It Just Doesn't Get Any Better Than That!

1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3 "I’m going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We’ll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.


5 He called out to them, "Friends, haven’t you any fish?"

"No," they answered.

6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." 11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"

"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."

16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"




John 21, great stuff! Jesus appears to His disciples again after His resurrection. He seems to have a few things in mind here.

1) Showing again who He is with His appearance after being crucified, dead and buried. He is the ONLY victor over sin and death!

2) Miracles often occur in conjunction with our obedience, not in conjunction with us sitting on our butts waiting for them to land on us. He told them to throw their net on the right side of the boat. What if they had not done that? No fish, that's what!

3) Jesus wants to spend time with us. I love how He wanted to just hang out with the guys cooking and eating some fish around a fire. It just doesn't get any better than that!

4) He will restores us. To God, sin is sin. But man measures wrongs in differing degrees (murder is worse than lying). So, I can't think of much worse sin than denying Christ (except maybe doing it three times)! Yet Jesus not only forgave Peter, but also restored Him to being the "Rock". "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:18-19

What do I get out of this? If we feel separated from God by some sin or even something less, we can go to the only victor over sin and death. We can hang out with Him all we want. We then can obey what He says and receive His miracle of forgiveness, healing AND restoration!

It just doesn't get any better than that!

Drop me a line,

Greg