Nightfall found five of them getting into a boat and pushing off shore – Peter, Thomas, John, Nathanial and one other unnamed disciple. Jesus had already appeared to them twice since his resurrection, but this group seemed more confused at this point than convinced. “I’m going fishing,” Peter had said and he received no argument from the other four. Going fishing for these guys was a step backwards – back to something familiar.

Three years earlier they had left fishing for an adventure like no other – following the Son of God, witnessing, and even taking part in healing the sick, raising the dead, setting free the demon possessed, overturning the religious and political establishments of the day and announcing that the kingdom of God had come. But of late it had ended in confusion, betrayal and death, and now Jesus was supposed to be risen from the dead. Peter had even seen him, but eyes can play tricks on you. Besides, Peter, of all of them, felt out of the loop. He had been the one who three times had denied even knowing Jesus, and it was eating on him. Even if Christ had risen from the dead, there would be no forgiving him for what he had done. In Peter’s mind, he was off the team.

“Friends, haven’t you any fish?” It was Jesus on the shore calling out to them in the faint light of early morning.

“No,” they answered.

“Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some,” came a voice they knew from across the water. Something about this seemed vaguely familiar, especially to Peter. It was the way he first met Jesus. So they threw their net over, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

“It’s the Lord!” cried John and no sooner had he gotten the words out than a splash cut the water. It was Peter diving in and swimming ashore to meet Jesus, unwilling to wait for the boat towing all that fish. When he got there, he found that Jesus already had a fire going with some fish cooking on it along with some bread. It was a breakfast of forgiveness.

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and though it pained Peter, each time he said “Yes,” and each time he did, Jesus followed with “Feed my sheep.” One time for each denial – each rooster crow. Jesus was covering up Peter’s sin and his excuses, and reinstating him as a leader in the new church that would begin after He left them.

It’s the way God works with all of us. He forgives us, puts us in a love relationship with Him and then puts us to work. We’re often trying to prove something with our work; Go wants us to work out of what has been already proven – our forgiveness and our love relationship with Him.