May 20
Bible Reading: John 21:1-3
John 21:3, “Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
In the nexus of monumental historical events and disastrous personal failures, Peter’s decision to go fishing is, at the very least, intriguing. Let’s not forget where things started for Peter with Jesus. On their first meeting, Jesus gave Peter (then called Simon) a new name (John 1:42). On their second meeting, Jesus gave Peter a new occupation. He had been a fisher of fish, but Jesus called him to be a fisher of men (Luke 5:10). On that occasion, after the miraculous catch, Peter, and his friends, “left everything (to) follow him” (Luke 5:11).
A lot had transpired since that day. Bold and impetuous Peter was often in the lead amongst the disciples. Jesus commended Peter when he correctly identified Him to be “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16-17). But then Jesus severely rebuked him when he spoke against Jesus’ pending suffering and death (Matthew 16:21-23). Peter walked on water, only to sink when he looked away. As the cross drew near, Peter pledged his willingness to die with Jesus. Later, while Jesus prayed, Peter and his friends slept. And then, following Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied Jesus three times. Luke’s gospel recounts what happened next: “And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62). One can only imagine the degree of his humiliation and guilt!
What to do when things go awry? Go back to the things you know. The tendency of sin is to pull us back to our old paths and old ways—to find comfort in that which is familiar. I’ve been a fisherman all my life and I’ve said it myself, “I need to go fishing!” Peter had been a fisherman. He no doubt loved fishing. He was unaware of what lay on the horizon in the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost. Furthermore, he did not know of the vast extent of Jesus’ compassion and mercy. Peter sought comfort in what he knew, fishing, but Jesus met him there and then worked to restore him to his calling. Jesus had big plans for Peter, and Peter’s failures (no matter how grievous) were no deterrent.
“I fear sometimes that Christians who know they have failed to love as they ought to love will drift away from the Lord, and they feel some anxiety or shame about coming back. What they need to realize is that He is eager for them to come back.”—John MacArthur
GRACE GREATER THAN OUR SIN
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–
Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. [Refrain]
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
All who are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive? [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 