at the edge would pull the net to the bottom, catching any fish that might be under it. The net opening was 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 meters) in diameter. The fisherman would wade out to the net, and gather it in, bringing any fish to shore. The Greek word diktyon is the more general word used for "net for catching fish." 94 When used with Greek amphiblēstron it indicated "a circular casting-net" (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16). 95

2. Seine net or drag net. These were large vertical wall-like nets that could be attached to the shore or to another boat. A boat could drag other end out into the water in a semicircular arc and then back to the shore again, pulling in the fish as it came. Then a team of fishermen on both ends of the net would heave it into shore. One might dive in the center to disentangle it from any rocks or obstructions on the bottom as the net dragged across. This net is sometimes indicated by the Greek word diktyon and once by sagēnē , "a large dragnet." 96 Another way to use this kind of net was to take it into deep water, often at night and sometimes with another boat, and lay out the floats at the top of the net in a long line across the water. Fish might be driven into the net by the splashes of the fisherman. Then the ends would be pulled together surrounding a school of fish, and they would be pulled on board the boat. 97

Peter and his brother Andrew, and their neighbors James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were partners, often working together as they fished the Sea of Galilee. They fished commercially. In addition to Capernaum, there were other commercial fishing towns: Bethsaida ("house of fishing") and Magdala (Migdal Nunaya, "bulwark of the fishes") or Tarichaea ("salting installation for fish," the Greek name of Magdala). They would sell their fish fresh in the local markets. The rest they would salt and dry for export as far as Spain. 98 As owners of their own ships, who sometimes hired others to help, Peter and his partners should be regarded as members of the lower middle class, rather than a very low social class. 99

Galilee Fishing Boats

In 1986 a drought in Palestine brought waters in the Sea of Galilee down to their lowest level in memory. One day, a couple of Israeli men spotted a plank sticking out of the water. After an 11-day excavation, the boat they discovered was drowned in a preservative to keep its timbers from disintegrating further. It was immediately named the "Jesus Boat" and can be seen at Yigal Allon Museum at Kibbutz Ginossar near Migdal at the north end of the lake. The boat is about 27 feet long, and could either be rowed or propelled by a single sail. It was built with used wood from older boats, timber felled about 40 BC; whether Jesus saw the boat during his ministry nearly 70 years later is unknown, but it gives us our first real example of boats from that era. 100

Teaching from Peter's Boat (Luke 5:2-3)

Back to our story, Jesus is teaching by the lakeside, crowded by the people. He sees a couple of fishing boats pulled up on the shore, and asks the owner of one, Simon Peter, if he would put out a little from shore. Then he sits down in the boat and teaches the people -- sitting being the accustomed position for teaching in those days (see Luke 4:20ff; Matthew 5:1; etc.). On other occasions in his ministry, he uses Peter's boat in a similar way (Matthew 13:1; Mark 4:1).

I can see Jesus twenty or thirty feet out from shore, sitting in the boat which is bobbing slightly. His voice carries well across the water. And the people along the shore stop their crowding, and sit down to listen.

In the boat, listening as well, is Peter. I think he's proud that his boat can be used by the Teacher, and that he can sit next to him, publicly sharing a bit of the glory.

Miraculous Catch of Fish (Luke 5:4-7)

But the glory ends when Jesus concludes his teaching and dismisses the people. On some occasions, he prays for the sick after the formal teaching, but not today. Jesus turns to Peter with a request, almost a command: "Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." He is speaking to Peter when he tells him to launch out into the deeper water, but "let down the nets for a catch" is spoken to Peter's crew as well, for the verb is plural.

I wonder what the expression on Peter's face is. Is it weariness -- or more? He replies,

"Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." (Luke 5:5)

Is he humoring Jesus? Or honoring him? Or is he weary beyond the point of caring. Maybe he bites his tongue, rather than explain to his new landlubber friend that the best fishing is done at night, and that in the daytime the catch isn't nearly as good.

But he doesn't argue. He pulls in the anchor that has held them in the shallows just off shore, and pulls up the sail so that it catches the breeze coming off the western hills. The ship begins to pick up a little speed until they are out in the deeper parts. Now Peter is the example of efficiency. He'll show Jesus how real fishermen do things -- even if they don't catch anything. One end of the net goes over the side, and Peter and his crew play out the long net until it is extended full length, floats bobbing on the surface. Now he fastens the other end of the net to the far end to the boat.

All off a sudden they feel a jolt, the lines become taut, and the boat leans over at a dangerous angle. Jesus grabs the gunwale to keep from going overboard. A whole school of fish has hit the net and is pulling hard against the boat. Peter is instantly alert, and begins to give orders pulling in the ropes on the net to bring it closer to the boat. It is a huge catch, Peter can tell. He steadies himself by the mast and shouts at the top of his lungs across the water where his partners James and John are still mending nets.

"H-E-L-P  U-S," he shouts into the wind. "C-O-M-E  A-N-D  H-E-L-P  U-S!"

Far away on the shore, he can see that they've heard him and are running for their boat. Now he turns back to the task at hand and doesn't look up until James' and John's boat is alongside, helping to pull fish out of the net into their boat, flapping, flopping on the boat bottom. Jesus, too, is pulling fish aboard as fast as he can. The men work noiselessly until the last of the huge catch is into the boats. The gunwales of the boats are now dangerously close to the waterline.

Carefully, oh, so carefully, they row the laden boats ashore, not relaxing until they can hear the prow crunch on the rocks of the beach. It is the biggest catch they have ever brought in. And not at night, but in the middle of the day!

Peter's Call (Luke 5:8-11)

Jesus has stepped out of the boat into the shallows and up onto the dry shore. Peter sees him, leaps over the side of the boat and falls at Jesus' knees. For a moment he can't speak. You can see that he is overcome by emotion and his recent exertion. Jesus waits.

"Depart from me, Lord," Peter finally gasps out. "I am a sinful man."

Jesus puts his hand on Peter's shoulder, and looks down at him. "Don't be afraid," he says. "From now on you will be catching men."

You can see Peter nodding his head. He knows it is true. Finally he lifts his eyes to meet Jesus' eyes. "Yes, Lord, if you'll show me how. But wait just one minute until we get these boats pulled all the way up. We don't want to lose a catch like this."

James and John help Peter and Andrew as they pull first Peter's boat, and then their own boat up onto the shore. Then they leave everything where it is and begin to follow ( akolutheō ) Jesus.

Taking Men Alive (Luke 5:10)

I don't wonder what Peter felt, for I've felt it, too -- an overwhelming sense of unworthiness in the face of the outstanding miracle he has just witnessed. This is no ordinary man. He heals, he teaches good news, and he can command hundreds of fish and tell a couple of fishermen where to go to find them. Peter is overwhelmed and humbled. His pride has drained way, and all that is left is his sense of sinfulness in the presence of this Man.

But Jesus doesn't let him grovel. He tells him not to fear.

And then he says some wonderful words that Peter will never ever forget: "From now on you will be catching men." The verb used here is nearly unique in the New Testament: zōgreō, "to capture alive" or "to spare life," and it builds on the idea of the miraculous "catch." The word is used in the Septuagint and in Greek literature in the vocabulary of war and hunting. Peter had been catching fish to kill and sell them. But now he will be taking men alive to give them liberty. 101 The only other time the word is used in the New Testament is in 2 Timothy.

"Those who oppose [the Lord's servant] he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive ( zōgreō ) to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:25-26)

Men can either be live captives of Satan, or freed servants of Jesus. Jesus "captures" men to free them.

Of course, my re-creation of the story above goes beyond the words of Scripture. Thank you for giving me the freedom to try to imagine how it might have happened that morning.

Leaving Everything and Following (Luke 5:11)

The final sentence of this passage marks a turning point for both Jesus and for the fisherman. "So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him" (5:11). There is both the negative and the positive, the leaving and the following.

I've wondered about Mrs. Peter and the other fisher families in Capernaum. Yes, Peter and the men came back often, since Jesus was using Capernaum as his base-of-operations in Galilee. But they were gone so much of the time. Did they rent out the boats to others who took over the business in their absence? Or did Zebedee, father of Peter's partners, help them out? Did the amazing two boats full of fish tide over the families until the fishermen returned? We don't know nor are we told.

What we are told is that while once Peter was catching fish, now he is catching men. And to do the second he had to stop doing the first.

Does this mean that we must all quit our jobs when we are called? No. But some must. We see others who became part of Jesus' band -- Levi, the tax collector, "got up, left everything, and followed him" (5:28). Excuses aren't accepted.

"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God," Jesus told other would-be followers (9:62).

The Rich Young Ruler was called to sell everything he had, and to come, follow Jesus, but didn't (18:22-23).

My friends, we cannot drag all of our lives behind us and still be obedient followers. Some things have to go. The good can be the enemy of the best. There is a letting go so we can follow fully. What can't you continue to do and still be a good disciple? About what is Jesus' speaking to you to leave behind?

Not only was this a turning point for the fishermen, but it marked a new era for Jesus. Now he had followers who were with him constantly from this day until the day he was crucified.

They "left everything and followed him" (5:11). The word "followed" is Greek akolutheō . Literally, it means "come after" from a- copulative + keleuthos , "road," properly, "walking the same road." 102 Then it means "accompany, go along with." But it also has a specific meaning, "to follow someone as a disciple." 103 It follows in the tradition of the rabbinical master-pupil relationship. 104

Called to Following

I can remember when I was first called to be a disciple. I was nine years old, a young boy raised in a gospel-preaching Presbyterian church. One Sunday, I was struck with the realization that though I believed in Jesus, I had not given my life to him. There was belief without commitment. I struggled with this for several Sundays, trying to "hold out" through the pastor's "altar call" at the close of the service. Finally, I determined I must say, "Yes."

"Yes" to what? I didn't know then. But "yes" to following Jesus where he led me, and "yes" to do what he asked me to do. It has been an interesting journey, not always an easy one. But I have never been sorry that I said "yes" to Jesus' call way back then.

How about you? Have you sensed Jesus calling you? What have you done about it? Is he extending the call again, now, in a deeper way than before? What will you do? There's a very real sense that our call to be followers, disciples of Jesus takes precedence over every other responsibility or vocation we have. He must become first -- before father or mother, spouse or children (14:26). His call is preeminent.

But it is a joysome journey, too. It is a walk with him, with his encouragement and comfort, his direction and guidance, his teaching and infusion of meaning, and his presence when I am afraid. There is pain, yes. But there is joy in this journey of following Jesus. If, for whatever reason, you've sat down by the pathway alongside the road -- from discouragement or tiredness or depression or disappointment -- I want to invite you to get up again, and get back in step with the Master today on the JesusWalk. They "left everything and followed him" (5:11). Me, too, Lord. Me, too.

Lord, thank you so much for revealing yourself to me. I know you were speaking powerfully to Peter on that day when his nets bulged with your fish. You got his attention, all right. And you have mine, too. I want to be your disciple, to follow you wherever you take me. I'm on board, Lord. Thank you for the ticket. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

"'Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch men.' So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him." (Luke 5:10b-11)

Click on the link below to discuss on the forum one or more of the questions that follow -- your choice. https://www.joyfulheart.com/forums/topic/1925-10-call/

  • What things does Jesus asks Peter to do and in what order? Why the progression, do you think?
  • Why do you think Jesus asked Peter to attempt the seemingly impossible task of catching fish during the day, after he's tried all night and failed?
  • How does Jesus respond to Peter's plea for him to leave, due to Peter's sinfulness? Why doesn't Jesus address Peter's sinfulness at this point? What does Jesus talk about instead?
  • Does Jesus require all his disciples to leave everything? If not, why not? If so, in what sense?
  • What does it mean to you personally to "follow" Jesus? Share a bit of your personal journeying with your brothers and sisters and they'll share a bit of theirs with you. Mutual encouragement and reinforcement.

Abbreviations and References

[93] Epikeimai , BAGD 294.

[94] Diktyon , BAGD 198. Carl G. Rasmussen, "Net," ISBE 3:524.

[95] Amphiblēstron, BAGD 47. The verb is amphiballō , "cast," a technical term for the throwing out of the circular casting-net (Mark 1:16).

[96] Sagēnē , BAGD 739.

[97] Gary M. Burge, "Fishers of Men: The Maritime Headquarters of Jesus' Headquarters in Galilee," Christian History , Summer 1998, p. 36. He calls this a "trammel net," though I would guess that the sophisticated kind of net he describes hadn't been developed in the first century.

[98] Great People of the Bible and How They Lived (Reader's Digest Association, 1974), p. 439.

[99] Adrianus van Selms, "Fishing," ISBE 2:309-311.

[100] "2,000-Year-Old Galilee Boat Emerges Anew," National Geographic , April 1996, Geographica section. Abraham Rabinovich, "'Jesus Boat' Causes Ripples," Jerusalem Post , Jan-Feb 1999. There is also a book by one of the archaeologists who worked with the boat: Shelley Wachsmann, The Sea of Galilee Boat: An Extraordinary 2000 Year Old Discovery (Plenum Press, 1995). When I saw that first century boat, I went back to my hotel room in Tiberias and wrote, "Lord, You Can Use My Boat," The Joyful Heart , October 1997.

[101] Zōgreō, BAGD 340. Green, Luke , pp. 234-235. The word also forms the title of a book on soul-winning by Charles Gallaudet Trumbull, Taking Men Alive (Revell, 1938, reprint of 1907 YMCA edition).

[102] Akolutheō, Thayer 22.

[103] Akolutheō , BAGD 31.

[104] Gerhard Kittel, akoloutheo, ktl. TDNT 1:210-216.

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Discipleship Training in Luke's Gospel

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You can purchase one of Dr. Wilson's complete Bible studies in PDF, Kindle, or paperback format -- currently 48 books in the JesusWalk Bible Study Series.

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Mark 1:19-21 New Life Version

Jesus calls james and john.

19  Jesus went on a little farther. He saw James and his brother John who were sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat mending their nets. 20  Jesus called them and they left their father Zebedee. He was in the boat with men who were working for him.

Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon ( A )

21  Jesus and His followers went to the city of Capernaum on the Day of Rest. They went to the Jewish place of worship where Jesus taught the people.

Cross references

  • Mark 1:21 : Luke 4:31–37

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Peter, James and John

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There are three occasions in the gospel where Jesus takes three of the apostles, Peter, James and John, aside from the rest.

First, in Matthew 5, it is the raising of Jairus’ daughter from death. Jesus had the three accompany Him into the room where her body lay and he restored her to life (vs. 37).  Second, in Matthew 17, He had the three accompany Him to a mountaintop where he was transfigured. As He shined forth brighter than the sun Moses and Elijah, long gone from this world, appeared and discussed matters with Him. The Final time was on the night before His crucifixion. He asked Peter, James and John to accompany Him as He went to a secluded spot to pray for strength as He faced His hour of suffering (Matthew 26; see verse 37).

All three of these occasions touched upon the topic of death. The first showed Jesus’ power over death as the three saw Him raise the girl; “Little girl, I say unto you, get up!” The second showed Jesus supremacy over Moses, who had been dead for many years, when the Father said of Jesus, “This is My beloved Son, Listen to Him!” Then finally, in the garden as Jesus faced His own death, He found strength in prayer as He announced His intentions; “Father, not My will, but your will be done.” That is the only proper attitude for God’s people to have concerning God’s will. He put His trust in the Father in heaven, and so should we all. He lives again.  The grave could not keep Him.

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King James Version Bible

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Call of peter, andrew, james and john.

From the hills of Nazareth the story moves to the fishing villages of Capernaum and Bethsaida on the northern shore of Lake Galilee. The fishermen brothers Peter and Andrew had already met Jesus and accepted him as the Messiah. So too, it seems, had another pair of fishermen brothers, James and John (see notes on John 1:35-42). Jesus now asked the four men to take the further step of leaving their occupations so that they could become his followers in the task of bringing people into the kingdom God ( Mark 1:16-20).

Peter learnt more of what lay ahead when, after a day on which they had caught no fish, Jesus told him to let down the nets again. Peter obeyed, with the result that he caught so many fish the nets almost broke ( Luke 5:1-7). The incident impressed upon Peter that Jesus was indeed Lord, and in humble submission he fell at the feet of Jesus and confessed his sinfulness (Luke 5:8-11).

Note: The Sea (or Lake) of Galilee, the Sea (or Lake) of Gennesaret, and the Sea (or Lake) of Tiberias were three names for the same place.

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Peter, James, and John

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The twelve disciples or apostles that Jesus selected are listed in Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19; Luke 6:13-16. In each of these lists, Peter, James, John, and Andrew are mentioned first. Matthew and Luke name Peter first, then Peter’s brother Andrew, then James, then James’s brother John. Mark’s order is Peter, James, John, and Andrew.

Three of these four—Peter, James, and John, were members of what we might call Jesus’ inner circle; they were His closest followers. They were privileged to be present for some of the most powerful and important events of Jesus’ ministry

  • When Jairus’s daughter was restored to life, Peter, James, and John were in the very room where she revived (see Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51).
  • Peter, James, and John were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ transfiguration (see Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36).
  • These three, along with Andrew, heard firsthand the discourse Jesus gave regarding the end of the age (see Mark 13:3-4).
  • After He instituted the Lord’s Supper during the Passover meal He had shared with His disciples, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. His disciples went with Him, but only so far. Peter, James, and John accompanied Him farther into the garden. Even though they slept, in terms of their physical location they were closer to Jesus than were the other disciples when the Lord poured His heart out to His Father in prayer (see Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42).

Why were these men given the privilege of seeing and hearing Jesus in such an “up close and personal” manner? We cannot know all the reasons with certainty, but in His wisdom, Jesus apparently was entrusting them with information He knew they would be in a position to declare later, when the time was right, after His resurrection (see Matt. 17:9). Their number would mean their testimony would be upheld in a court of law, if it came to that (compare to Deut. 17:6), but certainly it would have credibility. John’s inspired statements in 1 John are brimming with “eyewitness language” (see 1:1-4). Without question, God used Peter, James, and John and their faithfulness to ignite a worldwide movement that has profoundly influenced the whole world. This influence reaches even to us, centuries later. For this we can be grateful.

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Jesus Calls Peter Story / The Miraculous Catch of Fish – Luke 5

Fishing jokes.

How many of you have ever been fishing?

Well, whether you’ve been fishing or not, I’ve got some great fishing jokes for you. Are you ready?

–        How do shellfish get to the hospital? (In a clambulance!)

–        Why are fish so smart? (Because they swim in schools!)

–        What’s the richest fish in the world? (A goldfish)

–        What do fish use for money? (sand dollars)

–        If a fish lived on land, what country would it live in? (Finland)

–        Why didn’t the prawn share his toys? (He was a little shellfish)

–        Why is a fish easy to weigh? (it has its own scales)

Peter and Andrew

All jokes aside, today we’re going to talk about some brothers who loved to fish.

Peter and Andrew fished every single day, and I can only imagine they had fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! They probably talked about fish all day long. In fact, they loved fishing so much that they decided to make a business out of it.

So one day I imagine something like this happened:

Peter and Andrew walked outside and happened to see two of their other brothers, James and John. “Hey, we should start a fishing company!” Peter said. “Yeah, let’s do it,” James replied. Soon, their fishing company was born.

Their fishing company was so successful that they were able to hire employees to go out and fish for them. They had several boats, quite a few nets, and lots of customers…life was going OK for them.

So, wouldn’t you think someone who was as successful at fishing as these guys were would know a LOT about the business?

Well, Peter and Andrew were about to meet a man who hadn’t fished before, but he knew a whole lot more about the business than they did.

Night Fishing

This story comes from Luke 5.

So, Peter, Andrew, James and John usually went out fishing at night. I know, that seems a little strange, but they had to go out fishing at night in order to catch the best fish. Does anyone know why?

(Take guesses)

How many of you have ever thrown diving sticks into a pool? If you have, you know that it’s way easier to catch the diving sticks when they’re thrown in the shallow end than it is in the deep end, right? Well, it was kind of similar with fishing!

There was a shallow end and a deep end of Lake Capernaum, the lake where the brothers went fishing. And the fish, well, they only went into the shallow end at night, when they thought nobody could see them. Then, in the daytime, they’d swim over to the deep end where it was harder for the fishermen to catch them.

Peter and Andrew were smart fishermen. They had caught on to the way the fish moved, and they decided that instead of going out in the daylight and working extra hard to catch the fish in the deep end, they would just wait until nighttime. Then, they’d go out on their boat, lower their nets, and catch fish much more easily!

One day, the brothers were out on the town, when they heard that a really famous speaker was coming to visit. This guy was all the rage, and whenever people found out he was coming to visit, they would flock to go see him. It would kind of be like if Beyonce was coming to your town for a concert—everyone would be trying to get tickets! Everyone wanted a “ticket” to see Jesus speak. He was famous in that part of the world.

Fishing Instructions

The brothers decided they were going to go see Jesus speak. So as they gathered around the lake, they were surprised when the speaker came ugp and started talking to them. “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch,” he told Peter.

Now, I’m pretty sure Peter thought this guy was a little crazy. First of all, it wasn’t like Jesus was making a suggestion. Jesus was commanding him! Jesus, the guy who hadn’t really ever gone fishing before and didn’t know the business, was telling Peter how to fish! Not only that, this guy… He didn’t even say to try to catch a fish. He said they absolutely would catch fish! He wasn’t just commanding them; he was making, what seemed to be, a crazy PROMISE to them.

That’d be like your little brother coming up to you and saying, “Jump off the roof of the house and I PROMISE you’ll fly.”

Or, “Take your glasses off and I PROMISE you’ll have x-ray vision.”

Seems a little crazy, doesn’t it?

Peter’s Response

Well, Peter thought so too. Can anyone guess what he might have said?

Well. The Bible doesn’t tell us about what his tone was, but we can guess from his words that Peter was pretty agitated when he replied. I mean, this guy had just tried to come in and tell him how to do his business! It would be kind of like if you walked out onto the basketball court and told LeBron James how to shoot a layup… Or if you told Walt Disney how to draw a mouse!

Peter said to Jesus, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but because you told me to, I’ll let down the nets.”

Let’s think about how Peter must feel… He just told Jesus they worked all night and caught nothing. What kind of mood do you think Peter is in?

Peter’s probably really, really, really tired. And he’s probably really, really, really rejected. He spent all night trying to catch a fish, and he didn’t do anything! Have you ever tried really hard at something, but you just couldn’t make it work no matter what you did?

I know I have! (Teacher gives personal example here, if applicable)

But even though Peter is tired, and even though Peter probably feels like a failure, he’s willing to listen to Jesus. Why? Because Jesus has a reputation. Jesus is known as a master, and Peter is willing to listen to him, even when he thinks he’s wrong.

Go back to that basketball court with LeBron James… Can you imagine if LeBron James actually listened to you try to tell him how to shoot a layup, and then actually changed what he was doing to follow your lead? Or what if Walt Disney stopped drawing Mickey the way he always had, and instead, he listened to you?

That would be crazy, wouldn’t it? But, that’s what Peter did.

I bet you can guess what happened when he did…

Peter didn’t catch anything! Not a single fish!

Just kidding!

An Amazing Catch!

Peter lowered his net and the entire net was filled with fish! Enough fish that it nearly broke the nets! They had to call in for reinforcements! They needed more people to help haul in all of the fish! Talk about a successful morning out at sea!

So what do you think Peter did when he saw the haul of fish?

Peter fell to his knees and bowed down to Jesus. He told Jesus to leave him because he didn’t deserve to be in Jesus’s presence…

And Peter was right. He didn’t deserve Jesus… but do you know what Jesus did?

A Changed Man

He didn’t leave Peter. Not even a little bit. Instead, Jesus invited Peter to come with him.

Peter, who didn’t deserve to be near Jesus at all. Peter, who had doubted Jesus and mocked him when he said to let down the nets. Jesus stuck near Peter. And more than that, Jesus told him to come with him.

“C’mon, I’ll make you a fisher of men,” he said. And this would be different… He wouldn’t have to hurt the men to catch him. He wouldn’t need nets, or hooks. He wouldn’t have to sell them, or fry them up to eat them.

When Peter fished for men, he would get friends. He would have people who loved him.

But he would have to leave  everything behind to follow Jesus. His fishing business. His boats, his gear, all the cool stuff he probably had.

He didn’t know what the trade-off would be… But he knew one thing.

He was just an ordinary fisherman, but being with Jesus? He had made an extraordinary catch.

And Peter was going to do even more extraordinary things when he was with Jesus. Jesus was able to turn ordinary Peter into an extraordinary person… One we’re still talking about over 2,000 years later.

And you know what? Jesus can do that for you, too.

He can turn ordinary you into extraordinary you. All you have to do is follow Him.

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Audra Jennings

Welcome to the online home of Audra Jennings, a book publicist and crafter. Here I share about both. I hope you'll find books you'll want to read and crafts you will want to order. I live a rather boring, single life. At times I would like to think I am humorous.

Peter, James and John in a Sailboat

Maestra Mom

Peter – Bible Songs for Kids

Peter Songs for Kids

Welcome to Bible songs about Peter, the apostle of Jesus! There are so many children’s Bible songs about Peter from his time learning from Jesus to his role in the early church. All of these Peter songs are simple and sung to familiar tunes and perfect for singing at home, church, Bible class, Sunday school, and VBS.

Peter Songs

  • Peter Walking on the Water (Yankee Doodle)
  • Peter’s Mother in Law (Yankee Doodle)
  • Peter, James, & John in a Sailboat [Catch of Many Fish version] (10 Little Indians)
  • Peter, James, & John in a Sailboat [Jesus Walks on the Water version] (10 Little Indians)
  • Peter, Peter, Who Do People Say I Am? (Reuben, Reuben)
  • Peter, Peter, Do You Love Me? (Reuben, Reuben)
  • Acts 2:38 Song (Farmer in the Dell)
  • Peter & John Went to Pray (traditional)
  • Peter & John Went to the Gate (Mulberry Bush)
  • In the Name of Jesus (Buffalo Gals)
  • Go Preach, Peter (O Susanna)
  • Peter Rescued from Jail (Yankee Doodle)
  • Rhoda & Peter (Who Did Swallow Jonah?)
  • Peter & Paul: The Church Grows (The Farmer in the Dell)

Need more Bible songs? Jump to Old Testament Bible Songs or Songs about Jesus

story of peter james and john in a sailboat

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Peter walking on the water, tune: yankee doodle.

Jesus walked upon the sea,

One dark and windy night.

Peter saw the Lord and said,

Oh, let me walk to You.

Then Peter walked upon the sea,

His eyes on Jesus fixed.

But when he looked away from him,

His legs began to slip.

Then Jesus took poor Peter’s hand,

And said, “Your faith is small.

If you would put your trust in Me,

I’d never let you fall.”

Peter’s Mother-in-Law

When Jesus went to Peter’s house,

His wife’s mom had a fever,

She lay in bed, she felt so bad,

“Please help her,” then asked Peter.

Jesus took the woman’s hand,

He healed her right away.

She jumped right up, she felt so good,

She thanked the Lord that day!

Peter, James, & John in a Sailboat (Catch of Many Fish Version)

Tune: 10 little indians.

Peter, James, and John in a sailboat,

Out on the rolling sea.

Fished all night, caught no fishes,

Along came Jesus walking on the seashore,

Out by the rolling sea.

(He said,) “Cast your nets on the other side,”

“Cast your nets on the other side,”

Then their nets were full of fishes,

Jesus said, “I’ll make you fishers,

Fishers of men instead of fishes.

If you will follow me.”

Peter, James, & John in a Sailboat (Jesus walks on the Water Version)

Out on the deep, blue sea.

The wind was blowing, the waves were crashing,

Along came Jesus walking on the water,

The wind stopped blowing, the waves stopped crashing,

Oh, how the boat stopped tossing and turning,

Peter, Peter, Who Do People Say I Am?

Tune:  rueben, rueben.

Jesus :  Peter, Peter,

what do you think?

Who do people say I am?

Peter :  You are Christ,

the promised Savior,

The Son of the living God.

Teacher : Children, children,

Who is Jesus, whom you love?

Children : He is Christ,

the Son of the Living God.

Peter, Peter, Do You Love Me?

Tune: rueben, rueben.

Peter, Peter, do you love Me?

Yes, Lord, yes I do.

Lord, you know that I do love you!

And the Lord loved Peter, too.

Acts 2:38 Song

Tune: farmer in the dell.

Of chapter 2

Repent and be baptized, every one of you!

In the name of Jesus, that’s what you do.

And the Holy Spirit is promised to you.

Kids Bible Songs about Peter pin

Peter and John Went to Pray

Tune: traditional.

Peter and John went to pray,

They met a lame man on the way.

He asked for alms and he held out his palms,

And this is what Peter did say,

“Silver and gold have I none,

But that which I have I give you.

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

Rise up and walk!”

He went walking – and leaping,

And praising God.

Walking – and leaping – and praising God.

“In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

Peter and John Went to the Gate

Tune: mulberry bush.

Peter and John went to the gate

to the gate, to the gate

in the afternoon.

They saw a man who couldn’t walk,

couldn’t walk, couldn’t walk,

By the Beautiful Gate.

They told him to get up and walk,

get up and walk, get up and walk,

For Jesus would make him well.

He got well and jumped for joy,

jumped for joy, jumped for joy,

He thanked God for his healing.

In the Name of Jesus (Acts 5)

Tune: buffalo gals.

We strictly charge you,

Do not teach! Do not teach!

Do not teach!

Do not teach –  in the name of Jesus!

We must obey God

rather than man! rather than man!

rather than man!

We’ll keep on teaching about Jesus!

Go Preach, Peter

Tune: o susanna.

Peter up on the roof did go

He went there for to pray

He fell asleep and had a dream

God showed to him the way.

In the dream a sheet came down

It was full of unclean beasts

And then there came a voice to say

“Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”

Peter said, “Oh not so, Lord!

I don’t want to go.

Gentiles are unclean, my Lord.

My answer must be no.”

“The Hebrews are so special, Lord,

We are your chosen race.

We don’t need Cornelius, Lord,

We don’t need a Gentile face.”

Caesarea where Cornelius lived,

Is where Peter went that day,

Cornelius and his house believed,

On the Lord the only way.

Immediately they were all baptized,

For the Lord they chose to obey.

Cornelius became the first Gentile

Christian on that day.

Go Preach, Peter.

Cornelius needs you so.

He needs you to go to him,

The Gospel he must know.

Peter Rescued from Jail

Peter was in jail at night

Soldiers all around him,

Bound in chains, awaiting death,

An angel came and got him.

“Get up quickly! Dress yourself!

Then put on your sandals.

Follow me and watch us leave!”

God rescued him from evil.

Rhoda & Peter

Tune: who did swallow jonah.

Rhoda, Rhoda, Rhoda, Rhoda,

Rhoda, who is at the door?

Peter, Peter, I think it’s Peter.

Peter’s the one at the door!

You’re crazy, you’re crazy,

you’re crazy, you’re crazy,

Peter’s locked up in the prison!

Wait!  It really is him!

Wait! It really is him!

Wait! It really is Peter now!

Peter & Paul: The Church Grows

Tune: the farmer in the dell, words by bobbi biddle.

The church just grew and grew,

When Peter taught God’s love,

The people learned the Word of God,

And worshiped God above.

When Peter was in jail,

The church prayed day and night.

When Rhoda heard him knock outside,

She learned he was all right.

Disciples preached God’s love,

And served the people, too,

“We need some help!” they told the church,

Then seven men helped too.

O Barnabas and Paul,

They traveled far and near,

They told the people of God’s love,

And of His Son so dear.

Other Peter Songs

  • Peter’s Confession (Lily of the Valley)
  • Pentecost (The Great Physician)
  • Peter and John (Rescue the Perishing)
  • Peter and Dorcas (Walking in Sunlight)
  • Cornelius (Seeking the Lost)
  • Rhoda Answers the Door

DISCLAIMER: Songs posted on this page are, to the best of my knowledge, in the public domain, not copyrighted, or used with permission. These songs are being shared for the express purpose of enabling parents and Bible class teachers to teach children about God. These songs come from my memory or the memories of others who have shared them with me. Others come from small collections of Bible class songs written down or self-published for churches, gathered over many years in many places. Some of the lyrics and tunes may have been altered from their original. If you are aware of a copyright for a particular song or if you believe these lyrics are a violation of your copyright, please contact me at [email protected] and I will immediately remedy the situation either by assigning credit and linking appropriately or removing the songs from the site. All clipart graphics are from DS Art .

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Home > Christian Songs > Peter James and John in a sailboat | Christian Songs For Kids

Peter James and John in a sailboat | Christian Songs For Kids

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Peter James and John in a sailboat | Christian Songs For Kids

Published: November 3, 2021

Written by: Sophia

Sing- a- long to this catchy song, Peter James and John in a sailboat which tells the story of one famous miracle Jesus did with his disciples

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Peter, James and John in a Sailboat

Cedarmont kids.

story of peter james and john in a sailboat

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Cedarmont Kids is a child-oriented gospel music series created by Mike and Sue Gay in the early '90s and released by Benson Records. more »

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Written by: CHRIS DEDRICK

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FOX News

California priest stresses that Second Sunday of Lent is a reminder of why we're here on Earth

"Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, ‘This is my beloved Son. Listen to him'" (Mark 9:7).

This verse, read during the Second Sunday of Lent, is from the Gospel of Mark, one of the three synoptic Gospels, and is part of the story of the event known as the Transfiguration. The Gospel of Mark is attributed to St. Mark the Evangelist and is believed to be the first written Gospel. 

"Although he was not a direct disciple of Jesus, Saint Mark is the author of one of the four Gospel accounts and played a vital role in spreading the Gospel as a missionary in the early church," according to the website for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

HOW A TRADITION DURING LENT LED TO THE CREATION OF THE FILET-O-FISH

The second Sunday of Lent means that the liturgical season leading up to Easter is a third of the way over, Fr. Ambrose Criste, O.Praem., told Fox News Digital.

Criste, a Norbertine priest, lives at St. Michael's Abbey in Orange County, California. He's originally from Denver, Colorado. 

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In the story of the Transfiguration, Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the top of Mount Tabor. 

"There, in the presence of the Old Testament figures Moses and Elijah, Christ revealed the glory of his divinity shining through his sacred humanity," said Criste. 

DURING LENT, THE LITANY OF HUMILITY HELPS CHRISTIANS RECOGNIZE HOW THEY CAN BE MORE LIKE JESUS

"According to all the ancient and contemporary theologians who interpret the Scriptures, Moses represents the ancient Jewish law and Elijah represents the spirit of prophesy," he said.

With the Transfiguration, Jesus was able to show "how He is the fulfillment of the old covenant law and the prophets by manifesting the glory of His divinity as the second person of the most Holy Trinity," said Criste. 

The story of the Transfiguration is read at Catholic Churches around the entire world during the Second Sunday of Lent , said Criste, and serves to "help Christians look forward to Easter, still four weeks away." 

FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT, MAKE 'WISE SHIFTS' TO HELP YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, SAYS WASHINGTON PASTOR

"Jesus explains to his friends Peter, James and John that in showing them His transfigured glory – an anticipation of the glory of His resurrected body – He wants to encourage them so that they will be ready to witness His passion and death."

In the Transfiguration, Jesus shows how after death he will be "radiant and glorious," but first must endure death on the cross.

"He shows them that deepest truth about himself, his divinity, so that they will be strengthened to endure the passion with him," said Criste.

The Second Sunday of Lent "reminds believers that we need that insight that comes with grace to see through the ordinary deceptions of this world – money, power, pleasure."

Lent, said Criste, "is our opportunity every year to cultivate that insight."

"Our Lord wants us to remember that we have no lasting home here on earth. Whatever it is that we worry about, agonize over, cling to – the pursuit of money, the opinion of others, attachment to sin, worldly pleasures – whatever, we must let our Lord purge all of that away, and we must let Him make us fit for heaven," he said.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

After all, "why are we here on Earth? To get to heaven," said Criste.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle

Original article source: California priest stresses that Second Sunday of Lent is a reminder of why we're here on Earth

The Church of the Transfiguration, where the story in Mark's Gospel is believed to have occurred. REUTERS/Baz Ratner

IMAGES

  1. Bible Story for Kids: PETER, JAMES AND JOHN IN A SAILBOAT [Becoming a

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  2. Peter James and John in a sailboat

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  3. Father Of James And John Bible

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  4. Peter James and John in a Sailboat ~ Cedarmont Kids ~ lyric video

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  5. Peter james and john in a sail boat (Vídeo iddSUjoiJPs)

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VIDEO

  1. Don't Do This on YOUR Sailboat

  2. Peter, James, & John Had A Little Sailboat

  3. Peter James Wallis Live Stream

  4. Fishers Of Men/Peter, James And John In A Sailboat

  5. Peter, James & John in a Boat

  6. The Plan For Living On A Sailboat Through The Winter

COMMENTS

  1. 10. The Call of Peter, James, and John (Luke 5:1-11)

    Teaching from Peter's Boat (Luke 5:2-3) Back to our story, Jesus is teaching by the lakeside, crowded by the people. He sees a couple of fishing boats pulled up on the shore, and asks the owner of one, Simon Peter, if he would put out a little from shore. ... James and John help Peter and Andrew as they pull first Peter's boat, and then their ...

  2. Bible Story for Kids: PETER, JAMES AND JOHN IN A SAILBOAT ...

    Intro Bible Story for Kids: PETER, JAMES AND JOHN IN A SAILBOAT [Becoming a disciple of Jesus] The Great Book 3.82K subscribers Subscribe Subscribed 22K views 2 years ago #Kids #Bible...

  3. Luke 5 NLV

    Jesus Calls Simon and James and John 5 While Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, many people pushed to get near Him. They wanted to hear the Word of God. 2 Jesus saw two boats on the shore. The fishermen were not there because they were washing their nets. 3 Jesus got into a boat which belonged to Simon.

  4. Peter, James and John in a Sailboat

    Peter, James and John in a Sailboat - Bible Story for Kids - Animated Christian Story 3LittleWords 126K subscribers Subscribe 6.6K views 11 days ago ORLANDO #3littlewords #timetosleep...

  5. Peter and James and John

    Text Information Scripture References ^ top Tune Peter and James and John Highcharts.com Frequency of use Peter and James and John All tunes published with 'Peter and James and John' ^ top Timeline Appearance of this hymn in hymnals 2000 1995 1997.5 2002.5 2005 0 50 100 Percent of hymnals Highcharts.com ^ top Instances Instances (1 - 2 of 2)

  6. Peter, James and John in a Sailboat

    0:00 / 2:54 Peter, James and John in a Sailboat - 3LittleWords - Volume 2 3LittleWords 141K subscribers Subscribe 1.4K 705K views 1 year ago Inspired by Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of...

  7. Went Fishing in a Sailboat

    It goes: Peter, James & John went fishing in a sailboat (throw like throwing a fishing pole) Peter, James & John went fishing in a sailboat (throw like throwing a fishing pole) Peter, James & John went fishing in a sailboat (throw like throwing a fishing pole) Out on the deep blue sea They fished all night but they caught no fishes

  8. Mark 1:19-21 NLV

    Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon. 21 Jesus and His followers went to the city of Capernaum on the Day of Rest. They went to the Jewish place of worship where Jesus taught the people. Jesus Calls James and John - Jesus went on a little farther. He saw James and his brother John who were sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat mending.

  9. Peter, James and John

    Peter, James and John. The Front Page . There are three occasions in the gospel where Jesus takes three of the apostles, Peter, James and John, aside from the rest. First, in Matthew 5, it is the raising of Jairus' daughter from death. Jesus had the three accompany Him into the room where her body lay and he restored her to life (vs. 37).

  10. Miraculous catch of fish

    Overview. In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 5:1-11), the first miraculous catch of fish takes place early in the ministry of Jesus and results in Peter as well as James and John, the sons of Zebedee, joining Jesus vocationally as disciples.. The second miraculous catch of fish is also called the "miraculous catch of 153 fish", and seems to recall the first catch.

  11. Call of Peter, Andrew, James and John

    Call of Peter, Andrew, James and John. From the hills of Nazareth the story moves to the fishing villages of Capernaum and Bethsaida on the northern shore of Lake Galilee. The fishermen brothers Peter and Andrew had already met Jesus and accepted him as the Messiah. So too, it seems, had another pair of fishermen brothers, James and John (see ...

  12. Peter, James, and John

    When Jairus's daughter was restored to life, Peter, James, and John were in the very room where she revived (see Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51). Peter, James, and John were eyewitnesses of Jesus' transfiguration (see Matt. 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36). These three, along with Andrew, heard firsthand the discourse Jesus gave regarding the end of ...

  13. Jesus Calls Peter Story / The Miraculous Catch of Fish

    Peter and Andrew walked outside and happened to see two of their other brothers, James and John. "Hey, we should start a fishing company!" Peter said. "Yeah, let's do it," James replied. Soon, their fishing company was born. Their fishing company was so successful that they were able to hire employees to go out and fish for them.

  14. Sing With Me 113. Peter and James and John in a sailboat

    114 113. Peter and James and John Full Text 1 Peter and James and John in a sailboat, Peter and James and John in a sailboat, Peter and James and John in a sailboat, out on the beautiful sea. [rocking action, arms cradled] 2 They fished all night, but they caught nothing, (3x) out on the beautiful sea. [casting out, pulling in]

  15. Peter, James and John in a Sailboat

    Peter and James and John in a sailboat out on the deep blue sea. Fished all night but caught no fish. Jesus came walking on the water. He said, "Cast your nets on the other side." And then the boat was full of fish. Simple, right? But look at the principles we see here. Sometimes we do our best and still come up empty.

  16. Peter, James and John in a Sailboat

    Peter, James and John in a sailboat. (3x) Out on the deep blue sea. Fished all night and caught no fishes. (3x) Out on the deep blue sea. Then came Jesus walking by the water. (3x) Out on the deep blue sea. Cast your nets on the other side. (3x) Out on the deep blue sea. Then their nets were filled with fishes. (3x)

  17. Peter

    Tune: Yankee Doodle Jesus walked upon the sea, One dark and windy night. Peter saw the Lord and said, Oh, let me walk to You. Then Peter walked upon the sea, His eyes on Jesus fixed. But when he looked away from him, His legs began to slip. Then Jesus took poor Peter's hand, And said, "Your faith is small. If you would put your trust in Me,

  18. Peter James and John in a sailboat

    Song Title: Peter, James and John in a sailboatPeter, James and John in a sailboatPeter, James and John in a sailboatPeter, James and John in a sailboatOut o...

  19. Songs for Life 112. Peter and James and John in a sailboat

    Peter and James and John in a sailboat, Peter and James and John in a sailboat, out on the beautiful sea. 2 They fished all night, but they caught nothing, They fished all night, but they caught nothing, They fished all night, but they caught nothing, out on the beautiful sea. 3 Along came Jesus walkin' on the seashore,

  20. Peter James and John in a sailboat

    Christian Songs Peter James and John in a sailboat | Christian Songs For Kids Published: November 3, 2021 Written by: Sophia Sing- a- long to this catchy song, Peter James and John in a sailboat which tells the story of one famous miracle Jesus did with his disciples (Many of the links in this article redirect to a specific reviewed product.

  21. PDF Peter, James, and John in a Sailboat: A Sound Story & Song Activity

    Peter, James and John were sailing along in their fishing boat, out on the beautiful sea. They had been out all night, but hadn't caught a single fish. Their nets were empty. They were getting very discouraged, out on the beautiful sea. So they decided to quit for the day.

  22. Peter, James and John in a sailboat

    Contents Peter, James and John in a sailboat Tune: [Peter, James and John in a sailboat] (Wheeler) Published in 5 hymnals Text Information Text Information First Line: Peter, James and John in a sailboat ^ top Tune [Peter, James and John in a sailboat] (Wheeler) Highcharts.com Frequency of use [Peter, James and John in a sailboat] (Wheeler)

  23. Peter, James and John in a Sailboat

    Peter, James and John in a sailboat Peter, James and John in a sailboat Peter, James and John in a sailboat Out on the deep blue sea Fished all night and they caught no fishes Out on the deep blue sea Fished all night and they caught no fishes Out on the deep blue sea Fished all night and they caught no fishes Out on the deep blue sea Christ c...

  24. California priest stresses that Second Sunday of Lent is a ...

    The story of the Transfiguration is read at Catholic Churches around the entire world during the ... "Jesus explains to his friends Peter, James and John that in showing them His transfigured ...