That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake.” vs. 7
John 21:1-8
Chapter 21 appears to be a kind of an epilogue that was added to the gospel of John sometime after it was completed. It consists of an account of another resurrection appearance by Jesus, this time in Galilee, and could have been an attempt to rehabilitate the image of Peter who had earlier denied Jesus. The section starts with some of the disciples back in their hometown when Peter suggests that they go fishing. After they worked all night and caught nothing, at dawn a man appears on the shore and calls out to them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Only after another disciple recognizes the Risen Lord does Peter take action. He leaps into the water, struggles ashore, and there discovers that it is indeed Jesus.
The whole episode reminds us that resurrection is mysterious, and isn’t a matter of physical resuscitation. The Risen Christ is elusive, full of the Spirit, and is always full of surprises. Even now the Resurrected One appears out of nowhere in our lives for the purpose of rehabilitation. We probably won’t recognize him – he’s a master of disguise, but when he makes himself known, often in the breaking of bread, his mission is unmistakable. We are a sent people!
Thought for the Day: What’s Jesus’ favorite disguise?
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