Our Gospel reading from this week’s Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer highlights an event that happened shortly after the resurrection of Jesus. In it we read how Jesus showed in a very personal way how He continued to love and care for His disciples. Let’s take a quick look at this Biblical account.
As our passage begins, it is shortly after the Resurrection, and the Apostle Peter and several other of the disciples are together, back in Galilee. Peter told them that he was going to go fishing (vs. 1-3). Some people have conjectured that this meant that Peter was going back to his career as a professional fisherman, the job he held before Jesus had called him. They felt he was discouraged and not knowing what else to do, was going to be a fisherman again. Honestly, I don’t think so. If Jesus had not risen, that probably would have been the case, but Peter and the others had seen the risen Savior at least twice now. Jesus had forgiven Peter, and there was no reason for him to be discouraged now. I believe that they were now back in Galilee in obedience to the command they had been given to meet Jesus there. Jesus had told the women at the grave to tell His disciples to meet Him in Galilee (Matthew 28:10, 16). Peter might have just suggested that as a means to occupy themselves as they awaited Jesus. They knew that they had been called by the Lord for a special purpose, and now that He had risen, I doubt they would have forsaken that to go back to their former jobs.
The group of seven men fished throughout the night, and as had happened before, they caught nothing. Unbeknownst to them, Jesus was on the shore, and as morning was dawning, He called out to them, asking if they had caught anything (vs. 3-5). Hearing that they had caught nothing, Jesus answered that they should cast their nets onto the right side of the boat. This was very similar to what had happened three years prior, when they first became Jesus’ disciples (Luke 5:1-11). Just as before, these disciples now pulled in a great catch of fish! (vs. 6).
John recognized it was Jesus, and as soon as Peter heard that, and saw that it was so, he dove into the lake and swam ashore! Just a few weeks earlier, Peter had fallen to his lowest personal point when he had denied three times that he knew Jesus. However, the Lord had forgiven him. Jesus had warned Peter that he would fall, but He also told him that He was praying for him that his faith would not fail (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus knew that before Peter could be a strong but humble leader, his pride and self-confidence had to be brought low, and his heart broken. God can also use our failures to make us more effective servants. Jesus promises us that nothing, and no one, can separate us from His love (Romans 8:35-39). When Peter knew that it was Jesus, he wanted to be right there with Him.
When the disciples got to shore they saw that Jesus had made breakfast for them (vs. 9-13). Preparing a meal for others is one way to show love and care, and here Jesus was, having prepared breakfast for these disciples. He cared that they had been out all night, and were undoubtedly now tired and hungry, so Jesus showed His love by making sure they would be well-fed when they got to shore. This was also a way for Jesus to spend some more time with these disciples before He would ascend back up to heaven. Jesus wanted to take care of them, provide for them, and sit with them a while longer.
Jesus is a God who desires our company, who wants to provide for us, and who loves us. Jesus is interested in every detail of our lives, even in the commonplace ones like breakfast. He showed that morning that He would always provide for His followers' needs. In closing we can remember Paul’s words that God would always supply all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). We also can remember Jesus’ own words that just as God provides for the needs of the birds to eat each day, and clothes the flowers in their glorious color and beauty, He will also provide for each and every need of ours (Matthew 6:25-33).
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