Today’s Reading: John 21; Psalm 102

There was another conversation that needed to happen and Jesus strategically positioned himself in Peter’s day in order to have it. It is not hard for me to imagine how Peter must have been feeling as he remembered the day he denied he knew Jesus. He had enthusiastically pledged his willingness to die for Jesus, yet there he was protecting himself by denying him. And now Jesus was alive and spending time with his followers, which must have been amazing, yet Peter was probably wondering what Jesus must think of him.

It was morning and the disciples had been fishing all night, yet they had caught nothing. From 100 yards away on the beach, they heard a familiar voice telling them to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. It must have sounded like a ridiculous suggestion. If the fish weren’t biting on this side, they certainly were not going to be biting on the other side. They had been fishing all night with no success. What difference could this small adjustment make?

DO WHAT YOU ARE DOING, BUT DO IT DIFFERENTLY.

So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. – John 21:6b-9

Jesus had prepared for this early morning time with his disciples. He had fish already cooking on the fire, plus he had filled their nets with fish for them to contribute to the meal. He had spent years teaching these fishermen how to be fishers of men, and now he was equipping them with what they needed to step into the season of ministry ahead.

“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. – John 21:10-14

JESUS FED THE DISCIPLES AND THEN INSTRUCTED THEM TO FEED OTHERS.

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. – John 21:15-17

Three times Peter had denied that he was one of Jesus’ followers; three times he asked Peter if he loved Jesus. The same number of times that Peter had emphatically denied his relationship with the Lord, Peter was given the opportunity to reveal his heart. John tells us that this conversation hurt Peter, which is probably how we would feel also. But difficult conversations can bring healing and we serve a Savior who is willing to bring us to a place of repentance and restoration, even if it hurts.

IF YOU LOVE ME, FEED MY SHEEP.

Lord, thank you for this peaceful time I have had in your presence this morning. I am so grateful that you so faithfully “feed” me each morning as I feast on your word. Thank you for the reminder that I am called to bring others to the table so that they too can experience you and be fed by your holy scriptures. May this time of teaching and prayer equip us for all that you are calling us to do today. May we intentionally see those around us as the sheep you have called us to take care of.

Lord, we bring all of today’s emotions to you and ask you to heal us for what is ahead. Restore us for the sake of your purposes, and bring us to a place of recognition of what needs repentance and what needs restoration. I love you. I love you. I love you. Lead me today to do your work and give me a hunger for healing conversations. Amen.

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written. – John 21:25