Peter and the Fish

Matthew 17

[24] And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?
[25] He saith, Yes. 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?
[26] Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
[27] Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an 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.

The story of Peter finding tax money in the mouth of a fish is one of my favorites. I have such a clear picture of Peter in my mind. He supervises the third shift maintenance crew over at the chain saw factory. He big, mean, has a bad temper, and is not particularly bright. The thought of Peter poking around in a fish mouth is just hilarious. Jesus really had a sense of humor. But let’s put this story in context. It came immediately after Peter saw the bodily transfiguration of Jesus, a preview of the glorified risen Christ, with Elijah, one of only two men who never died, and Moses, evidently resurrected after the Archangel Michael and Satan contended over the possession of his body. Peter saw this with his own eyes and he heard the voice of God the Father say, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him,” with his own ears. After being a part of one of the most astonishing events in Biblical history, Peter was worried about paying some kind of petty tax. Jesus asked him a curious question, “Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?” Peter, like Leona Helmsley, knew only the little people pay taxes. Jesus then reminded him, “Then are the children free.”

Yes we are free. We are free indeed, but how quickly I forget that in Jesus God became one with and redeemed His creation. I am a part of the most spectacular miracle in the history of the world yet I worry about retirement, my health, and even the cost of our vacation. Jesus stands there reminding me, “Then are the children free.” Yes, we are free indeed.

First John 3:

[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.