Just about everyone knows about Star Wars. It’s pretty iconic. I was reminded of it the other day when my son recently went to the cinema showing of the 20th anniversary of one of the movies (Revenge of the Sith). Undoubtedly one of the reasons why the franchise is so popular is due to its special effects. But the plot itself is a thing that resonates with a lot of people. In the original three movies we have the growth of a nobody farm boy into someone that saves the galaxy form corruption. And Star Wars ins’t the only plot that does this king of thing. Lord of the Rings did it, and so did Harry Potter. This kind of plot goes back a long long way in fact. It is so popular that we have given it a name: the Hero’s Journey.
In the Hero’s Journey the following things almost always happen:
The hero starts out in the story rather ordinary.
The hero gets a call to adventure, and eventually decides to go.
Supernatural help is given along the way.
Obstacles are overcome.
The hero uses these obstacles to build character and to triumph over evil.
At the end the hero returns a changed person.
We see this story play itself out over and over again. We also see it in the bible. Just look at the later life of Moses. He is an ordinary shepherd when he sees a burning bush and gets a call to adventure. It all fits.
But that is the Old Testament. What about the New Testament?
Let’s look at it with Peter. Here in Luke chapter 5 we see the call of an ordinary fishermen to a grand adventure.
Luke 5:1-11
5 While Jesus was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, many people pushed to get near Him. They wanted to hear the Word of God. 2 Jesus saw two boats on the shore. The fishermen were not there because they were washing their nets. 3 Jesus got into a boat which belonged to Simon. Jesus asked him to push it out a little way from land. Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.
4 When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Push out into the deep water. Let down your nets for some fish.” 5 Simon said to Him, “Teacher, we have worked all night and we have caught nothing. But because You told me to, I will let the net down.” 6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish, their net started to break. 7 They called to their friends working in the other boat to come and help them. They came and both boats were so full of fish they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he got down at the feet of Jesus. He said, “Go away from me, Lord, because I am a sinful man.” 9 He and all those with him were surprised and wondered about the many fish. 10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were surprised also. They were working together with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will fish for men.” 11 When they came to land with their boats, they left everything and followed Jesus.
You can start to see the elements of the Hero’s Journey with Peter can’t you? And if you keep reading you will be able to tick off just about all of the bullet points that fit the classic formula. Supernatural help is given. Obstacles are overcome. And then the hero, Peter, ends up denying he ever knew anything about Jesus (three times) and hides in disgrace as his Lord is killed.
What, what?
This turns out to not be the Hero’s Journey at all. This isn’t supposed to happen. What went wrong?
Why do we like the Hero’s Journey so much? I think it is because it is what we want in ourselves. We want to be that hero. We want to build our character and rise from humble beginnings to conquer evil. But this kind of story is so popular because it isn’t the norm. It is fantastic and out of the ordinary, but it just doesn’t happen that often in real life. And in this way the bible is actually far more real to us. This is closer to how it would turn out for us too. Peter doesn’t become a changed person. Peter doesn’t follow through and grow. And the story ends with Peter hiding in disgrace.
Or does it?
John 21:1-9
21 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
There are lots of interesting things in these two passages. At the beginning, how does Peter react to seeing Jesus for the first time? He tells him to go away, as he is a sinful man. In other words, Peter is saying he is not worthy of Jesus. And Jesus’ actions suggest that Peter can’t catch any fish without him. “You can’t do it without me,” is what Jesus is basically saying. Imagine the symbolism there as we move the conversation from fish to people.
Then let’s look at the last passage. I believe Peter still believes he is not worthy (after all he just abandoned him), but the response is now completely different. Instead of his unworthiness leading to a declaration for Jesus to go away from him, now he swims as fast as he can to Jesus. He is still not worthy (and still can’t catch anything without him) but that only means he needs to get to Jesus as fast as he can. And then Jesus asks him three times if he loves him. Each time he asks he erases a previous denial and forgiveness is given.
This is the Disciple’s Journey.
You get a call to adventure.
You decide to go.
You get supernatural help.
You overcome obstacles.
You fail.
You are forgiven, and the adventure continues.
Now, which journey do you think is better? Would you choose the Hero’s Journey? Or would you choose the Disciple’s Journey? If you want the Hero’s Journey good luck to you. You’ve got one shot at it. But the Disciple’s Journey is far more realistic, and far more rewarding. Peter went on it and so can we.
God Bless,