Who doesn’t love a story of restoration? John shares an intimate encounter with the risen Jesus. It was actually the third time that He had appeared to them after His resurrection. There is something to take note of regarding “third times” There are numerous mentions of the number three and it’s significance throughout scripture, and we find it once again in John’s account at the sea.
Peter is a main character in this story, however there was the core group of disciples that were together when Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.” They all agreed to join him. Remember where Peter first encountered Jesus? While he was out fishing with his brother Andrew. Remember when Peter had fished all night and came near to shore with an empty boat? Jesus asked him to lower his net “on the other side” only to catch so many fish that his boat was about to capsize! It was here that Peter recognized that Jesus was more than a great rabbi, and then Jesus invited Peter to follow Him, “And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. They immediately left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:19-20
They followed Him for three and half years; and in that short time span they saw things that radically changed their lives. Peter was part of the inner circle of three….Peter, James and John. They were present with Jesus for some divine revelations that the others did not see. The Mount of Transfiguration, the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, and other healings that only these three saw. The closer they walked with Him, the deeper the revelations became.
It was Peter that answered Jesus question immediately when He asked, “Who do you same I am? “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God!” Jesus responded, “flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” As brash and bold as Peter was, he had a heart that sought the Lord. He was bold enough to walk on water, yet weak enough to allow fear to overwhelm him when he denied Jesus. All of us have some Peter inside of us. Bold one minute, and weak and fearful the next. But Jesus knew the sincerity in Peter’s heart, and He knew exactly where to meet him.
Whenever we have an overwhelming heartbreak, or a major disappointment in our lives, we tend to retreat to our place of comfort. The place of the familiar. Why? Because we know it like the back of our hand. It is the place where things come natural to us without a struggle. This is why we find Peter back at the sea ready to go fishing! Jesus had already appeared to them twice since His resurrection; but now He comes to them where He first found them…fishing! Jesus had set up a divine appointment to have breakfast with them, and it was with another boat load of fish that He brought to their nets! John even details the number of fish, “Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.”
“This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.” Now that He had Peter’s undivided attention He begins to speak directly to him, asking him if he loved Him? It is a beautiful and intimate conversation that needs to be read and studied slowly because Jesus is probing deep into Peter’s heart. It is like drawing water from a deep well, it takes some time. He asks Peter three times if he loves Him using the word “agape” This is God’s love, sacrificial love. When Peter answers saying that “You know I love you” he uses the Greek word Phileo-to have affection and high regard for. This is a friend love, not a sacrificial love.
Jesus continued to love and restore Peter to the purpose for which He had called him. He begins by saying, “Feed My lambs, Tend My sheep, Feed My sheep.” Lambs are the babies; the young ones under a year old. They are the most vulnerable and need special care. The tending of sheep is when you are shepherding , ruling and leading them. Feeding is making sure that they have a place to graze and to be kept. Catching fish was a job that once fed his family, but Jesus was calling him to a higher purpose. He was reminding him that He had called him to “fish for men” no longer on a boat, but as a shepherd of God’s people.
A true shepherd is one who loves his sheep like David loved his sheep. Jesus said “the Good Shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep, but a hireling is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, he sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees..”John 10:12 Peter had to be fully restored to Jesus after his denial in order for him to fulfill his purpose as a shepherd in the New Testament Church. Many wolves and much persecution would come against this flock of new believers. Without a shepherds heart, and sacrificial love, Peter would not be able to withstand the forces that would come against him.
Jesus then prophesied how Peter would die, “when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. And when He has spoken this, He said Follow Me.” Follow means to accompany, be discipled of a leaders teaching. Remember when Peter said “ Even if I have to die with You, I will never deny You” He had no idea that he would one day be crucified upside down! He would follow Jesus in more ways than one.
If you have recently experienced an overwhelming loss and you find yourself feeling less of a purpose; even going back to your “ordinary ways” Take some intentional time out with Jesus. Let Him restore you with “a breakfast by the sea.” Some fresh fish and a few probing questions can bring your purpose back into focus. Read verses 15-17 and insert your name in place of Peter’s name. It is Jesus talking to you!
“Then Jesus said to them again, Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers…..I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved.” John 10:7