CHANGED!
As the sun was rising, Jesus stood at the water's edge.
All his life, Simon Peter had known WHERE he was going. Even as a child, when the other boys in the village were still deciding what jobs they wanted to do, Simon knew EXACTLY what he wanted! It had been the same when he had decided to follow Jesus. HE had always ben so sure of what Jesus was, and HE had always been so sure of where JESUS was going! Now, after the dreadful events in Jerusalem and on Calvary in the last few days, for the first time in his life, he wasn't sure about anything. He had found it difficult coping with Jesus's death, but coping with the idea that he was ALIVE again was even more difficult!
"Tell my brothers to go to Galilee," was the message that the angel had given the women who'd found the empty tomb. "There they will see Jesus." So they'd left Jerusalem and had come home to Galilee, but, even there, in the place he knew so well, Peter had felt no better. He had waited and waited, expecting Jesus to appear at any moment. But he hadn't come.
He was in the depths of despair. Perhaps the women had got the message wrong. Perhaps Jesus WASN'T coming. After all, why SHOULD he come? The name of 'Simon Peter' would hardly be at the top of his 'best friend' list! For he was the one who had denied him. Not even once, but THREE times! AND after all the foolish, boastful things he'd said! It was hardly surprising that Jesus hadn't singled HIM out! If only he could talk to him. If only he could tell him how sorry he was. If only he could ask for his forgiveness!
But it wasn't in Peter's nature just to sit and wait. From the time he could walk he had loved to go fishing. He thought of the long, quiet nights on the Lake. Of the happiness that had never failed him. Surely there, he would find peace! "I'm going fishing," he said to the others. "Peter, what a great idea!" they said. "We'll come with you!"
He had thought that actually DOING something would be better than waiting. Out on the Lake, he found that it was worse. He couldn't complain, the men worked as best they could. But it was obvious that the old jobs simply weren't the same. All the joy and sparkle had gone out of them. Now, it all seemed just a waste of time. Even the fish had deserted him. For they had worked hard all night and had still caught nothing!
As the sun came up that morning, Peter could have cried with disappointment. Was THIS how life was going to be in the future? No joy. No happiness. And - what was worse - no Jesus. What was the point of going on?
When they were building the Union Pacific Railroad in America, an elaborate trestle bridge had to be constructed to cross a large and deep canyon in the West. When it was finished, the builder loaded a train with enough extra carriages and equipment to double its normal load. The train was then driven to the middle of the bridge, where it stayed for a whole day. "Are you trying to break this bridge?" asked one of the workers. "No," replied the builder. "I'm trying to prove that the bridge WON'T break!"
Standing in his boat, depressed and discouraged, and sunk in gloom, Peter didn't see the figure on the shore, or hear the voice. "Have you caught anything?" "Not a thing!" "Throw your net out on the RIGHT-hand side, and see what you'll catch!" Peter roused from his misery to find the men hanging on for dear life to a net FULL of fish. "Peter! Peter!" said John, shaking him. "Look! It's the Lord! It's Jesus!" He pointed to the figure standing on the shore.
Peter could hardly believe his eyes. It was true! It WAS Jesus! He HAD kept his promise! Pulling his coat around him, he leapt into the water. This time, Jesus would not get away! This time, he must speak to him! But, half-way to the shore, he began to panic. He remembered again that awful night before Jesus's death. His face flamed as he remembered his stupid words. Surely, Jesus wouldn't want to speak to him? Surely, Jesus wouldn't still be his friend? Not after all he'd done! How could ANYONE ever forgive him?
Many years' ago, a young nun had a vision of Jesus. She reported this to the Mother Superior of her convent, and the Mother Superior reported it to the Bishop. The Bishop, who, to be truthful, was rather sceptical about the whole affair, listened to her story and then decided to test her. He ordered that, the next time Jesus appeared to her, she should ask him about the sins that the Bishop had committed before he became a Bishop. Some months' later, the nun returned to the Bishop's Palace. She was ushered into the Bishop's private study. When she was seated before him, the Bishop asked her about her second vision., ""Did you put my question to Jesus?" he asked solemnly. She said that she had. "And what did he say?" asked the Bishop, nervously. "The Lord Jesus said .... " The young nun paused for a moment. Then she said quietly, "Jesus said: 'Tell him that I DON'T REMEMBER!"
Reaching the shore, Peter's legs could hold him no longer. He fell at Jesus's feet. "Oh, Lord, Lord," he said, brokenly. "Please, please ....." He looked up into Jesus's face. The face that he had thought that he would never see on earth again. As Jesus smiled down at him - the smile he knew so well - suddenly, he knew that Jesus understood. He understood everything - his temptation and weakness: his sorrow and remorse. And he had forgiven him - just as if there was NOTHING TO FORGIVE! He felt Jesus's old familiar peace surround and hold him. He was still loved - loved as only Jesus could love! He felt all his fears and worries melt away, and his heart filled with happiness. For, finally, he knew - really KNEW - that, as long as he was with Jesus, then it didn't really matter WHERE he was going!
With one look, Jesus showed Peter that we have a God who not only forgives - but forgets! In the midst of all this life's cares and worries, sometimes WE can forget HOW MUCH God loves us, and HOW MUCH we have been forgiven! We lose sight of who we are, and what we are!
During a violent storm, a little church on the South Coast was demolished by the high winds. A few days' later, the congregation called a meeting and decided that they didn't have enough money to rebuilt it. So, it would have to be pulled down. Then, the Minister had an unexpected visitor. It was an official from the Admiralty in London. He asked if the congregation intended to rebuild the church. The Minister explained to him all the reasons why it just wasn't possible. "Well," said the man from the Admiralty, "If you won't rebuild your church, we will. The cross on your spire is on all our charts and maps. It is the landmark by which ships from all over the world steer their course!"
No-one know exactly WHAT Jesus said to Peter that morning. Perhaps his words were too precious for him ever to share with anyone. But Peter never forgot that sunrise. The memory of it stayed with him all his life. On the busy quayside at Capernaum, Jesus's words "Follow me!" changed Simon the fisherman. On the quiet shores of Lake Galilee, Peter's words "Forgive me!" changed Peter, the man. But God's unconditional love and forgiveness can't only change Simon Peter. It can also change us!
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you came to teach us who God is and what he wants of us. Help us to listen to your words. And help us to obey them, whatever it may cost. So that we may always live to the glory of your name. Amen