What adventure are you living?
When I was a young boy, about 10 years of age, I lived a couple of blocks from the river. My best friend, Dennis, lived next door to me. Dennis’ great-grandfather had a one-room cabin on the river, and he let us use it when we wanted to go fishing – which was quite often on long hot summer days. We would pack our gear and a lunch and walk down the hill to the river for a day of fishing. Even if we never caught anything it was a great time – but much better when we did! One day we caught a very large catfish that we hauled home to show everyone! Fishing is one of those great pastimes that I still enjoy today. I even live on the same river!
So, what stirs your heart?
Nearly fifty years ago I was sitting at a LIFE Conference (Lay Institute for Evangelism) at Green Lake, WI.
A soft-spoken man with a gravelly voice was giving the message. I don’t remember much of his message, but I do remember one question he asked toward the end that has stuck in my mind to this day. I was recently out of the service. Married. A new father. And he asks, “Have you ever denied Christ? Have you ever failed Him?” I hadn’t had much of a testimony during those days, and I was trying to get back to a restored relationship with God. Then, he said, “If you have ever denied Him, you’re as qualified as Peter to follow Jesus and be His disciple.” What a freeing statement! It stirred my heart.
Well, how did Peter get from denying Jesus three times to delivering his best message shortly after Pentecost?
Several years ago, I heard a message given by Dr. Joseph Stowell that resonated with me and gives some great insight into the last chapter of John’s gospel and the reinstatement of the apostle Peter.
Verses 15-17 say,
After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord, Peter replied, you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Lord, Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus replied, “Then feed my sheep.“
What point was Jesus trying to make?
You know, I’ve always found it interesting that Jesus never once asked Peter if he liked sheep! Peter could’ve said, “I don’t like sheep! They stink, they smell, they’re not too bright!”
And, why three times? We don’t know. Was it because Peter denied him three times? I don’t think so. I don’t think Jesus would take an opportunity to stick it to Peter in front of the other guys. That’s just not like Him. There seems to be more to it. There must be some other reason. Let’s back up.
In verse 3 of the passage Peter says, “I’m going fishing.”
This was not the kind of fishing you or I might do for relaxation. Jesus would’ve been okay with that.
No, Peter was calling it quits. He was discouraged. For 3 ½ years he and the others had been with Jesus. They witnessed His miracles, listened to His teaching, sat through the Sermon on the Mount, but no earthly kingdom had been set up. Then, Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified and laid in a tomb.
The disciples were lost. What would they do? Judas had taken their money, they were broke and without direction. It wasn’t turning out the way they thought it would. No, Peter was discouraged and dealing with a sense of failure.
And he says, “I’m going fishing.” To Peter, fishing was a business, a way to make a living. It was what he knew how to do. He was done with the ministry. Done with the whole scene. He was going back to doing what he knew. For 3 ½ years it had been a roller coaster of a time. Now, Peter was discouraged. Later in the chapter it says they went out fishing and caught nothing!
Then, they see a figure of Someone standing on the beach who calls to them and says, “Children, you don’t have any fish do you? “No.”
Jesus tells them to throw their net on right side and you’ll get some. Sure enough, they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish! John states the obvious, “It’s the Lord!”
Jesus tells him to bring some of the fish they caught. (153 large fish). Because I’m a detail guy, please note what verse 9 says. “When they got to shore, they found breakfast waiting for them – fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.” What kind of fire? A charcoal fire. The only other place in the scriptures that a charcoal fire is mentioned is three chapters back in 18:18. It says, “Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.” Do you think the smell of that charcoal fire brought back to Peter’s mind his denial of Jesus?
Here’s what Jesus was asking. “Peter, do you love me?” Do you love the things I love, Peter?” “Do you care about what I care about, Peter?” How about you today? At the end of the day, does Jesus know you love Him? Does He know you care about what He cares about?
In the nearly fifty years since I sat in that conference, I’ve lived in the rugged hill country that God chose for me. (Josh. 17:18) I didn’t know the road of my life would lead through rough country back then. But it was in that conference that I dedicated my life to follow Jesus wherever He may lead – to care about the things He cares about.
Does Jesus know that you love him and the things He cares about?
If Jesus were to open your heart’s door, would He see that you care about the things He cares about?
Or would there be a sign on the door that says,
Gone Fishin’?
Bill Erickson – with a note of thanks to Dr. Stowell
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