They Knew It Was The Lord
“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.
Early
in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize
that it was Jesus.
He
called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
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.
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. The other disciples
followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from
shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning
coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus
said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter
climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large
fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them,
“Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?”
They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and
did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his
disciples after he was raised from the dead.
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.”
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.”
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.
John 21:3-17
Peter
failed Jesus. He denied Jesus three times, and now Jesus had been crucified.
And yet, Jesus called him back. Peter had gone back to fishing when Jesus built
a fire on the beach. No coincidence. And as Peter approached Jesus, the smell
of the fire would have brought back memories of the other fire when he had
failed Jesus, the night before Jesus was crucified.
Jesus
in His mercy took the initiative to call Peter back into His service.
Think
of it: Jesus is willing to forgive our failures and call us into His service.
After all, if only perfect people qualified to serve Him, He wouldn’t have
anyone to choose from!
Being imperfect doesn’t disqualify us from serving God; it just
emphasizes our dependence on His mercy.
Our Daily Bread –