Scripture Reading: John 21: 1-19
In John 21: 1-19, we are invited to listen to three voices by the Sea of Galilee – three voices that still echo across time into our lives today.
The disciples had been fishing all night, tired and discouraged, when Jesus on the shore called out to them. What followed was not just a miraculous catch, but a moment of transformation: from empty nets to overflowing abundance, from weariness to renewal, from waiting to a new calling. As we listen to these voices – of obedience, invitation, restoration, and mission, may we hear Jesus speaking to us, calling us into deeper trust, closer fellowship, and faithful service.
The gathering of the seven disciples by the Sea was not a result of aimless discouragement, but rather an act of faithful obedience. They were not scattered or hiding in fear – instead, they were exactly where the Lord had told them to be. Jesus had instructed them to go into Galilee and wait for Him, and so they waited, not with despair, but with expectation.
Their waiting was not passive; it was a posture of trust, a readiness to be reunited with their risen Lord. In a time of uncertainty, they chose to hold on to His word and positioned themselves for a powerful encounter that would rekindle their calling and renew their purpose. This reminds us of that obedience, even when it feels like waiting in the unknown, is never in vain when it is rooted in the promises of Christ.
Jesus’ first word was about obedience. After a long night of empty nets, Jesus told the disciples, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat.” When they obeyed, they caught an overflowing bounty of 153 fish more than they imagined. The difference wasn’t their skill, but their obedience and reliance on the Lord’s word. Obedience to Jesus opens the way to unexpected abundance, even when we’re tired or unsure.
Remarkably, the net that had come up empty all night was now filled to the brim, yet it did not tear. What once yielded nothing became the very place where the grace of the Lord overflowed. This moment reminds us that when we trust and act upon Jesus’ word, even the ordinary becomes a channel of extraordinary blessing.
In verse 4, at first, Jesus’ disciples didn’t recognize the risen Lord standing on the shore. But when John declared to Peter, “It is the Lord,” something awakened in Peter’s heart. Without hesitation, he jumped into the water – despite being nearly 90 meters away- and swam toward Jesus with all his might. Meanwhile, the other disciples, though they stayed in the boat, faithfully brought the miraculous catch of fish to shore, treasuring the gift of grace the Lord had provided through His word.
Both responses are acts of devotion: the passionate urgency of Peter and the quiet faithfulness of the others. May we be like Peter, eager to draw near to the Lord the moment we recognize Him, or like the disciples who cherish and carry the grace He entrusts to us, sharing it with gratitude. Each path honours the Lord, and both are expressions of love and obedience.
Jesus’ second voice was about Invitation. He told them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” & “Come and have breakfast.” Jesus invites them into fellowship and nourishment. He meets their physical needs while quietly restoring their souls after failure and exhaustion.
Jesus not only provides for us but also invites us into a deeper relationship, offering renewal, welcome, and grace.Jesus still calls today, “Come and have breakfast” – come, sit with Me, be nourished, be restored. Will we accept His invitation to His table?
In today’s text, Jesus is not only the provider of a miraculous catch but also the Servant King who prepares and serves breakfast to His disciples. After a long night, He meets them with warmth and says, “Come and have breakfast.” This reveals the heart of our Lord – His grace is not only powerful but also tender, personal, and full of love.
Jesus’ third voice was about the restoration and calling. When Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” three times. It wasn’t because He doubted Peter’s heart – it was because He was reaching into the deepest places of Peter’s wounded soul. Each question peeled back a layer of hurt, guilt, and memory. Peter had denied Jesus three times around a fire of fear; now, beside a fire of grace, Jesus offers him three chances to step into forgiveness and healing.
In asking for Peter’s love, Jesus offers grace – lifting him from failure and entrusting him with a sacred calling. Three times He says, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” “Feed my sheep,” each command deepening in responsibility. From caring for the vulnerable to shepherding the flock, Peter is called to serve with a heart fully devoted to Christ. This is not a casual task, but a mission rooted in restored love.
Jesus’ third voice is one of restoration, calling Peter not just back into relationship, but forward into purpose. Jesus doesn’t scold him for the past – He tenderly restores him for the future, giving him a new commission out of love. Past failures are not the end – Jesus transforms him and his disciples into a new beginning. Love leads to service. Restoration leads to mission.
Peter’s story reminds us that failure doesn’t disqualify us – it prepares us to understand grace and serve with compassion. Jesus restores Peter not in private, but with a public calling. Love for Jesus is not just a feeling we hold in our hearts; it’s a life we live for others. To love Jesus is to feed His sheep, to care for His people, and to reflect His mercy in how we live.
Today, Jesus meets us where we are: in our tiredness, in our hunger, and even in our failures. He calls us to trust Him again – to throw our nets on the right side in accordance with His words. He invites us to His table – to come and have breakfast with Him, to be nourished in His grace. And He asks us the same question He asked Peter: “Do you love me?” If we answer yes, He sends us out: “Then love those I love. Feed, tend, nourish, and serve.”
Love for Jesus leads to action – caring for others, feeding His sheep, living His grace. Obedience brings abundance, His invitation brings communion, and His voice of restoration sends us on mission. This is the journey Jesus sets before us. May we hear His voice today – meeting us in brokenness, restoring us in love, and sending us out, not because we are perfect, but because grace has made us new. Let us hear Jesus’ voice and follow Him with all our hearts.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)