FAY ROWE

This morning I was reading Jesus' story as recounted by John. It was near the end, where after the resurrection Jesus tells Mary Magdalene to go tell the others, "I go to my Father and your Father, my God and your God."  My first thought was how strange that must have sounded to Jews who had never thought of God as their Father. He was much to them, but not that.

Then it went on to the meeting on the lakeside where Jesus cooks fish for the disciples. I was impressed with the similarity between this scene and the first time we see interaction between Jesus and Peter. In the first meeting, Peter has fished all night and caught nothing. Jesus tells him to let down the nets, but Peter lets down one which breaks with the catch.

This time Peter has fished all night and caught nothing, and Jesus, at this point a stranger on the shore, says, "Throw the net to the other side of the boat and you'll catch some." Peter does and the net fills up. 153 big fish, it tells us. Now they take another look at the stranger. "It's the Lord!" John is the first to recognize him, but Peter, ever the impulsive one, jumps out and swims or wades to shore.

What follows next is a flashback to Peter's denial of Jesus. Except now Jesus gives him the opportunity to make a new memory and new commitment.  "Peter, do you love me?" Three times, just like the three denials. And three times, Peter expresses love, and accepts the call: Feed my sheep.

The meeting on the beach seems to be all about Peter.

When Jesus prophesies Peter's end and Peter asks about John's future, Jesus says, "Follow me."

No matter what is going on in others' lives, Peter; follow me.

Don't compare yourself to anyone, Peter; follow me.

I've told you how this will end, Peter; now follow me.

Through the various scenes presented in this reading, I saw again that even though my relationship with God is the same as those around me - He is my father as well as my God - it is unquestionably personal, not generic. Just like he had a path for Peter that was different from that of John, he has a path with my name on it, and as I look back over a few decades, I see his presence and provision on that path. He's been with me, just as he was with Peter and the others that day on the banks of the river. 

As he is with you.

There's a good path with your name on it.

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:17-19).