Peter and a Very Special Fish A - 6
After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
“Yes, he does,” he replied.
When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?”, he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes - from their own children or from others?”
“From others,” Peter answered.
“Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him. “But so that we may not cause offense, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”
Matthew 17:24-27 (NIV)
Well, here is our friend Peter, transitioning from firmly believing he was the worst human being around, to being a solid dedicated leader of the apostles, now with another faith test! The temple tax people try their best to nail him with an accusation about a non-payment of a tax due. Seeking a solution, off to see Jesus he goes. And what an answer he gets!
One would think Jesus would say something like go ask Lazarus for a loan so we can pay the tax, or perhaps a suggestion to see a wealthy follower, or perhaps Jesus would just miraculously make a coin to pay this tax.
Instead, Jesus says to go fishing and open the mouth of the first fish you catch and find a coin; use that coin to solve this problem!
Huh?
Had Jesus finally lost it? Was He serious? Couldn’t there be a more logical answer? Odds would be billions to one against this idea. What must Peter have been thinking as he trod down to the lake, fishing pole in hand?
Well, Peter was in the place of someone deciding if this errand was as silly as it sounded or …. was it part of some big plan? He was beginning to maybe, kind of, perhaps trust this Jesus. Could he successfully complete the transition to a “But Now” place in life, living in a higher level of faith and trust? Thankfully, he could, and he did!
1) After speaking with the tax collectors, he sought out Jesus. But when he saw Jesus, who was the first person to speak? What does this mean? Did Jesus know all about the tax situation already?
2) What must Peter have felt hearing the solution Jesus told him to do?
3) Peter was a fisherman. He fished to earn a living. Notice that sometimes Jesus places us in a situation where we have some experience; here Jesus told the former fisherman to go fish.
4) How would Peter’s obedience make him stronger in his faith and confidence?
5) Notice that Jesus told Peter to take the coin directly to the tax collectors; Jesus Himself didn’t have to see the coin.
6) How in the world would Jesus know about where that particular fish would be, just as Peter started to fish?
7) If Jesus knew where the fish would be at a certain time, how much would He know about you and where you are at?
If it is really Jesus giving instructions, don't try to figure it out! Just do it!