Reunion - The Restitution of Peter

It was days after the crucifixion and the resurrection. Simon Peter, Thomas, James, John, and two other disciples of Jesus were all together when Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come with you,” the others said to him. So they went out in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and fished all night but did not catch a thing.” (John 21:1-4)

Why might Peter decide to go fishing at this point in time? He was not considering returning to his old profession. But perhaps he was seeking a sense of normality. All the events of the last days had shaken Peter’s world. Nothing he had experienced during his time with Jesus had prepared him for this. As a disciple, he had witnessed healing, provision of food, and death defied. But heavy in his memory was the night of Jesus’ arrest. Three times he had been recognized as one of the disciples. Three times he had denied it. Now, since the resurrection and the empty tomb, along with the other disciples, he had actually seen the risen Lord. Perhaps Peter needed a moment of normality. Maybe he needed to do what he had always done until Jesus entered his life. Maybe he needed to fish.

As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water’s edge, but the disciples did not know it was Him. He asked them, “Lads, haven’t you caught anything?”

“Not a thing,” they answered. Then Jesus said to them, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will catch some.”

So they threw the net out and could not pull it back in because they had caught so many fish.

This was not the first time that Peter had witnessed a miraculous catch of fish. Early in His ministry, Jesus first encountered Peter and others on the Sea of Galilee. After a long night of casting nets, they had no catch to show for it. Jesus advised them to cast their nets again and, though they questioned His advice, they did as they were told, resulting in a bountiful catch. This second time, they were again rewarded with success. “It is the Lord,” John whispered to Peter. While the others worked to bring in the nets, Peter swam to shore where Jesus had prepared breakfast for them.

Peter was considered by many as a leader among the disciples. His knowledge of the ministry of Jesus was unparalleled by any other disciple except perhaps John. He shared in the feeding of the five thousand, walked on stormy waters, witnessed the healing of lepers, and experienced the transfiguration. He had been present at the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead, and watched as Lazarus walked from the tomb at the command of Jesus. He and John were the first disciples to reach the empty tomb and met with Jesus twice along with the other disciples in the Upper Room after His resurrection. But Peter carried the burden of denial.

And so it was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus would ask Peter three times to verify his devotion.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me more than these others?”

“Yes Lord,” answered Peter, “You know I love (phileo) you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus replied.

Jesus asked a second time if Peter loved (agape) Him and again Peter replied that he loved (phileo) Him. “Take care of my sheep,”

Jesus asked a third time, “Peter, do you even love (phileo) me?” and Peter replied, “Lord, you know everything. You know I am your friend.”

“Then feed my sheep,” Jesus replied.

Some see this as recompense for Peter’s denials after Jesus was arrested. But by using the two words for love - one (phileo) indicating friendship, the other (agape) a deeper, committed love - Peter is not only led into a “face to face” realization of where he stood but is also directed toward the responsibilities that were to be his. Nourishing the lambs, tending and feeding the sheep - it is not enough to just believe but one must work in the kingdom.

Peter, the Rock, would atone for past deeds. The one who swore in the courtyard of the High Priest that he was not a disciple would preach the gospel at Pentecost, and about three thousand souls would be saved. His mission reached farther still, including the Gentiles in the mission of the church. And even today, with each new decision for Christ comes the confession of Peter when asked by Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” He replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”