Daily Devotions
John
John 21:1- 25 "IT IS THE LORD"
Day 359 – John 21
“IT IS THE LORD”
John was the first person to recognize the Person behind the Voice!
“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to
Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ Now when Simon Peter
heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer
garment (for he had removed it), and plunged
into the sea.”
John 21:7
The realization that it was Jesus who stood at the seashore, waiting for the Disciples to come in from the sea hit Peter hard! A mixture of emotions must have filled his whole being! What should he do? How should he respond?
1. Self-consciousness!
Peter suddenly became conscious of the fact that he had not worn his outer garment. But that was not unusual for fishermen! They would put away their outer garments till they came to shore. They had not yet finished loading the fish into the boat! This was not the time to put on the outer garment!
2. Confusion
Peter after putting on his outer garment plunged into the sea! What was he thinking about? Who would swim wearing an outer garment? Obviously, Peter was not only self-conscious, he appeared confused as well! Was he swimming to the shore or away from it?
3. So many unanswered questions
What went through Peter’s mind as he realized that John’s identification of the Voice as belonging to Jesus was correct! What was Jesus doing there? But of course He could choose to be there. Did He not say that He would be going there before them?
The more embarrassing question was, “What was he, Peter doing?” He had gone fishing? Did he really want to go back to his fishing? Probably not, for there was no guarantee that he would succeed any better! So many questions! Too many questions! What were the answers?
COOL AND CALM AS USUAL
Jesus quietly waited for the Disciples to bring the boat, now laden with fish to the shore. John wrote,
“But the other disciples came in the little boat
(for they were not far from land, but about two
hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw
a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.”
John 21:8-9
Jesus did not reprove the Disciples in any way. He had already prepared some breakfast for them. There were already some fish being grilled and there was bread too. He broke the awkward silence and said to the Disciples,
“Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
John 21:10
How well Jesus knew them! Few things taste better than freshly caught fish over a fire of coals, early in the morning. The fire could be so cheery on a cold morning. Freshly baked bread and grilled fish for breakfast – and all prepared by their Teacher!
Fish and bread? Had not Jesus once fed five thousand men with just five small loaves and two small fish? So many memories! But Jesus was not mocking them! He wanted them to know that those memories were real, just as this one about to be created!
‘Bring some of the fish’, Jesus said! How many had they caught anyway? They hadn’t counted the fish yet! John noted,
“Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land,
full of large fish, one hundred and fifty three; and
although there were so many, the net was not broken.”
John 21:11
The awkward silence seemed to continue. Jesus spoke further,
“‘Come and eat breakfast.’ Yet none of the disciples
dared ask Him, ‘Who are You?’ – knowing that it was
the Lord.”
John 21:12
AN AWKWARD RELATIONSHIP THAT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO PERSIST
John noted how Jesus sought to restore the fellowship and friendship that had seemed so strained at that moment. Lovingly, He continued to minister to them.
“Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them,
and likewise the fish.”
John 21:13
Had the Disciples understood the significance of this early morning encounter? Did they need Jesus to explain what He was doing? He had always taken the time to explain what He did, so that they would learn the right lessons. But this time round, Jesus just cooked for them, gave out the portions of fish and bread, and did not say much. Each Disciple must interpret what this meeting meant!
No words of rebuke – when they truly deserved one! They should have spent their time thinking and praying over what Jesus had spoken to them! They had gone fishing instead. But this time round, no words of rebuke – only a breakfast prepared lovingly!