Reflections on the Gospel Reading for Easter 3 – John 21:1-14

“I’m going fishing,” said Peter. The other disciples responded, “We’ll go with you.” (John 21:3)

In my sanctified imagination, I picture Peter and the boys sitting around waiting for … who knows what next? Waiting is hard to do, especially for a fellow like Peter who consistently proves a “man of action”. So, when one doesn’t know what to do, one defaults to what one knows best. In Peter’s case, back to fishing! There was little discussion about the advisability of this action. The disciples appear not to have had a prolonged conversation about how this decision fit into the context of recent events, with their Lord Jesus being crucified and then on two separate occasions having displayed that he was (and is) raised from the dead and very much alive. This fishing trip was impulse … spur of the moment “muscle memory”.

The night passes and their efforts are fruitless. Then, a call from someone on the shore asking a pointed question highlighting their lack of success: “Friends, have you any fish?” With a collective, exasperated shout they answer: “No!” Then follows the seemingly silly directive, “throw your nets on the other side of the boat.” The resulting strain from the huge catch of fish summons recall, first in John and then in Peter, “It’s the Lord!” (v.7) The ever impulsive Peter is soon in the water – with his robe on – swimming to shore. He’s taken action. In the chill of the early morning he’s swimming in the cool Galilean water to Jesus. He’s doing something!

“Grace-fully,” the Lord Jesus has quickly “set the table” through a series of actions: on shore there’s a warm fire waiting, bread, fish already broiling, and soon … an untorn net with 153 flopping fish (v.11). The attention memorably shifts from Peter to Jesus. Jesus is now the focus. He’s the one directing, providing, and serving. Peter and the other disciples are receiving from, and responding to, the actions of the risen Lord Jesus. They are a speechless group, being served by the nail-pierced hands of Jesus. Stomachs are filled, needs are met, encouragement is given by the Lord’s very presence.

Isn’t that just the way it is? We don’t always (perhaps seldom, if we’re honest) know what is coming next. So, we default to actions that have served us in the past. The results haven’t always been what we’d hoped for, but at least we did something, we took some action. At least we engaged the day set before us and used our energy for something. “We are people of action!” We look busy. We’ve added value to our existence. We feel some importance.

We’ve defaulted to putting ourselves as the primary actors in the drama of our lives. As is so easy to do, we act in our own strength and from our own knowledge base of human experience. We work hard from “muscle memory.”

But, thanks be to God—the once crucified, now forever-risen, living and reigning Lord Jesus enters again! He takes center stage! He takes action. He confronts us with our fruitless labor. He directs. He invites. He serves. He provides. He comforts. We are satisfied. We are blessed. We receive all we need from his nail-pierced hands! And with the bounty of his blessings (153 large fish) we are enabled to meet the needs of others in His name also!

The events of that morning don’t stop there. Jesus continues to take the lead and speaks to Peter. The last time (of note) Peter had taken acton … it had been self-directed, self-centered, self-protecting action in the courtyard of the High Priest. There he had denied Jesus three times. Now the Lord takes action to restore and affirm Peter. “Peter, do you love me?” “Peter, do you love me?” “Peter, do you love me?” Peter, more than anything at his moment, wants to confess and acknowledge his love for Jesus, yet knowing it is not a perfect love. But, the significance of this interchange is not Peter’s ability to love Jesus, but Jesus taking action to love Peter, to reinstate and commission him as His follower. “Follow me!” Peter’s future would now be defined by what he had done, but rather by “who he was”: a forgiven follower of the risen Messiah and Savior, Jesus. Restored, reinstated, reinvigorated, “resurrected” in Christ. Not by his doing but rather by the saving action of the Son of God, Jesus.

To be sure, Peter continued to be a man of action. He preached. He gave witness to the Risen Christ. He served. He taught. He traveled. History says he died a martyr’s death for His Lord. But ever and always his actions grew out of the redemptive action of the Son of Man, Jesus, crucified for the world. What Peter would accomplish would be what defined him. More importantly, who Peter was in Jesus forever defined what he accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the respective contexts of our own lives and congregational life, and in our “walking together” as the Missouri Synod, may our actions, words, conduct, and service reflect who we are: people purchased by the blood of the once crucified – now risen – ever-living and reigning Lord, Jesus! My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will remove us – each of us, and all of us together – from being the lead character in our own lives – and in our life together as “Synod” – and help us find necessary rest and inspired action through our identity in Jesus.