Ross King is one of my favorite people. I guess most would describe him as a worship leader/song writer. While that is very true, I would consider him equally a teacher/preacher. His songs are really Bible lessons. One of may favorite songs he wrote is titled “Go Away”. It’s written about the story in Luke 5 describing call of the some of the disciples. Peter, who was a career fisherman, did not catch anything all night. Jesus told him to put the nets on the other side of the boat. Reluctantly, Peter did, and caught so many fish that the catch began to sink 2 boats. When Peter realized what had happened, he fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” How many people do you know that respond to the gospel message like that today? Peter recognized who Jesus was, and was TERRIFIED. In his song, Ross writes about this unusual response. I believe the rest of the lyrics are self-explanatory. Here they are.

Poor fisherman,
Rich fisherman,
Poor fisherman again,
One miracle, impossible
Nets busting full and then

Down on his knees humilation
Doesn’t seem like much of a Salvation
Brings to mind a thought provoking question

That’s why I’m asking,
Why did Peter say, “Go Away”?
What am I to learn from these forgotten words?
Why did Jesus call a heart that was afraid?
Why did Peter say, “Go Away”?

Bow every head
Close ever eye
Quietly reply with no one watching
if we sell it well then you wont’ go to hell
Check one “Go and Tell”, and clear our conscience.

But what if we don’t tell the price of glory?
Isn’t that like hiding half the story?
Are we too afraid the truth is boring?
and I’m still wondering, Why did Peter say, Go Away

What am I to learn from these forgotten words?
Why did Jesus call a heart that was afraid?
Why did Peter say, “Go Away”?

God gives grace to the humble
and God gives the earth to the meek
and we want to run into the kingdom
with our head held high on our own two feet
[repeat]

And I can still hear Peter say, “Go Away.”
From these words we learn
just what it means to turn from our ways
cause Jesus loves a heart
that hangs its head in shame
Then He can take our sin and say… Go Away…

So is there something wrong with our gospel presentation today? Was Peter’s response appropriate when He was introduced to a Holy God? Do we really tell people who God is anymore? Do we even know who God is? Do we present God as a good buddy that wants to take us to heaven? That’s clearly not how Peter viewed Jesus when face to face with Him. And his posture quickly changed to face to foot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that response to the gospel either.

We are a proud people. The line in the song that says, “we want to run into the kingdom with our head held high on our own two feet,” really cuts to the heart of the matter. I think that really is how many of us want to enter God’s presence. Do we need to take a lesson from Peter’s attitude?