One on One with Jesus

When you study the Gospels, you will find many occasions where Jesus is interacting and dealing with his disciples one-on-one, some more than others, like Peter, probably because Peter was more of a handful than the others. On one such occasion, in the Gospel of Matthew, in chapter 17, we find Jesus one-on-one with Peter, as seen in verses 24-27. And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes.

Let me pause here, friends, to comment. Peter answers these tax collectors in the affirmative without even first asking Jesus, and without knowing if Jesus paid the tax or not. The temple tax was a tax given annually by every adult Jewish male over 20 years of age for the purpose of maintaining the temple.

Peter is concerned about keeping the best reputation among men, and he follows Jesus as one of his disciples, and he wants to put on a good front, so he replies to the tax collectors that Jesus already paid the tax, but he speaks out of turn, and he puts his foot in his mouth by doing so. Let's continue with our text. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers.

Jesus saith unto him, Then the children are free. Let me pause here again, friends, to say that citizens pay customs and taxes, but here Jesus is demonstrating as God's Son he was free from the obligation to pay the temple tax. In fact, the temple belonged to him.

Jesus uses this opportunity to have some one-on-one dealings with Peter. He decides to involve Peter in a demonstration that he is indeed God's own Son by sending Peter on an errand to the sea, where Jesus will perform a miracle. We read in verse 27, Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up.

And when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money, that take, and give unto them for me and thee. Notice the words, For me and thee. These are very strong words which put Christ in the center of the life.

Peter has gotten in a jam by stretching the truth and assuming that Jesus already had paid the temple tax when he was in ignorance about the situation he was just trying to save face with men. Jesus wants to teach Peter that he is in control of all things, and all things are in his hands. This one-on-one interaction between Jesus and his disciple is a lesson in faith that no matter how difficult your situation is, Christ is there beside you, sharing your trial with you, developing character in you, building faith in you, so that you can experience more of him, for God's purpose, to be made more like him, to be made more Christ-like.

I can't imagine the thoughts running through Peter's mind as he made his way to the Sea of Galilee, and scratched his head in perplexity that particular day, as he walked to that sea he was so familiar with as a fisherman by trade, to be told by his master to cast a hook, meaning he was not to drop a net and go for a large catch of fish, but to drop a line and wait for one fish, a special fish, one that had a coin in its mouth. I can only imagine the energy in Peter's walk on the return trip to Jesus as he rubbed that coin in his hand, kicking his sandals in the air in the excitement of his step, and the encouragement that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, that with God nothing is impossible, and all things are possible to him who believes. Do you have a problem, friend? Is your current trial too overwhelming to you? Always remember that we serve a big God, and there's nothing too big for him.

And always remember, friend, that no matter how hard it gets, you have a faithful friend in Jesus who will remind you that you are not in this alone, because it's me and thee.