The Lord went as an example for us all; that we would follow Him into total self sacrifice

So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire in place and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, 153; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.
Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”

John 21:9-19

Introduction

Something that has snuck around on the outskirts of Christian thought throughout the years is this idea that anything related to the physical is bad, while everything related to the spiritual is good. This idea is derived from Platonic and eastern thought, which gave rise to some of the earliest heresies in gnosticism. For the eastern religions like Hinduism, the entire goal of life is to escape the physical realm and enter into “nirvana.” This opposition to the physical is just as bad as the acceptance of all things spiritual.

After all, Paul does tell us that, “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Many will fall into false spiritual movements like the so-called “New Age” because, well, it works. Contacting spirits really does invite them to speak back to us, and there are occasions where they really do respond. The danger this poses should be obvious: just because something works does not mean it is good.

And impressing on this matter that being physical does not equate to being bad, the resurrected Lord demonstrates His embodied nature in this scene as He invites the disciples to bring in their catch so that they might eat together. He starts a fire, brings bread, and cooks some of their fish, of which 153 were caught (as a side-note, the most I’ve ever caught is maybe 5; and they were small).

Faithfulness after unfaithfulness

Jesus coming in the flesh changes things for all of us. He demonstrated His power over the death of others in raising Lazarus, but to raise Himself is another matter entirely. Especially in such a way that He can appear when and where He pleases like in the upper room or here on the beach. If before, Peter’s faith wavered, now he is steadfast.

It is because of the resurrection that we have a second chance at life. Without Jesus’ conquering death, all the repentance in the world would mean little. Death still has a claim on the one who has sinned. It is only over the One who has no sin that death is powerless. And that is why Jesus had to go into death: to loosen its grip on all those whom He has marked out for life. Coming to the disciples, Jesus presents another sort of paradox.

Three times, Peter denied the Lord before the rooster crowed that morning. And three times, the Lord asks him for the opposite. Jesus asks Peter to the point where he actually becomes upset. It is at this point that the Lord delivers His final request of Peter.

Follow even unto death

This request is to shepherd His sheep until Peter himself is killed. Jesus asks His disciple to follow Him into this bloody and gruesome death He experienced. Tradition has it that Peter, too, was crucified. But not wishing to die in a way that imitates the Lord, he requested to be crucified upside-down. Thus his hands are stretched out as he is taken somewhere he does not want to go.

In the first instance where Peter denied the Lord, the stakes were ambiguous. Perhaps if he were caught as a disciple of the One being crucified, he himself might be killed, beaten, or exiled. Or maybe none of those things would have happened. After all, John did not apparently make his association with Jesus a secret as he entered into the high priest’s home (John 18:15). But this situation scared Peter, and he was without the assurance given by the resurrection.

In this case, however, Peter could know for certain that any death that befell him would be undone by Jesus Christ on the last day. He had confidence because the Lord Himself was our example, being led into death before conquering it forever. So it is on us to have no fear in this life: He is able to overcome all that opposes us, even death itself.

May the Lord bless you and conform you into the image of His Son.