Do You Love Me?: John 21:1-19

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee.

Back to Galilee. Back to the sea where it all began. The disciples returned to familiar territory.

It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.

Seven disciples. Peter leading, as usual.

I'm going out to fish, Simon Peter told them, and they said, We'll go with you.

Fishing. Return to the old life? Or simply something to do while waiting? Either way, Peter led, others followed.

So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

All night. Professional fishermen. Nothing. The empty nets echoed their empty waiting.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

Dawn light on the beach. A figure standing there. Not recognized—distance, dim light, impossibility all contributing.

He called out to them, Friends, haven't you caught anything?

Friends—children, really. A tender address. Any fish?

No, they answered.

The honest report of failure.

He said, Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.

Simple instruction from a stranger on shore. Professional fishermen might have scoffed. Instead, they obeyed.

When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

Nets straining. Arms pulling. Too many fish to lift. The catch was overwhelming.

Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, It is the Lord!

John recognized him first. The pattern of this chapter: John sees, Peter acts.

As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, It is the Lord, he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

Peter jumped. Couldn't wait for the boat. Couldn't stand the hundred yards of separation. He threw on his garment and plunged into the sea.

The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.

The slower, steadier followers brought the catch. Both approaches reached Jesus.

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

A fire waiting. Fish already cooking. Bread ready. Jesus had prepared breakfast.

Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish you have just caught.

Their catch would be added to his provision.

So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

Peter hauled the net. Someone counted—153 large fish. The net held. Abundance without loss.

Jesus said to them, Come and have breakfast.

Come eat. The risen Lord serving breakfast. The master cooking for his servants.

None of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? They knew it was the Lord.

They knew. Questions were unnecessary. His identity was clear in the miracle, in the meal, in his presence.

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Third appearance. Bread broken, fish shared. Eucharistic echoes. The risen Christ feeding his people.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?

After breakfast came the conversation Peter needed. Jesus addressed him formally—Simon son of John. Do you love me more than these? More than the other disciples do? More than these nets and fish and the old life?

Yes, Lord, he said, you know that I love you.

Peter's answer was simpler than the question. Yes, Lord. You know I love you.

Jesus said, Feed my lambs.

Restoration through commission. Love expressed through serving Jesus' flock.

Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you love me?

Second time. Same question.

He answered, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.

Jesus said, Take care of my sheep.

Same answer, similar commission. Tend the sheep.

The third time he said to him, Simon son of John, do you love me?

Three times. Once for each denial. The restoration was complete, thorough, painful.

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, Do you love me?

The repetition wounded. Peter felt the connection to his three denials. The hurt was part of the healing.

He said, Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.

Peter appealed to omniscience. Lord, you know everything. You know my heart. You know I love you—despite the denials, despite the failures.

Jesus said, Feed my sheep.

Third commission. The denier becomes shepherd. The one who failed most publicly is entrusted most explicitly.

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.

Prophecy of Peter's death. Stretch out your hands—crucifixion. Church tradition says Peter was crucified upside down.

Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, Follow me!

The same words Jesus spoke at the beginning: Follow me. After failure, after restoration, the call remained. Follow me—all the way to death.

On a beach at dawn, over a charcoal fire like the one where Peter had denied him, Jesus restored his fallen friend. Three questions undid three denials. Love confessed. Sheep commissioned. Death predicted. Following renewed.