April 19- A Fire of Burning Coals
Speaker: Rev. Paul Walker
Scripture: John 21

The disciples found themselves going back to their old occupations even after they

had interacted with the Risen One. In fact, right after a kind of ghostly upper room

encounter, Simon, who had been given a new identity as Peter, declared “I’m going

fishing…” to which a good number of them said, “We’ll go with you.” This was their

old job. They were Fishermen before they became disciples. This is what they knew

how to do, which must have felt so comforting in light of the falling apart of their entire

understanding of what they were following. And yet they found themselves fishing all

night and catching nothing, which must have been so disheartening. Perhaps even

more disheartening is the mixed emotions that Peter carried after the resurrection. Of

course Peter was glad that Jesus was alive, but don’t forget that on the night of Jesus’

betrayal, Peter had failed miserably. Peter denied Christ, not once, not twice, but three

times. Now in the morning there’s a man on the shore asking if they have any fish. No.

He gives some advise and they catch 153 big ones! John says, “It’s the Lord!” And

Peter swims to Jesus. When they had hauled the catch ashore, Jesus called them to

breakfast and when they came they found a fire of coals. (ἀνθρακιά) In that bed of

coals Jesus had recreated the scene of the crime of Peter’s denial. After breakfast,

Jesus has a heart to heart conversation with Peter. Three times Jesus asks Peter, “do

you love me?”. And this was enough. Peter’s threefold denial of Christ is now matched

by his threefold announcement of love. Jesus restored Peter and than repeated His

original call: “Follow Me.” The call remains the same…even when we fail.