The Wednesday within the Octave of the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord
Posted on April 23, 2025 by under
Scripture: St. John 21:1-14 (NKJV)
21:1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Devotion
On this later occasion, St. John tells us that seven of the apostles were gathered. Quite pointedly, St. Peter and his old fishing partners, James and John the sons of Zebedee, were gathered together when St. Peter declared he would go fishing, a notion to which the rest assented.
It is rare when the Lord repeats a sign, but when He does so we would do well to note the circumstances. This was the second miraculous catch of fish, and yet this time Peter does not beg the Lord to depart on account of Peter’s sinfulness; rather, he cannot wait long enough for the boat to come to shore, but instead dives into the water.
If Peter had been conscious of his sin years before, how much more so now, when he had three times denied our Lord when He was betrayed? But Peter trusts that the Gospel is life and salvation for him, as well, and the man who once feared drowning when he walked upon the waves did not hesitate to dive into the deep and come to Jesus.
The consolation which is ours in Christ is greater than any dread over our sin or fear of death. The Christian comes to his Lord in the peace of sins forgiven, and a hope which no one may take away.
Collect: Almighty God, Who, through Thine Only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: We humbly beseech Thee, that, as Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
