Jesus Saith, "Come And Dine" - Part 1434

In the presence of two or three witnesses therein is an evidence justified. This is particularly important after Jesus had risen from the dead for there would be some who would not believe. Even with the varying written accounts by different people readily available for our consideration, these would still not accept the resurrection as truth. Nevertheless, the accounts are written for our benefit so that we could believe who do believe can remain confident in our salvation.

One account stands out in John 21.

After these things Jesus shewed Himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias, and on this wise shewed He Himself, there were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of His disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, "I go a fishing." They say unto him, "We also go with thee." They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Then Jesus saith unto them, "Children, have ye any meat?' They answered Him, "No." And He said unto them, "Cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find." They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loves said unto Peter, "It is the Lord."

Note that it was not Peter who understood Jesus to be the Lord, but instead, that disciple whom Jesus loved. Peter had to be told that the One on the shore was Jesus. But when he was told, what did Peter do? First, he girds himself in a fisher's coat (for he was naked) before casting himself into the sea. In other words, Peter could not get to Jesus fast enough.

At the same time, the other disciples came to the shore in a little ship dragging the net with the fishes. "As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, "Bring of the fish which ye have now caught." Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes, and hundred and fifty three, for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. Jesus said unto them, "Com and dine." (John 21:7-12)

By this time, not one of the disciples had to ask Jesus who He was, or "who art Thou?" because these knew that it was the Lord. (John 21:12)

This experience on the shore with Jesus was so ingrained in Peter's mind that he later spoke of this encounter to Cornelius in Acts 10. Therein, Cornelius a centurion and a just man, one that feareth God and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for Peter into his house and to hear the words that he had to say. Certain brethren from Joppa had accompanied Peter to the place where Cornelius and his kinsmen and near friends waited.

And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter took him up, saying, "Stand up; I myself also am a man." After they had talked for awhile, Peter said, "The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all): that Word, [I say] ye know which was published throughout all Judaea and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached -- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree; Him God raised up the third day and shewed Him openly -- not to all the people but unto witnesses chosen before of God, [even] to us, who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead.

And He commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is He which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To Him give all the prophets witness -- that THROUGH HIS NAME WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS." (Acts 10:21-48)

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost, for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then asked Peter, "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?" And he commanded them to baptized in the Name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." (Acts 10:44-48)

This account is equally critical to understand Peter's faith journey that is referenced in John 21. On the beach that day, Jesus had come and took bread and gave to His disciples and the fish that He cooked likewise. And for the record, this is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to His disciples, after that He was risen from the dead. (John 21:14; John 20:19, 26)

So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, love thou Me more than these?" Peter replies, "Yea, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee." To which Jesus said, "Feed My lambs." (John 21:15)

Jesus said to Peter a second time, "Simon, son of Jonas, love thou Me?" Simon answered, "Yea, Lord, Thou know that I love Thee." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep."

A third time, Jesus asks Peter, "Simon, son of Jonas, love thou Me?" By this time Peter was grieved because Jesus had to ask him a third time, "Love thou Me?" And Peter said unto Him, "Lord, thou know all things; Thou know that I love Thee." Jesus said unto him, "Feed My sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, "When thou wast young, thou girded thyself and walked whither thou would; but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou would not." (John 21:17-18)

This spake He, signifying what death he should glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He saith unto Peter, "Follow Me." (John 21:19)

I recognize that many take these three instructions to Peter herein and link them to Peter's denial of Jesus as Lord in the garden, when Jesus had been taken to be crucified. I do not intend to equate these two examples here. My point is this. Peter did not change Jesus' instructions here between his time on the beach eating fish and bread to something different on the day of Pentecost.

Then, Peter (standing with the eleven) declared the only message to be true. That is, Jesus is BOTH Lord and Christ, and if thou should believe, ye need to repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, every one of you for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-47)

Neither did Peter change his message while speaking to Cornelius in Acts 2, when Cornelius after hearing the Word in his heart willingly went into the water and was baptized in the Name of the Lord. (Acts 10:44-48)

Indeed, Peter did what Jesus instructed him to do. "Feed My sheep" with the strength from another who shall gird thee and carry thee whither he would not have gone on his own. The Holy Ghost. The Spirit of Jesus within. And we need to do the same. We need to acknowledge this same Jesus to whom all the prophets of old gave witness ... "that through His Name whosoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)

Stand in the offering plate.