Post-Resurrection Appearance of Jesus to His Disciples at the Sea of Galilee

“He saith unto him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?’ Peter was grieved because He had said unto him the third time, ‘Lovest thou me?’ and he said unto Him, ‘Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love Thee.’ Jesus said unto Peter, ‘Feed my sheep’: -John 21:17 KJV

It was early morning. The location was the sea of Tiberias (KJV) also known as the Sea of Galilee. Peter and some of the other disciples had gone fishing in the night, the occupation Peter and other disciples had left about three years before to follow the itinerant preacher, teacher, healer named Jesus on his travels and ministries. Jesus had taught them much they needed to know to be His successors when He finished His human/divine mission on earth, the giving of His life as a ransom for all who will believe in Him. But under great duress, when Jesus was on trial before His crucifixion, Peter had denied Christ three times. Christ had said that Peter would deny him, but Peter had declared his undying devotion to the Lord. Little could Peter see how easily the temptations beset a human being under great duress and fear of also being arrested. And now, Peter who has already seen the resurrected Christ, is about to be questioned three times by the Lord at a place they frequented when Jesus was teaching the disciples. It was perhaps near this location, on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus had given what we term “The Sermon on the Mount” early in His ministry. Peter and the other fishermen had no success with fishing. Jesus, from shore, whom they did not recognize at the time, told them to cast their nets “on the other side” of the boat.” That time, they got such a catch – 153 fine fish by count - that they could hardly pull in the heavy net. Coming to shore, they found a fire going , fish and bread cooked, and they recognized the Risen Christ, who had prepared their breakfast. A little later in this encounter comes Christ’s asking Peter three times: “Lovest thou me?” And Jesus’s direction: “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.” By the third time, Peter, the impetuous disciple, had become a little impatient with being asked three times by Jesus, “Peter, do you love me?” and the third time, Peter said: Lord You know all things! You know that I love You!” could the question, posed three times by the risen Lord, have been a reminder to the leader among the disciples that He had denied Jesus three times? Scholars believe the triple asking response might have served as a reminder to Peter that He had, indeed, betrayed His Lord by the denial. But here is the forgiving, loving Lord, bringing Peter back to the major task for which he was called from the fishing nets three years before: To follow Jesus and to lead others to the Lord: “Feed my sheep” was a reminder that the Lord forgave Peter and had a major mission for him in the early church.

The early-morning encounter had a lasting impression on Peter. We have but to read the first several chapters in the Acts of the Apostles to know that Peter became the leader of the early church movement and the spread of the gospel. On the day of Pentecost, his powerful sermon resulted in over 5,000 converts to the Christian faith. Peter, so tradition holds, was also crucified for his strong faith, and he asked that he be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to be crucified as the Lord Christ was, in an upright position. “Feed my lambs! Feed my sheep!” Give persons the truth of the Word and the Holy Spirit is faithful to do the convicting and calling of persons into the fold of God. This pattern started with Peter one early morning by the Sea of Tiberias just prior to the Risen Lord’s ascension into Heaven. The same call goes to us today who teach and tell the Good News: “Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.” Peter, forgiven for denying Christ, was faithful. Many have been faithful through the ages since. Now it is up to present-day believers to continue Christ’s command to Peter. May we be faithful, for faithful disciples are needed sorely today. – Ethelene Dyer Jones 04.23.2017