Our verse for today comes from John 21:7, “That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord.’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.”
After a long, frustrating night of unsuccessful fishing, the seven men in that boat of Peter’s certainly felt like they were due for a break. And that break did come, and it came in the words of a stranger advising them from the shore. What was empty became full, what had been fruitless was now bountiful, and where there had been exasperation there was now exhilaration. And while we read mostly of the reactions of Peter, there is more going on than him impetuously jumping out of the boat to go be with Jesus. For instance, the disciple whom Jesus loved, as John referred to himself, seems to be the only one who connects the immense and sudden haul of fish with the man on the beach, putting them together as being only of the Lord. But he didn’t jump out of a perfectly fine boat a hundred yards from shore. He was inclined to share the revelation with the one presumably closest to him. And what of the others? In the whirlwind of excitement and unexpected activity, while wrestling with a literal boatload of fish, they look up and see their leader abandoning them. Now with two less hands to help, and void of their leader, they simply buck up and bring the catch to shore as they would ordinarily do. One simple event, but three extremely different responses. And which is better than the other?
That’s what we like to focus on, isn’t it? Who did the most right thing, and who didn’t quite cut it? We want to grade, rank, and classify in the midst of Jesus controlling nature before the very eyes of His followers. It is awesome that Peter could not contain himself, and maybe he even expected to walk on water again to get to Jesus. It is also marvelous that John’s heart told him that only Jesus could make happen what just happened. And it’s significant that the others managed the situation and completed their task as they brought the boat back to the Master. You may be in there somewhere, following Jesus. As you do, be true to the path He has called you to, and let others be true to theirs.
As we seek Him today, follow Jesus in your circumstances precisely how He wants you to. Look only to Him for instruction and direction.
