After - Day 17

When the disciple Jesus loved, John, told Peter that it was the Lord, Peter put his clothes ON and then swam to shore. This is a little surprising in a few ways. One, it was interesting that he had to put his tunic back on because he had been working so hard he took it off. Two, John found it necessary to again tell everyone that Jesus loved him significantly. Perhaps this was the function of John being the last disciple alive at the time, and so there was no one around to change the narrative. Or perhaps he just wanted people to know how much Jesus was loved and how seriously John felt that love. We don’t know his motivation for this title, but he sure did love it. 

And what’s not to love. I love it when I know that I am loved by those around me. We all do. John was affirming God’s love for him, and although it sounds as if he was doing it in order to prove some point, he wanted us all to know that Jesus loved him a lot. 

How do you let the people around you know that you love them a great deal? Jesus did it by providing for them both fish, and then breakfast. The breakfast was made with his own hands in order to show them that love that we have mentioned. 

You know that when someone makes you a meal, it means that they love you. Obviously, this is not true when you are at the McDonalds drive-thru, but at home, it usually means that you are cared for by someone who wants what is best for you, that is why they are willing to take the time to make something wonderful for you. 

This is just another way that we see Jesus providing for his disciples in the midst of a very tumultuous time in their lives and ministry. In fact, it is possible that they were not even sure that they would continue in their Gospel ministry. They had been called to be fishers of men, but could they even do that anymore if Jesus were no longer around? They had to be having these kinds of conversations with each other throughout all of this time. 

But seeing Jesus, experiencing his provision and having the opportunity to eat a meal with him must have changed the trajectory of their lives significantly. 

1. Have you ever had a meal that changed your life? 
2. The writing of this series guide is happening right around Thanksgiving, a meal that is a big deal. How was your last Thanksgiving, and how can you make the next one a meal of consequence? 
3. What did you think about Peter jumping out of the boat? Is that pretty on brand with the way that he has lived his life thus far?