In John 21, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Do you love me?”
This story began in Luke 5:1-11 when Jesus called Simon (later named Peter) to be a fisher of men. At that moment, Simon left everything and followed Jesus. This great adventure lasted for about three years. It was a time of miracles, teaching, and walking with the Messiah, the One who would save Israel. It was a time of faith building.
Unmet Expectations Create Doubt and Confusion
But Simon Peter’s expectations of who Jesus was and what He would do were not met. As things took a different turn than anticipated, Peter’s faith and loyalty were tested. After the arrest of Jesus, Peter, standing on the sidelines, was asked three separate times if he was a disciple of Jesus. His reply, “I am not.” The aftertaste of his sin and denial were bitterness and regret.
Because of his unbelief and denial, Peter missed the mark, and he knew it. He grieved his sin of denying Jesus (Matthew 26:75). Isn’t it amazing how our unmet expectations can send us into a spiral of doubt, fear, and emotional unrest! Doubt is always chasing the believer. We need to shore up our faith, so we aren’t held captive in times of uncertainty.
The Transformation of Pride into Humility
Then, when the time was right and his heart and spirit were broken to and torn to shreds, Jesus came to him to make all things new. Pride had transformed to humility. Self-preservation had transformed to the desire to follow Jesus anywhere. The Lord pursued this broken disciple to remind him of his call – to be a fisher of men.
In John 21, we find Peter back in the fishing boat. Maybe it wasn’t so much about catching fish as it was about going back to the beginning when he met Jesus and starting anew – reliving the miracles, the teachings, the tenderness, the lessons. Processing through the meaning of it all and trying to reconcile things in his mind to make sense. Working through memories and thoughts takes time, and without something to break the grief, we can stay stuck in that place of cycling and processing for a long while.
Then, a voice called from the shoreline asking a familiar question. “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” They answered, “No.” Then the voice said something else familiar. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” And another familiar thing happened; the net was filled to overflowing. This is when they realized, “It is the Lord.”
At that realization, Peter had return to Jesus as quickly as possible. This was his chance. He had to somehow make things right. (Isn’t that what happens when Jesus pursues us after we have left Him to go our own way?)
Running to Jesus
Peter ran to Jesus. He ran through the water, which is not an easy thing to do, closing the divide that separated him from Jesus, not knowing what would happen, but knowing the only thing he wanted was to be in the presence of the Lord. And, through a series of questions and answers, Jesus restored Peter to his original calling, to be a fisher of men, to accept his fate, and to receive forgiveness and restoration.
Jesus went to the shoreline in pursuit of a disciple who needed the strong, firm, passionate love and forgiveness of His Savior. Peter, broken by his own sin, received all that Jesus offered. His faith was increased and strengthened, and the church is built upon a steadfast faith that has overcome adversity, trials, and the gates of hell.
When our calling is great, our trials and pain are used by God to pull out the things that are not of Him and to refill us with the things that are of Him. When we step away from Him, for whatever reason, He is not far away, pursuing us, calling us to “come home.” Jesus can restore all who are broken when we return to and walk with Him.
