Gone Fishin’
I love how genuine this chapter feels. The action here takes place sometime in the first six weeks or so after Jesus was raised from the dead. The disciples have seen Jesus raised from the dead. They saw him in the flesh and even ate with him. So, what do they do now?
Jesus appeared to his disciples within the first 10 days or so after the resurrection. Perhaps three or four weeks at now gone by. Sure, He rose from the dead but now things were getting a little tedious. So, Simon Peter does what comes naturally he decides to go fishing. Six other disciples sign on as well and off they go.
Jesus appears to them standing on the shore after they have fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus tells them where the fish to be caught. This is where the genuine feeling of this chapter really kicks in the high gear.
First of all the rider says that they did not recognize Jesus. This is very curious. If I were making up a story I would leave this part out. To me this admission says that this story was not made up but actually happened. I don’t know why they didn’t recognize Jesus. Perhaps he appeared in a different form looking like someone else? It does make sense to me in a poetic way because we frequently see Jesus and fail to recognize him.
Once John realizes that it is Jesus he tells Peter. Peter puts on his coat and jumps in the water to swim to shore. I don’t think I would put on my coat to go swimming. But it sounds very genuine in the context of someone who was extremely excited about news they had just heard.
The boat was about 100 yards from shore. The number of fish in the catch was 153. The nets were not torn. All of these details add up to something that has the taste of reality about it.
Do You Love Me
In this chapter we have the famous occasion where Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” We can’t help but see the similarity between this and the three times that Jesus denied Peter. We need to understand that Peter did not need to proclaim his love for Jesus three times in order to make up for having denied Jesus three times. This was not about penitence. Peter was already completely forgiven and completely reconciled.
I believe Jesus asked Peter this question three times for Peter’s benefit. By the third time Peter answered part of his answer included an admission that Peter and his own strength was not perfect. On the night that Peter denied Jesus he had confidently declared that he would never deny Jesus that he would even be willing to die before he would deny Jesus. Jesus had told Peter after that confident declaration that he would in fact deny Him that very night. Now Peter humbly acknowledges that Jesus alone knows what is really in Peter’s heart.
Feed My Sheep
Jesus gives Peter a command by which Peter can prove his love. “Feed my sheep.” Our love for Jesus is not proven by how sincerely we sing, or how long we pray, or how dedicated we are building up an institution. Our love for Jesus is only proved by how well we take care of those he cares about.
What About Him
Jesus informs Peter of the way that he is going to die. Peter had earlier said that he would lay down his life for Jesus so I suppose you could consider this encouraging now that Jesus is telling him that in fact this what he will do.
Peter sees John following behind them and asks, “What about him?” Jesus answers, “That’s not really any of your business. You can only take care of what has been given to you.” In fact Jesus said, “If I don’t ever want him to die that has nothing to do with your destiny.” What wonderful tremendous wisdom is included in that reply.
Of course, people being what they are, this reply started a rumor that John would never die. How silly we are. Jesus didn’t say that John would never die and it is clear from this that John was under no illusions that Jesus had to return in his lifetime.
He may return in my lifetime or he may not. But when he does return my prayer is for two things: I want to be found faithful in feeding his sheep and I want to recognize him.
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