“Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” John 21:4
Peter’s bad week (actually longer than a week now) has gotten worse. Peter realized he had squandered his right to be a disciple of the Lord and he decides to go back to his former occupation – he will live as fisherman from here on.
Unfortunately he and six other disciples toil all night at what Peter thought he was good at but their efforts have been a total failure. After a night of labor they did not catch one fish. Inside Peter’s mind he must have been at a loss. He could not succeed as a follower of the Lord and now he fails as a fisherman. What in the word is he going to do? Little does he know that the Lord has him right were he wants him – at rock bottom.
Just as day was breaking Don’t miss the significance of these words. Peter has been in darkness toiling in his own flesh apart from the Lord. He has been on unstable seas for a number of days without realizing it. The Lord left him alone because he is not ready to see his true situation in the light. But the Lord’s silence with Peter does not mean that the Lord has forsaken him. The Lord is waiting until Peter is ready to see the the light for it is only then that Peter can be restored. So John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us the light is beginning to break. Not just physical light but spiritual light as well. The word “light” is often used to describe new beginnings which is what Peter, and all of us require, too often. Jesus stood on the shore Jesus told His disciples to meet Him on the mountain but they disobeyed. Yet the good shepherd always looks after His wandering sheep and so he goes where they are. Yet He does not force Himself on them. He stands on the shore, waiting. Peter must respond and come to Him – just as the prodigal son returned to he father.
Note the contrast. The Lord is standing on the shore – on solid ground. The word standing means physical standing, establishing something, or something firm. Where the Lord stands is very different than where the disciples stand for they are on the vacillating, rolling and very unstable sea where they are learning a very important lesson the hard way .
Yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus When believers walk in the flesh we easily forget that Jesus is with us, never forsaking us. The Lord is there but our flesh can darken the eyes of even those who claim to know the Lord. The word “know” that is used here is not the typical word for knowledge. Instead John uses a word which means to see or perceive with the eyes or the mind. The word can be translated remember or appreciate. His disciples had forgotten Him.(Remember the Father of the prodigal son saw him before the son recognized the father.) What can we learn? The words leap out at us from the page. Peter has forgotten the Lord, he no longer appreciates who He is. No wonder he walks in the flesh. When one forgets who Jesus truly is – the Almighty God of the Universe, we will place ourselves on the throne of our lives instead of the Lord. It is no wonder that Scripture repeatedly warns us not to forget God – to remember who He is. Reflect on that situation. The disciples still called the name of Jesus.
They partially obeyed him and went to Galilee. The Lord He is in their minds, but not in their hearts. Thus we realize that forgetting who the Lord is starts the road to backsliding. It shows we have reversed
roles – placing ourselves on the throne that belongs to Christ alone. What is the remedy? The Lord tells us. “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent…”