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After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ (John 21:1-19)
The readings for the Sundays after Easter center on the appearances of the Risen Christ at different times and at different places. Yesterday, I came across a quote from Charles Colson, who said that Watergate helped him believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus. "Twelve men went to their death never changing their story. No one would suffer what they did; beatings, abuse, scorn, even the deaths they suffered for a lie. Watergate had twelve men who could not keep quiet about a lie for three days." This is one of those passages. The disciples had been fishing all night and had nothing to show for it. As the sun came up on that day, they see on the beach Jesus and a fire and breakfast cooking. It was Jesus who called to them, "Children you haven't caught anything have you?" No, came the answer. Jesus said, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some fish." They did as they were told and they had trouble hauling in the fish. It was then that Simon Peter realizes it is Jesus on the shore and he jumps in to swim to Him. The others float in on the boat, and Jesus invites them to eat. Jesus offered them bread, then fish; all confirming that this was Jesus. This marked the third time they had seen the risen Lord.
After breakfast, Jesus turns to Simon Peter and asks him, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" Simon answered, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Then again, Jesus asks Peter if he loved Him. "yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Then Jesus says, "Tend my sheep." And a third time, Jesus asks him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" This time was the hurtful time for Jesus had already asked him that question twice before but still he answered, "Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You." Jesus responded, "Feed my sheep." And He adds to this response, "Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." And after this He said, "Follow me."
The three times that Peter denied Jesus that night of His betrayal are the same three times that Jesus asks if Peter loves Him. All three times Peter says yes, that he does love Him. And with each response, Jesus is giving him a task; feed, and tend to my sheep, and He even reveals the manner in which Peter would die, and still again, for the second time in his life, Peter is asked to follow Jesus. It is to say, If you want to be with me, where I am, continue with that which you were called to do, and follow me.
The old hymn says, "Lord, we are able, our spirits are Thine, remold them, make us, like Thee divine." May it be so with us as well. We have been called to serve and follow Jesus, and only with Jesus' power and strength can we be faithful and fruitful.
PRAYER: Loving God, grant to me that which I need to serve and follow You. In Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
