Just a Mom’s View

PART 2

Do you have major regrets? Decisions you wish so badly you could go back and change? Peter had these regrets. In a major, major way. And before we can truly appreciate the Part 2 of this amazing story, we need to backtrack just a bit in Peter’s life. This was a time when Jesus needed Peter more than ever, but had already warned him that he would forsake Him. Peter was vehement that he would never forsake Jesus. That he would always have his back, and yet…let’s read Matthew 26:69-75.

MATTHEW 26:69-75

⁶⁹ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

⁷⁰ But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

⁷¹ And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.

⁷² And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man.

⁷³ And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.

⁷⁴ Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.

⁷⁵ And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Our regrets and sometimes the lifelong consequences of those regrets can make us cry bitter tears. We naturally define ourselves by these decisions. We give ourselves the scarlet letter. We feel we are forever tattooed and marred by our mistakes. Peter no doubt carried this guilt with him. Even as we read through this full circle moment in John 21, we can try to put ourselves in Peter’s shoes. He had forever branded himself a traitor of Jesus, and here he was, just as he was a few years before, coming off a very long, sleepless night with no fish to show for it, which meant no food and no money as this was his livelihood. After years of excitement at the feet of Jesus, hearing and seeing His Godhood and miracles and wisdom firsthand, I bet this felt like a dark time with lots of unknowns. And yet, as Jesus often does, He showed up and drove home a huge point that we continue to study even to this day. 

JOHN 21:1-19

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

² There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

³ Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

⁴ But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

⁵ Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

⁶ And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

⁷ Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

⁸ And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

⁹ As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

¹⁰ Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

¹¹ Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

¹² Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

¹³ Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

¹⁴ This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

¹⁵ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

¹⁶ He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

¹⁷ He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

¹⁸ Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

¹⁹ This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

First of all, we have the same disciples and even a few others present at this fishing experience just as we had the first time in Luke 5. And just as before, they were at a low point. Their livelihood was catching fish – both for food and for money. Yet they had caught nothing all night and they were exhausted. It’s often during these rock-bottom times when we’ve come to the end of ourselves that Jesus most clearly makes Himself known to us. 

Jesus – who they didn’t recognize at first (it was after His resurrection) – told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. Now remember the first time Jesus told them this years ago? They argued with Jesus. They told Him they’d already been out all night long. But they reluctantly obeyed. This time, the Bible does not mention any questioning of Jesus. They did what they were told immediately. And reaped the rewards. 

They immediately caught 153 fish. They had so many fish that their nets were full, but note that this time the nets did not break. 

Last time, Jesus had to ask them to abandon all and follow Him. This time, Peter didn’t wait to be asked. He didn’t think twice and he abandoned all, even his friends and the boat itself, and literally jumped into the sea to go to Jesus. 

Last time, Jesus asked them to abandon all to obey and follow Him, but this time, Jesus, true to His servant’s heart, warmed them by the fire, and made them bread and fish. Was this Jesus rewarding them for years of obedience? Was it a comfort meal to prepare them for the years of hardship and even death ahead? 

So many amazing full circle moments in this passage, and yet the coolness factor does not stop there. 

I remember reading this passage as a teenager and getting super excited. No one had ever told me this, I just discovered it during my Bible study, and I loved it so much. 

Jesus, because of the gracious, forgiving, and merciful Savior He is, gave Peter a second chance. 3 times Peter denied Jesus, and 3 times Jesus allowed Peter to say he loved Him. That’s redemption. 

And then Jesus reminded Peter to continue being a fisher of MEN, not just fish. He reminded him to FEED HIS SHEEP. He reminded Peter of what truly mattered in life—souls…and a life lived for Jesus alone. 

This world has become harder and harder to forsake. It daily, through many mediums, preaches its empty message of what should matter to us— wealth, health, travel, food, fame—all things we can’t take with us when we die. All things that do not fill the deep hole inside of us. 

Yet Jesus preaches a radical message that gives us incredible purpose in life – a message that gives us the answers to filling that hole. Abandon all of that. And follow Him. Be fishers of souls. 

Q&A: 

• What could be the significance of the net not breaking this time?
• Why do you think Peter jumped into the ocean when he knew for sure it was Jesus? 
• What is the significance of Jesus making the disciples dinner?
• Jesus was calling Peter to be fishers of souls rather than fish – in what ways did Peter fulfill this calling of Jesus on his life? 
  
  
  – In Acts 2, Peter preaches at Pentecost, and about 3,000 people are saved.
  – In Acts 3–4, he publicly preaches Jesus despite opposition.
  – In Acts 10, Peter brings the gospel to Cornelius and other Gentiles.
  – Throughout Acts, Peter functions as a preacher, witness, and leader in the early church.
  
  NOTE: This is far from a “Prosperity Gospel” message. Following Jesus never meant a life of ease, void of heartache and hardships. Though this was clearly a full circle moment of redemption and grace, can you describe how 10 of these disciples would later die?

·  Peter — Crucified, traditionally upside down

·  Andrew — Crucified

·  James son of Zebedee — Executed by the sword, traditionally beheaded

·  Philip — Traditionally crucified

·  Bartholomew — Traditionally flayed alive and/or beheaded

·  Matthew — Traditionally killed by sword or spear

·  Thomas — Traditionally killed with spears in India

·  James son of Alphaeus — Traditionally stoned and/or clubbed to death

·  Jude (Thaddaeus) — Traditionally clubbed or killed with an axe

·  Simon the Zealot — Traditionally crucified or sawn in half

REFLECTION: In what ways does this world have a hold on you? What might you need to forsake in order to better follow Jesus with your short life?