Scripture passages: John
21:1-19Historical Setting:
Time:
Sometime in late April or early May, AD 30.
Place:
On, and near the Sea of Galilee
Persons: Christ and
seven disciples.
It has been several days since Christ has
appeared to the disciples. They continue to meet weekly in the
upper room, hoping and expecting Him to reveal Himself, but He
does not. They are restless. They have no work here in
Jerusalem where they have been since Christ’s ordeal. The only
thing that has kept them here is the hope that Christ will
again show Himself in their midst. Then, as they are
discussing among each other what they should do, one of them
remembers the words of the women. “Tell my disciples to go
into Galilee.” So they start off for their old homes.
In Galilee the disciples wander aimlessly, with a lack of
direction. They try to get back to their old lives, but their
feeling about fishing is not as enthusiastic as it had been in
earlier days. They keep expecting their Friend and Teacher to
show up, to teach them, to direct them as what to do. But day
after day goes by, and still no Christ. As they look at the
Lake of Galilee they are reminded that it was here that Jesus
had called them. They look up to the mountain where Jesus had
preached His great sermon, where He had taught them the Lord’s
Prayer. Their thoughts turn to how, near here He had fed the
multitude, and had performed many miracles. In the heart of
each of the disciples, burns a feeling of desire, of the need
to see Christ again.
Seven of the disciples, Simon Peter to whom the Lord had
given a special revelation after His resurrection; Thomas, who
once doubted, but doubted no more; Nathaniel, who had been a
faithful follower of Christ since he had been called; James,
and his brother John, whom the Lord loved in a special way;
along with a couple of other disciples are gathered at the
lake Tiberius (Galilee). They aimlessly watch the fishing
boats coming and going. Suddenly Peter jumps up and says,
“I’m going fishing.” At once his six friends say,
“We are going with you.”
Peter hoists the sail on his boat, checks out his gear, and
the party starts off. All night they sail back and forth.
Peter muses on the time he saw Christ walking on the water. He
remembers the excitement he felt as he jumped from the boat
and began walking on the water to meet Him. Then he remembers
his fear as he realized what he was doing, and the sinking
feeling he had as the waters began to engulf him. He remembers
how Christ was suddenly there to pick him out of the water. He
remembers Christ’s rebuke that if he had kept his eyes on Him,
he would not have sunk. Yes. Peter remembers those things, and
then tries to block out the memories of the several other
times his impulsiveness got him into trouble. He remembers how
Christ forgave him time and time again for his blundering. Oh
how he longs to see his Lord again. Now, cold and discouraged
he says to his fellows, “We have tried all night and have
caught nothing. What is it with this fishing that does not
seem the same as it used to? Let us head back to shore.”
As Peter and his companions head shoreward, in the dim
light of the morning, they see a Stranger standing on the
beach. He speaks,
“Children, (this term was used as we would
now use the term, ‘Friend’)
have ye aught to eat?"
Thinking that the Man on the shore was asking them if they
had any fish to sell, Peter answers, “No.
We have toiled all night and have caught nothing.”
The Stranger replies, “Cast the net on
the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.”
Had this Man seen something they had missed? A shoal of
fish? Dubious that it would do any good, the disciples do as
the Stranger bid. All at once their net becomes heavier and
heavier. It is all they can do to hold it. John suddenly
remembers another scene when Jesus gave them a draught of
fish, and then called them to be His followers. He turns to
Peter and says excitedly, “It is the
Lord.”
Again Peter acts impulsively. He jumps into the water and
swims to shore. He could not bear to wait any longer to see
his Lord. The others leave their ship anchored, and take the
little boat ashore, dragging the fish net with them.
On the shore Jesus--for it really is He--has a little fire
going, and on the coals a fish is broiling, and fresh bread
stays warm at the side. To the cold, wet and discouraged
disciples, the warmth of the fire and the smell of fish and
bread permeating the air renews their spirits. Jesus says to
the disciples, “Bring of the fish which
you have just caught.”
Peter and the others drag the net on to the shore. They
count the fish. There are one hundred and fifty-three large
fish. Amazing! The net should have broken, but it is still
intact. Exhausted, but happy with their catch, the disciples
partake of the breakfast Jesus has made ready for them.
Breakfast is now over. The disciples sit resting after
their night’s toil. Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Simon, son of Jonas, (his old
name before he had become a disciple) lovest thou Me more than these?”
Peter’s conscience stabs him as he remembers that night
before the crucifixion when, as they were going to Gethsemane,
Jesus had told His disciples that they should all be offended
because of Him. Peter recalls, with shame, his answer, that
though all of the disciples may forsake Christ, he would
remain true. He remembers, but wishes he could forget, how
when Christ told him that he would deny Him, he had replied,
“Though I should die with Thee, yet will I
not deny Thee.” And yet he had. To his utter shame,
he had denied his Lord three times. Oh how he had suffered
because of this terrible weakness in his character. Yes. Peter
remembers that Christ had come to him separate from the others
and he had confessed his weakness. Yes. Peter knows that
Christ has forgiven him. So why now was Jesus singling him out
to ask him if he loved Him? Jesus should know that he loves
Him. His answer, rid now of all the old boastful claims, was,
“Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I
love (have great brotherly love for) Thee.”
Jesus says to Peter, “Feed My lambs.”
In other words, Jesus is saying to Peter, “If you care for Me, I will give you work to do
for Me. Take care of the little children whom I love.”
A few minutes later Jesus says again to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me?”
This time the word “love” has a stronger
meaning. It means an unconditional, self-giving love. And once
again Peter answers, “Yea Lord, Thou
knowest that I love (have a great brotherly love
for) Thee.”
Jesus says, “Feed My sheep.”
He was saying, “Guide and protect the grown ups
also.” But then Christ turns a third time to Peter and
asks, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou
Me?” Jesus knows that Peter, as yet, does not
understand the “agape” kind of love, the kind of love
so strong that he would die for; so this time He uses Peter’s
term of “love” (friendship). In other words He is
saying, “Are you sure you care for Me as a friend?”
Peter is grieved because He has asked him three times,
“Lovest thou Me?” Was Jesus
reminding him again that it was three times he had denied Him?
Surely Jesus must know how his heart. He knew that Christ had
forgiven him, so why was He asking him again, ‘Do you love
Me?’ He answers, “Lord, Thou knowest
all things. Thou knowest that I love Thee.”
This time Jesus says to him, “Feed My
sheep,” using the word “sheep” which
includes both sheep and lambs. In other words, Jesus is
saying, “I want you to care for people, children and
adults, as I have done, guiding and protecting them, and
giving them all that they need.”
And finally the meaning hits home to Peter. The Lord is
telling Peter that He wants him to work for Him. He wants him
to become a “Fisher of men.” In spite of all Peter’s
past failures, Christ is commissioning him to leave his old
profession of fishing and work for Him. Peter’s heart is
filled with a new ambition. Christ has forgiven him for his
failures.
Christ would lead Peter on to become a Pillar. But there
was yet one more step before he would be ready to take on this
task. He must wait for the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit.
© Helen Dowd
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