The Second Sunday after Easter
May 4, 2025
(John 21:1–8, NIV84) “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.”
Jesus appeared to seven disciples who went fishing. Had they decided to find jobs now that Jesus was gone? Their intentions are not clearly explained.
But when an unrecognized man told them where to fish, they caught a huge number of fish.
When John told Peter who the man was, Peter jumped into the water and headed for shore, anxious to see the Lord. His sins of denial no doubt weighed heavily on Peter and he couldn’t wait to see the Lord and hear the words of Jesus.
Are we always so anxious and ready to repent and apologize? Peter couldn’t wait. He felt a great need for absolution. As you will read next week, Jesus reinstated Peter as an Apostle, one who was to be sent out to give the message of salvation to others.
What a great example of wanting to hear words of Jesus!
Prayer
Almighty God, who by the humiliation and resurrection of Thy Son didst raise up the fallen world, grant unto Thy faithful sheep and lambs unending joy, and those whom Thou hast delivered from the danger of everlasting death do Thou make partakers of eternal joys. This we ask through that same Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord. Amen
