Jeremy L. Berg

The last chapter of John’s Gospel has Simon Peter and the boys back on the sea fishing. I imagine Peter is still hanging his head in shame from denying Jesus three times, wanting to crawl into a hole and hide in humiliation. He doesn’t have a hole, so a boat and a lake will have to suffice.

He fears his failure has disqualified him from a lead ministry role in the fledgling movement. His inability to catch any fish reinforces the Accuser’s voice telling him he’ll never be a successful fisher of men either.

Can you recall a moment of cataclysmic failure in your life? A moment when you really hurt someone or potentially blew up a relationship? Have you ever led a company into bankruptcy or suffered a public scandal that tarnished your or your organization’s reputation? Have you ever wanted to crawl under a rock or set sail to Bermuda for a six month hideaway?

I imagine Peter can relate. If he’s going to fail, he’s going to fail big and loud and in front of everyone. If I were in Peter’s shoes, the last person I would want to run into on my little fishing getaway is the One I had turned my back on and let down so grievously. Which is what makes the following scene so shocking and beautiful and illuminating. Jesus stands 200 yards away on the shore, preparing a warm fire and scrumptious breakfast for his favorite sinner. Watch what Peter does when he is faced with the person he hurt and let down:

“Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved says to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So Simon Peter, having heard that it is the Lord, put on the outer garment, (for he was naked), and he cast himself into the sea” (John 21:7).

How many of us would have starting rowing the opposite way in shame, hiding amidst the other disciples, hanging our head and not wanting to face our friend? This is what the human race has been doing ever since our first parents stood naked and ashamed with the juice of forbidden fruit on our chins. We’ve been hiding from God, trying to cover our nakedness and shame with fig leaves and false selves. Can a poor sinner like me stand before a righteous God?

Most of us hold a mental image of God who is cold, short-tempered, arms crossed, keeping record of our sins and unapproachable in our sinful state. Yet, Peter has come to believe that “If you have seen [Jesus], you have seen the Father”, that God is overflowing with abundant grace and love for ragamuffins and prodigals, and “whoever comes to me, I will certainly not turn away” (John 6:37). Peter believes Jesus will practice what he preached, forgiving Peter not just for his one big blunder but 70 x 7 more blunders yet to come. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning” (Lam 3:22-23).

In this scene, Peter stands naked in the boat, both for practical fishing purposes and to symbolize a man laid completely bare before God-in-Christ. Instead of hiding his shameful nakedness, he wraps himself in a garment of grace, plunges himself into the waters of forgiveness, and swims toward the loving arms of his friend. Not just any friend. The Friend of Friends who is always setting a table of mercy and preparing a eucharistic meal for those who will gladly come feast on his menu of a thousand second chances.

Do you believe God is in the business of preparing a warm fire and scrumptious meal in the wake of your biggest screw ups? Next time you really drop the ball, fail spectacularly and feel like sailing off into oblivion never to show your face again, remember this story and instead throw yourself overboard into the ocean of His love and mercy and come to the table of grace He has prepared for you.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Rev 3:20).