Episode 245: A Fire of Burning Coals

April 19- A Fire of Burning Coals Speaker: Rev. Paul WalkerScripture: John 21The disciples found themselves going back to their old occupations even after theyhad interacted with the Risen One. In fact, right after a kind of ghostly upper roomencounter, Simon, who had been given a new identity as Peter, declared “I’m goingfishing…” to which a good number of them said, “We’ll go with you.” This was theirold job. They were Fishermen before they became disciples. This is what they knewhow to do, which must have felt so comforting in light of the falling apart of their entireunderstanding of what they were following. And yet they found themselves fishing allnight and catching nothing, which must have been so disheartening. Perhaps evenmore disheartening is the mixed emotions that Peter carried after the resurrection. Ofcourse 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 threetimes. 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!” AndPeter swims to Jesus. When they had hauled the catch ashore, Jesus called them tobreakfast and when they came they found a fire of coals. (ἀνθρακιά) In that bed ofcoals 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, “doyou love me?”. And this was enough. Peter’s threefold denial of Christ is now matchedby his threefold announcement of love. Jesus restored Peter and than repeated Hisoriginal call: “Follow Me.” The call remains the same…even when we fail.