When [Jesus] had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 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.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 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. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 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 fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

–Luke 5:4-11 (TNIV)

Peter’s reaction to Jesus is typical of what happens when the profane meets the holy. We see this same phenomenon happening to Abraham (Genesis 18:2), Job (42:6), and Isaiah (6:5), among others. I did the same thing the day Jesus came and visited me. It is a vivid reminder of the deadly effect of sin and the alienation it causes between God and humans. That is why the Bible tells us that sin leads to death. It separates us from the Source of all life.

But note carefully Jesus’ reaction to Peter. He doesn’t say, “Man up, dude. You deserve to feel that way because you really haven’t been a very good person.” No, Jesus tells Peter not to be afraid. Instead of excluding Peter, Jesus invites him to join him.

Thankfully, we can have confidence that Jesus will react to us the same way he did to Peter. When we meet or encounter him, Jesus tells us not to be afraid and he invites us to follow him to Life. How do we know this? We have his very cross that stands as an eternal witness to God’s great and gracious love for us.