Peter is an enigma. After all that had happened we find the disciples back out in their fishing boats. We can’t blame them – they had to earn a living. They had a rough night of fishing they caught nothing. In the semi-darkness of dawn a figure on the shore told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. When they did so they caught 153 fish!
John realised that it was Jesus and Peter threw off his robe and swam to Jesus. Jesus then singled Peter out in a discussion. After trying make clear to Peter what true love was Jesus instructed him to feed Jesus’ sheep. That wasn’t too bad, but then Jesus talked about death and told Peter to follow Him. Feeding sheep was one thing, but following Jesus to death was quite another.
So what did Peter do? “What about John?” he said. “What difference does it make Peter if I want John to stay alive till I return? You follow me!”
There is no doubt about the message for us. We can get so focused on what others are doing or not doing for the Lord that we can forget to simply follow Jesus.. Tragically even jealousy and envy can creep in when we see others seeming to prosper while we work hard a struggle along. “Why do I have to struggle along in this little two-bit ministry while so and so gets to prosper, grow, and thrive in his ministry?” Surely, no one is so unspiritual that they would think that way? In a perfect world, maybe it would not happen. But in the real world it happens far too often.
What’s the message? Simple enough – “Don’t worry about so and so – YOU follow me.”
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