The Unconditional Love

The chapter John 21 talks about the third visit of Jesus to His disciples after His resurrection. Peter and other disciples were seen spending time in the sea shore and peter takes the other disciples along with him to catch fish. (v. 3). They tried the whole night but couldn't catch any. In the morning Jesus was standing on the shore, but they didn't recognize Him. He asks them, have you caught anything to eat? and they said, No!

Then Jesus asks the disciples to cast their net on the right side of the boat. They did as He said, and it was such a big catch, that they were not able to haul it. Seeing this John realizes that He is the Lord and tells peter that it is indeed Jesus. Immediately peter finding himself without cloth, wears his upper garment and dives into the sea to meet Jesus by swimming as they were approaching closer to the shore. While the other disciples were still trying hard to haul the catch and bring it to the shore.

Two kinds of people are seen here, one is peter and the other disciples. Peter love towards Jesus, was evident in Gethsemane garden when he cuts the soldier ear, as the soldier tried to arrest Jesus. So as soon as he realizes it is Jesus, he covers himself and jumps into the sea to meet Him before others. But the rest of the disciples brought all the fishes they caught after much struggle of hauling yet the leader left them in the boat and rushed towards Jesus. 

 
Some people are like peter, who loves Jesus but doesn't love Him unconditionally, enough to obey His command, but would like stay in His presence and Glorify Him. Jesus's command is to catch some fish to eat, the other disciples also found out that He is Jesus, but still they finished the job Jesus gave them by bringing the net to the shore, if they all had followed peter, the job wouldn't have been done. It is not good to be alone in His presence, without obeying Him. Yes, being in His presence every day makes us happy and will spiritually enrich us. But obeying His command of catching fish(people) is what makes Him happy. In the end the disciples were able to have breakfast with Him! What a glory and honor for them to share the fish and bread with Jesus. This is the reward we would get for obeying Him unconditionally.

Probably that is why Jesus kept asking peter three times if he loves Him unconditionally(v. 15,16,17)  but peter kept saying that he loves Him with a brotherly/friendly love. No disciples were perfect, everyone had their flaws but in the end everyone finished their jobs given to them and died as martyrs, what a privilege! Even though peter didn't love Jesus like He would have liked, still He gave peter a big responsibility, to Shepard His sheep. Unconditional love is what Jesus wants from us, no matter what come across we have to continue to finish the job given to us. Yes, being in His presence, worshiping Him and glorifying Him is good, but its only good for us. God expects more from us. More unconditional love, more of action from us. So Lets catch some fish.

in HIM
Derickson Timothy