Come with me and see what happened one morning when a handful of disciples had an encounter with Jesus after His resurrection.
“Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go out with you.”
What do you think these suffering disciples felt in that moment? Despair? Hopelessness? Emptiness? When Peter said he was going fishing, it seemed like he was giving up, floundering without a purpose and no one to guide him. The disciples simply followed Peter’s lead and climbed into the boat. After all, what else would they do?
“Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.”
Jesus called to them and said, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
“No,” they answered.
Jesus said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”
Can’t you imagine the sighing among the group? Some probably sputtered, “What a waste of time!” Yet, they gave in and followed the man’s instruction.
“When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.”
Then John made a shocking discovery. “It is the Lord!” he shouted.
As soon as Simon Peter heard those words, “He wrapped his outer garment around him…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.”
Let’s catch a glimpse of the scene as they landed the boar. “They saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus told them, “Bring the fish you have caught.”
“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 took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.”
Finally, after finishing their delicious breakfast, you would think they would all lean back and relax. However, Jesus had an important agenda to accomplish.
Jesus knew that Peter was still living with his shame and remorse for the three times he cowardly denied he knew Jesus when questioned by others in the Garden of Gethsemane after Jesus’ arrest. Peter’s bitter tears of disappointment and grief had flowed.
Pulling Simon Peter aside, He asked him, “Do you love me more than these?”
Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
“Tend my lambs,” Jesus said.
Jesus said to Peter a second time, “Do you love me?”
Simon answered, “Yes, Lord you know that I love you.”
Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.”
Jesus then asked Simon a third time, “Simon…do you love me.”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked him the same question three times. Yet, Peter replied, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus gave Peter a third assignment: “Tend My sheep.”
Jesus extended grace to Peter by giving him three chances to declare his love. This time Peter’s tears flowed with the realization that Jesus’ grace to Him was full of forgiveness.
Later, as Jesus walked with His disciples toward the shore, He restored their purpose for living. He said, “Instead of casting your fishing nets into the sea, I want you to cast your nets for the souls of men.”
That day they left their nets and followed Jesus.
When Jesus calls to you, “Come and have breakfast,” will you stop what you’re doing and accept His invitation? Perhaps He has something special He wants to tell you! Or, maybe He wants you to deliver a message to someone else.
Based on John 21:1-17 and Mark 14:66-72.
Image by Quange Le from Pixabay.
