The Chosen + BibleProject | Season 1 Reading Planنموونە

Saved by a Gift

Simon (Peter) is stressed about how he will pay the bills, struggling to scrape together enough income. He’s focusing all his attention on a possible catastrophe. Simon is stuck, trapped, and haunted, but Jesus enters his life and saves him with a gift.

Notice that Jesus doesn’t do this because Simon did the right thing or prayed well. Instead, compelled by love, Jesus gives to him generously. “Grace” in the New Testament means “gift,” and God’s gift brings freedom and life.

At first, Simon seems unwilling to receive Jesus’ gift. Maybe his heart has become hardened. Or perhaps he feels ashamed and unworthy. “Depart from me,” he says to Jesus, “I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). But Jesus has a different perspective. Maybe Peter hasn’t worked to earn or deserve this good gift, but he is a child of God, so Jesus treats him as worthy.

This loving gift compels Simon to follow Jesus, saving him in ways that restore his faith, marriage, and more. Grace is God’s gift to us, and it’s true that we have not (and cannot) earn it. But this doesn’t mean God sees us as unworthy of receiving it. To the contrary, God graciously gives himself to each of us in order to rescue and restore us because he values us so highly. His gift, when we receive it, creates an unbreakable bond that draws us into true life.

Reflection Questions

1. Jesus gives Simon a valuable gift in this scene. Do you think Simon was most surprised by the value of the gift itself? Or do you think he was most surprised by the kindness and good intention of the giver?
2. Think about a time when you've received a good gift from someone. What kind of bond did it create between you and the gift giver?
3. What makes us hesitant (or unwilling) to receive good gifts from others?
4. In Ephesians 2:4-8, Paul briefly explains why God saves us from death and makes us alive in Christ. It’s not because we’ve cleaned up our lives or because we’ve accomplished something in ourselves to warrant the gift. So why does God give us the gift of life? (Hint: It’s also why he gives Peter a boatload of fish.)