On The Shore

John 21:3-4
3 "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.
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
(NIV)
One day my daughter, Sahara , came running up to me saying, “Donovan hit me.” I called for Donovan, but he did not come. He knew he was in hot water and was on the run. I went to go look for him. After awhile, I found him hiding in the closet. I asked him, “What in the world are you doing hiding in the closet?” He really did not have anything to say for himself. Justice was administered, and it was only a short while till things were back to normal.
When we blow it or fall into sin, it is in our human nature to go into seclusion and try to avoid facing the consequences of our wrong. Peter had denied Jesus three times. He had broken his promise that he had so confidently made in front of everybody. So now, Peter is going out to go fishing. He is sliding back to his old self. I am sure he wanted to just be alone, but others followed. The last time Peter saw Jesus was when the rooster crowed after his third denial.
Luke 22:61
The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."(NIV)
I can imagine that that image of Jesus staring at Peter would forever be burned into his memory. I am sure that every time from then on, when he heard that rooster crow, he would be taken back to that day. Although Peter felt physically distant from Jesus and was probably feeling depressed, Jesus was standing on the shore watching him. Jesus didn’t have to look for Peter. He knew right where Peter was. He knows right where we are today as well. Jesus went to Peter. Jesus does the same for you and me when we sin. He comes to us and waits on our shore, and is waiting for the words to roll off our lips, “Forgive me, Jesus.”

Copyright 2005 Greg Graham