Just a few days ago, Peter had done the unthinkable: he had betrayed his best friend, after years of swearing undying allegiance. In an impetuous moment, he had thrown it all away and denied even knowing the guy. Then the man was killed. And Peter would never get to say I'm sorry, never get to explain himself. And what would he say, anyway? He has no answer even for himself. He hates himself. His mind trails back to that strange encounter and his heart stirs into thumping: the Son of God was alive again. And then gone, disappeared before he could talk to him. Perhaps it was not important to the Lord, but Peter knows he cannot stand it until Jesus tells him face-to-face that he has forgiven him.
He has to find something to do with his hands, to stop the endless thinking: he tells his friends he's going out, and they all know where he's going. Peter always goes fishing when he's troubled.
They tag along: they put in a night's worth of half-hearted work, and have nothing to show for it. John looks at the sweating and straining Peter, shaking his head. He's gonna pull a muscle at that rate. But John says nothing, because when your heart is empty, and your mind directionless, your mouth is empty, too. Your hands pull at nets in mechanical motions.
The sun begins to rise.
They descry a figure on shore, tending a small fire. He yells to them, "friends, have you caught anything?"
"Nothing," John replies.
"Throw your nets to the other side of the boat!"
James chuckles, even as Peter and John tug at the net to comply. Why not? They cast the nets to the right, closer to the figure.
It seems only a moment until their net is pulling on the boat's side, alive with their catch. Had all the fish congregated to this place, to see their friend on the shore?
John looks at Peter, eyes wide with his sudden excitement, "it's the Lord," he says.
Peter bolts upright. He grabs his long garment and jumps into the water. John looks at his friend, now swimming with quick uneven strokes to Jesus: he remembers another moment, so long ago now, when Jesus had come to Peter in the boat on the lake, but by walking. Now Peter, swimming or walking, would come to the Lord.
John looks at James. With a great laugh, they take the oars and haul the fish to shore.
SWEET! u wrote that carolyn? it's good to remember the ppl in the Bible were actual normal people. thanks!
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