Back to the old ways it seemed… A few ordinary fishermen trying to make the living they were raised to. Although, for the past few years’ things had looked a little different, their pursuits had changed. These men who spent most of their lives listening to the sounds of the sea, smelling the salty air, and standing more firmly on a rocking boat than they could on solid ground, found themselves on a new adventure. Traversing terrain that was unfamiliar, going places they would’ve never dreamt of, they left their boats, dropped their nets, and followed Jesus. They went from one town to another, across the countryside, up mountains, and witnessed things they could’ve never imagined. The blind could see, the lame could walk, thousands were fed from little, and the dead were raised! But here they were… out in the middle of the night, casting their nets with tired arms and tired eyes, just trying to make a living again. Perhaps the old familiar smells of the fishing industry, stunk a little more than they had remembered. They hadn’t caught a thing all night, but just over the horizon the sun began to peak through, but not enough. Not enough to make out the shadowy figure ashore. The man called out, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered… And what would seem sarcastic, maybe a little annoying, the man on shore suggested they throw their nets to the other side of the boat. Immediately their nets were bursting with fish, unable to haul them into the boat, they started to realize… They had seen something like this before, multitudes of fish suddenly provided from what seemed like nothing, they knew it was him. Jesus.
John said to Peter, “it is the Lord”, and immediately he threw his outer garment on and jumped into the water and started swimming toward shore. Meanwhile, the others stayed in the boat and followed him to shore with the haul of fish. Peter getting closer to shore, picking his knees up high and splashing toward his savior.
The last time he looked into Jesus’ face across a fire of burning coals, was in the courtyard where the rooster crowed upon his threefold denial. (The Greek word, “ἀνθρακιά” pronounced “anthrakia” – is a charcoal fire/fire of burning coals. This word is used in only two places in the entire Bible. In John 18:18 to describe the fire where Peter warmed himself amid the moments he denied Christ, and here in John 21:9 as Jesus restores and reinstates his and Peters relationship and ministry. This is quite possibly no coincidence, but a literary device that John uses to paint a beautiful display. From it, we may be able to see that God can redeem situations and circumstances that were once part of a broken past. What once brought hurt is now redeemed for hope and healing.) There they stood, warm fish and a hot fire to dry off, Jesus ate with Peter and the rest of the disciples who were present. After breakfast, Jesus pulled Peter aside and extended the second chance that was paid for upon Calvary. Forgiveness, redemption, and a future. Jesus wanted to make sure Peter meant business, and he did. Peter said he loved Jesus and now he was recommissioned to prove it until the end of his days. This time, he left his baggage behind. Jesus told him of the death that he would die if he wanted to live Christ and spread the Gospel, but Peter, instilled with hope, pressed on…
What we find written in his letters many years later, after and within many trials and tribulations, is proof of the power that a second chance can bring – through hope in Christ:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9).
I’m not sure how many days Peter spent fishing after that great haul of fish. For the fishing that lay ahead far surpassed any nets filled. Fishing for people, sharing Christ, taking the Gospel to every nook and cranny of influence he had, to his dying breath. For what seemed like a hard and painful life to many, was redeemed as an inexpressible joy for Peter.
John said to Peter, “it is the Lord”, and immediately he threw his outer garment on and jumped into the water and started swimming toward shore. Meanwhile, the others stayed in the boat and followed him to shore with the haul of fish. Peter getting closer to shore, picking his knees up high and splashing toward his savior.
The last time he looked into Jesus’ face across a fire of burning coals, was in the courtyard where the rooster crowed upon his threefold denial. (The Greek word, “ἀνθρακιά” pronounced “anthrakia” – is a charcoal fire/fire of burning coals. This word is used in only two places in the entire Bible. In John 18:18 to describe the fire where Peter warmed himself amid the moments he denied Christ, and here in John 21:9 as Jesus restores and reinstates his and Peters relationship and ministry. This is quite possibly no coincidence, but a literary device that John uses to paint a beautiful display. From it, we may be able to see that God can redeem situations and circumstances that were once part of a broken past. What once brought hurt is now redeemed for hope and healing.) There they stood, warm fish and a hot fire to dry off, Jesus ate with Peter and the rest of the disciples who were present. After breakfast, Jesus pulled Peter aside and extended the second chance that was paid for upon Calvary. Forgiveness, redemption, and a future. Jesus wanted to make sure Peter meant business, and he did. Peter said he loved Jesus and now he was recommissioned to prove it until the end of his days. This time, he left his baggage behind. Jesus told him of the death that he would die if he wanted to live Christ and spread the Gospel, but Peter, instilled with hope, pressed on…
What we find written in his letters many years later, after and within many trials and tribulations, is proof of the power that a second chance can bring – through hope in Christ:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:3-9).
I’m not sure how many days Peter spent fishing after that great haul of fish. For the fishing that lay ahead far surpassed any nets filled. Fishing for people, sharing Christ, taking the Gospel to every nook and cranny of influence he had, to his dying breath. For what seemed like a hard and painful life to many, was redeemed as an inexpressible joy for Peter.