Do you ever have the feeling that someone is about to deliver some bad news to you? Your teenager comes and tells you how great of a parent you are, and you can’t help but wonder, “What did you do? What do you need? How much is this going to cost me?” Your boss calls you into the office, begins telling you how much they appreciate all your hard work and you can’t help but wonder, “I bet I’m going to have to work another weekend.” When someone is suddenly, exceptionally nice to you, you might wonder, “What’s going on here? Did something happen? Is something about to happen?” I can’t help but wonder if Jesus’ disciples may have felt that way in the account that we heard about in John 21 as Jesus ate breakfast with them on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
The gospel-writer John has briefly told us about two appearances Jesus made to his disciples after his resurrection and now he adds a third. John tells us, “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee” (John 21:1). While the first two appearances of Jesus took place in the city of Jerusalem, we are now taken to the Sea of Galilee, nearly 80 miles to the north of Jerusalem.
The Sea of Galilee was familiar territory for Jesus’ disciples. Not only was this the hometown of many of them, but this was the place where it all began for Jesus’ disciples three years earlier, here on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. You might remember how Jesus had called Peter, Andrew, James and John to leave behind their former occupations as Galilean fishermen, and to become his full-time disciples. In many ways, that day must have seemed like a lifetime ago as Jesus’ disciples considered all that had taken place during those three years. What do we now find seven of Jesus’ disciples doing? They went back to the one thing they knew well, something they were familiar with – fishing.
They spent the entire night fishing and had caught nothing. As the sun began to rise, they heard a man calling from the shore, “You catch anything?” “Nothing!” respond the fishermen. “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some,” (John 21:6) the man says. You can only imagine the disciples looking at one another, maybe thinking, “This seems a little strange. Does he really think that we haven’t tired the left AND right sides of the boat?” But then concluding, “What do we have to lose?” They cast the net on the RIGHT side of the boat and when they begin to pull it up, it’s heavy – really heavy. What in the world? It’s FILLED with fish! Lots of fish. John still remembers the exact number, 153 large fish. And that’s when it hits John. He looks more closely at the man who called to them from the shore and he immediately recognizes him. John announces, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7). In typical Simon Peter fashion, he grabs his outer garment and hurls himself into water, leaving his fellow disciples behind to deal with the fish. He just needed to get to shore as soon as possible, to see Jesus.
When Peter and the other disciples arrive at the beach, they not only find Jesus, but we’re told, “They saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread” (John 21:9). There is a full meal for these hungry fishermen. Jesus invites them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught… Come and have breakfast” (John 21:10,12). So the disciples sat down and began to eat with Jesus. They couldn’t help themselves from staring. John says, “None of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord” (John 21:12). They knew it was Jesus, but it was still hard to believe that they were sitting there eating breakfast with a man who had been dead. What do you think the conversation during that meal was like? Maybe just stunned silence, Jesus’ disciples afraid to say much of anything. Or maybe it was the attempt of awkward small talk, “Nice morning. Looks like it’s good to be another hot one today.” The Bible doesn’t tell us what Jesus and his disciples talked about during breakfast, but you can only imagine that those disciples must have wondered what this was all about.
Why did Jesus make them breakfast? Why did Jesus give them this miraculous catch of fish? Was Jesus preparing them for some bad news he was about to deliver? Maybe something like, “Guys, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, and after seeing the way you acted at my arrest, and Peter, the whole denial thing, and the way you’ve repeatedly doubted me, I’ve decided to take my discipleship in a different direction. I’m afraid that I’m going to have to let you all go. Hopefully this catch of fish will help to carry you over until you find other employment.” Was that what this breakfast on the beach was all about?
Jesus makes his intentions clear as he talks with Peter after breakfast, revealing once again the heart of the Good Shepherd. Look at that conversation that Jesus had with Peter. Jesus asks Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15). The word for “love” that Jesus uses is the word that describes a selfless and sacrificial love, a love that is willing to do whatever it takes for the good of another person. How well had Peter shown that type of love for Jesus? Remember how Peter had boasted, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matthew 26:33). Peter thought that his love for Jesus was superior to even that of his fellow disciples. How had that worked out? Peter remembered how he failed to show that sacrificial love for Jesus, denying even knowing Jesus, and so Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” But Peter uses a different word for “love”. Peter uses a word that describes a lesser kind of love, a love between friends, a word that says, “I care about you.” Peter had come to realize that his love for Jesus was far from perfect. Still, what does Jesus say to imperfect Peter? “Feed my lambs.” Jesus still loved Peter. Jesus forgave Peter. Jesus still wanted Peter. He wanted Peter to provide the spiritual food of his saving Word to the lambs of his flock – the very ones that Jesus had loved so much that he was willing to die for.
Jesus asks Peter a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:16) Again, Jesus uses the same word for love he had previously used, and Peter responds with the same word he previously used. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Again, Peter humbly recognizes that he has not loved Jesus in the same way Jesus has loved him. Still, what does Jesus say? “Take care of my sheep.” Jesus calls Peter not only to be concerned for the youngest of Christians, but also to shepherd those who are maturing in Christian faith. This would include the warnings of what is spiritually bad, and the searching for those who have wandered away from Christ and his Word.
Then Jesu asks Peter a third time, parallel to the number of times that Peter denied knowing Jesus, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” (John 21:17). This time Jesus changes his word for love to the same word used by Peter, “Peter do you care about me?” Peter answers again with the same words, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” And Jesus says again, “Feed my sheep.” While it was hard for Peter to hear Jesus’ questions, calling him to evaluate his love for Jesus, Jesus’ repetition was meant NOT to bring Peter to deeper despair, but to greater assurance that Jesus had completely forgiven him, that Jesus still loved him, that Jesus still wanted Peter to serve him.
This conversation was not merely for Peter, but this is a conversation that Jesus has with us. Jesus comes to us and asks, “Do you love me?” And we might be quick to reply, “Of course I love you Jesus!” But then Jesus asks us to examine that love. So how about those times that you had too much to drink? What about those posts on Instagram and Facebook that bragged about how much you drank? What about that “break” you took from coming to church during the summer months? What about that arrogance in your heart that slyly convinces you that you are so much better than all those people who aren’t sitting here this morning? Do you love me?
Can our response be anything but that of Peter? “Lord, you know all things. I care about you, but my love for you has been anything but the perfect, selfless and pure love you have shown to me.” And what does the Good Shepherd say back? He responds, “I know. That’s why I came. I loved God perfectly for you. I loved others perfectly for you. I loved you so much that not only was I willing to die for you, but I was also willing to rise from the dead for you, so that you would know without a doubt that I love you, I have forgiven you, and I want you to serve the lambs and sheep of my flock.”
Even with all our failures, the Good Shepherd Jesus still calls us his own and allows us to serve him throughout our lives. He calls us as parents and grandparents to feed the lambs of his flock who sit on your laps and listen to the story of Jesus you sing and speak. He calls Sunday school teachers, Christian day school and high school teachers, college and seminary professors to teach and explain the truths of God’s Word to the sheep of the Good Shepherd’s flock that they may mature in faith. Jesus gives us pastors, literally, “Shepherds” and others within the church who make sure that we are regularly “eating” what is spiritually good for us, guide us with the counsel of God’s Word, search for us when we wander, and comfort us with the Good Shepherd’s message of full forgiveness.
Simply put, we get to reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd Jesus, a heart of perfect love for us and for all, that so highly values every single person that he was willing to die for us, that they might live each day and always under the protection, the peace, the love of the Good Shepherd. Amen.
