Grace on the Shoreline
Pondering John chapter 21
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. —John 21:15
Even though Peter went to the empty tomb and later saw the risen Christ, his heart was still broken over his betrayal. Several disciples were fishermen. Among them were Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, James, and John. Peter, in what I picture as a moment of dejection and deep disappointment in himself, went back to the only life he knew before Jesus: fishing. The other fishermen joined him.
At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
If you didn’t know, Jesus was able to cook! He had breakfast ready for them when they came ashore. John says that they all knew it was the risen Lord who was feeding them bread and fish.
This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
That is when Jesus and Peter had the uncomfortable conversation. Three times, Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. “Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, ‘Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.’”
Jesus then gives Peter a sobering glimpse into his future, his death. With this information, Jesus called upon Peter to make a decision. “Follow me.”
Maybe it is just my imagination, but I picture Peter taking a deep breath, his heart resolved to keep following the Lord. With his shameful betrayal behind him, he becomes more like his old self. Peter looks at John behind them and, in consideration of the disturbing news of his own death, asks, “What about him, Lord?”
Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
I cannot know for sure, but it seems to me that John included this last chapter to remind his readers that Jesus really cares for his followers. He cares enough to help some fishermen remember that he rules the elements. He had compassion enough to restore a broken, self-condemning Peter back into fellowship. He was truthful enough to tell them about what they would endure for belonging to him.
This is the Jesus with whom we have fallen in love. Through seven signs, we were assured of the truthfulness of his claims. Through seven days of rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection, we gained new hope for eternal life.
Excellent!
Thanks, John, your pondering of this beautiful gospel has been delightful and welcome!
Loved how Jesus, as in Luke’s road to Emmaus, made himself known in the breaking of the bread!
C.S. Lewis captures a similar moment in book 6 of the Chronicles of Narnia that is one of my favorite in the series—when the children encounter a lamb that is so white they can hardly look at it. The lamb, like Jesus in John’s gospel, says to the children, “Come and have breakfast.” The children then notice a fire is lit and fish are roasting. After eating, the narrative adds, “and it was the most delicious food they had ever tasted.”
So thankful that our Lord cares, as you clearly articulated, thankful for the biblical “memories” of John’s gospel and thankful for those deep memories and deep grace welling up in our own lives, by the Spirit!