In John 21, we read of an incredible experience that seven of the disciples have with the risen Jesus. Peter and six others had spent the night fishing on the Sea of Tiberius (Galilee) with nothing to show for it. They were approaching the shore as the sun began to rise when they saw a lone figure standing on the shore. This yet unknown person asked if they had had any success. After they told him, “No,” he told them where they should cast their net. They followed his instruction and caught more fish than they were able to haul. They recognized that this was no ordinary man on the shore that morning. It was none other than the risen Savior. At this discovery, Peter threw on his cloak, jumped into the water and swam about a hundred yards to be close to Jesus.

John doesn’t tell us why Peter does this when the rest of the group seems content to bring the boat and their catch to the shore to meet Jesus. As Bible students we are aware of Peter’s somewhat impulsive nature. As the one who is always ready to do something and often speaking maybe a little too quickly at times, perhaps it is just part of Peter’s personality that causes him to do this. Maybe it is more than just that. It could be that he knows his desperate need to be close to Jesus. Considering his recent failure as he denied knowing Jesus, he needs to know that the relationship can be restored.

I think we can relate. There are those times in our lives when we know we have failed, we know we have damaged the relationship between ourselves and Jesus and it need to be made right. We need healing. We need restored. And just as he was on that particular day on the shoreline, Jesus stands ready to heal, forgive, and restore. Since that is the case, what is it that we need to do to access that gift?

Face our failures. As Peter ran up to Jesus that day, he found him standing by charcoal fire. It had not been very long ago that Peter was standing around a charcoal fire in the courtyard of the High Priest. That night he had been asked about his relationship with Jesus. And just hours after asserting that he would lay down his life for Jesus (John 13:37), he denied being a follower. The sight and smell of that fire may have caused the memories of that terrible night to come flooding back. I wonder if Peter was tempted to back away from Jesus. Did he wonder if Jesus could forgive his cowardice? Did he wonder if Jesus would even still want someone who had failed so badly to be part of his people? Would he ever be able to be close to Jesus again?

Memories of our failures, of our sinful pasts, seem always close at hand. When they come to mind, Satan often whispers these same kinds of questions in our ears. He would like for us to believe that those failures define us and are obstacles that we cannot overcome. So, instead of running to Jesus, we keep our distance. We continue to carry the guilt of our failures with us, trying to keep them hidden. But distance from Jesus won’t heal us. The only way to healing is to confess those faults, and realize that without him we can never be good enough, strong enough, or holy enough. Realizing our weaknesses and confessing our failures reminds us that we are utterly dependent on him to be made righteous. Distance won’t help. We have to draw near to him for strength and help.

Fall on his mercy. It is impressive to me that Jesus never stops serving. He had taught, healed, and fed them. He had washed their feet, prayed for, and given his life for these men who were there that morning. As if that wasn’t enough, he provides them with a net full of fish and then feeds them to boot. He continues to provide, to have mercy and compassion.

Mercy and grace are sometimes hard for us to accept. We like to earn what it is that we have, and mercy and grace are gifts we cannot earn. They are extended to us because of the great love that Jesus has for us. We don’t earn his forgiveness and restoration. He offers it to us as we realize our great need for it. The same John who shares this encounter with us also wrote, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Follow his lead. After breakfast that morning, Jesus and Peter have a conversation that begins with Jesus asking Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times Jesus repeats this question with Peter responding, “Yes” every time. After each of Peter’s answers, Jesus gives him a different but similar directive. “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” Each of these invites Peter into the continuing purposes of Jesus. They instruct Peter to follow in the steps of Jesus, doing what he had seen Jesus do time and time again during his ministry.

Restoration calls for a response. Realizing the great gift of hope, healing, and restoration that we have been given through Jesus, we devote our lives to him. We realize the position we were in and the direction in which we were headed and do not want to go that way again. The good news is that we don’t have to do try and achieve that goal on our own. Jesus promised us the Spirit to help shape and mold us into his image. He knows that continuing to walk in his steps is where we find hope, healing, and purpose. Following after him and having our lives shaped more and more like his is our response to the healing and restoration that he has extended to us. It is a demonstration of the gratitude and the love that we have for the one who came to heal and to restore us when our sins had separated us from him.