Today’s reading is John 21.
The final words of John 20 sure seemed like the wrap up to the book. But in good author fashion, John provides a postscript, an epilogue, an afterword. You might think of it as an after credits scene. He tells us of one more sign from Jesus, but this scene is all about Peter.
In a masterful stroke, Jesus arranged the scene to call to mind some of the most important days in Peter’s life. First, Peter has decided to go fishing. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be seen as a return to his former way of life or if it is just a person who is confused reverting back to what is comfortable. But, he’s fishing for fish, not men. This was his life before Jesus. Jesus recreates the miraculous catch by which He first called Peter as seen in Luke 5:1-11. It was the day Peter had told Jesus to depart because Peter knew he was a sinful man. It was the day Jesus called Peter to fish for men.
After the catch, the men come to shore and find Jesus at a charcoal fire with fish and bread on it. Two scenes are captured in one. Jesus provides a meal for the men reminiscent of the miraculous meal of John 5 with the bread and fishes. That was the event when Peter had confessed Jesus had the words of life, was the Holy One of God, and there was no other place to turn (John 6:68-69). At the same time, Jesus is cooking the meal on a charcoal fire. That wouldn’t be a big deal except this particular word for fire is only used in two places in the whole Bible: here and the fire around which Peter warmed his hands when he denied Jesus three times in John 18:18.
This entire scene is set up for Peter. And what a terrible place Peter must have been in. Can you imagine? He had given his allegiance to Jesus years earlier. At the time, he thought he knew what he was doing. He even declared what a sinner he was. But Peter’s worst sin came after he had been a disciple of Christ for a couple years. And in that moment, he realized he hadn’t understood precisely what it meant to follow Jesus. He hadn’t really known what it meant be a sinful man until the denials. At least, that is what it no doubt felt like.
Have you been there? I became a disciple as a teenager. I knew I was a sinner at the time. But I had no idea how much of a sinner I could be. Sure, I had lied, but I hadn’t had anything truly big to lie about. I didn’t really understand lust, I wasn’t old enough to. I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids. I didn’t know what it was like to hurt or betray the people I loved most. All of that came after I was a Christian. Additionally, I lived at home, with people encouraging me to serve the Lord. I didn’t know what it was like to really have an opportunity to betray the Lord until later. How many people have been in the same boat?
The fact is, most of us, like Peter, will commit our worst sins after we become disciples of Jesus. It doesn’t mean we aren’t actually disciples. And, praise God, it doesn’t mean Jesus will give up on us. This entire chapter is Jesus’s powerful means of drawing Peter back, of comforting him over his guilt and shame, of recommissioning him with work in the kingdom.
Committing your worst sins after you are a disciple doesn’t mean you have to get baptized again because the first one didn’t count. It means you’re pretty normal. In fact, it is only as we get to know Jesus more and more that we will learn how truly awful our sins are. It stands to reason they will cause us more pain after we are disciples.
Now, don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying sins after becoming a disciple don’t matter. Peter’s sin mattered. Those sins cost the death of Jesus as much as any other. But Peter was a disciple. He didn’t have to give up. He simply needed to lean in. He needed to grab hold of Jesus and follow Him. And that is precisely what He did. You can too.
Tomorrow’s reading is John 21.
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PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does John 21 prompt or improve your praise of God?
Read the Bible 