June 11, 2021
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Reading along with us in John? Here’s today’s reading:
John 21 (NIV)
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
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.........Continue Reading
Peter had denied Jesus 3 times and now has 3 chances to remind Jesus he loved Him and will follow Him ultimately to his own death.
I love that the chapter ends saying that so much was written about what Jesus had done but if it was all written even the world itself could not contain the books! We have miracle after miracle and still there was so much more and so much He presently does in our lives each day.
John 21
Always thought. At least Peter was there and had followed to where they had taken Jesus. We know John was there. The others were hiding behind locked doors. Can picture Peter jumping out of the boat in so much excitement when he sees Jesus! Jesus sits with them and they enjoy a time of fellowship while eating. Peter is going to take on a huge role as a shepherd of Christianity. Jesus was restoring him spiritually. Sure it hurt Peter. But to be prepared for leading is not always pleasant.
“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”
John 21:25 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/jhn.21.25.niv
John 21
What an even greater affirmation of Jesus being alive that He interacted and ate with the disciples! And you have to wonder if once they cast the net over the other side and finding it full after a night of no success that it reminded them of Jesus right off the bat. And how great that Jesus restores Peter in this way. It’s a great picture of how God restores us as well. You can imagine Peter’s denial of Christ weighed heavy on his mind and Peter must have felt pretty guilty. So in the same way he denied him 3 times, Jesus asks him to affirm his love and faith 3 times. And yet, after each affirmation, Jesus gives Peter a task to do. It is one thing to say you love me, it is very much a different thing to show me you love me. That is the kind of love God and all of us are looking for!
I also love that Jesus tells Peter to follow Him regardless of what happens to John. It is so important to keep our eyes on Jesus and follow Him and not concern ourselves about what God’s will is for anyone else! It’s ok to care about that, but not be distracted by it.
I would love to have breakfast with Jesus in person, face to face!
I was thinking about Peter’s question about John after Jesus tells him about the death Peter would die. It reminded me that as believers we cannot assume that God will treat or use all of us equally. We often ask this question when a strong believer dies young or a struggling believer living a not so obedient life draws many to Christ. In either of those situations, the purpose is to focus on Jesus and seek to glorify God in our own lives.
24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
25Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.