Christ Seeking Peter

Christ Seeking Peter

This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

John 21:14

In writing his gospel, John, the Apostle, shows us some of the post-resurrection appearances that the other Evangelists do not. We have such an appearance before us today. The context of our text tells us that after Christ had appeared to the disciples the second time in the room where they were meeting on the next Sunday following His resurrection, Peter said to some of the others, ‘I am going fishing.’ We should perhaps consider that Peter and Christ had never, to this point in the narrative, ever discussed Peter’s denial of Christ. This would have been a matter of great distress and embarrassment to Peter. It would have made for great awkwardness for him just to be in the vicinity where Christ was. There is also the fact that when a tradesman is hurting, or trying to sort out a personal issue, he will often resort to work as his comfort zone. We find that while Peter was plying his trade at the end of a night of fishing, Christ sought him out. Let us consider how often it is so with us. We have failed the Lord, perhaps in some spectacular way. We have gone back about our common affairs, conscious that there is an awkwardness between us and Our Lord. Yet, Christ seeks us out. He comes to us where we are, with the purpose of restoring our fellowship with Him. Let us consider today, the gracious effort Christ puts forth as He begins to draw us again to Himself.

Our Gracious and Loving Savior,
we rejoice that You seek us, even when we are not seeking You.
We praise You, that in Your Loving Faithfulness,
You come to us where we are.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning