My Stories

 

BY THE SEA OF GALILEE

 

            This wonderful story is found in the Bible, in the Gospel of John, Chapter 21.  One day, not long after Easter Sunday, when Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter and John and five other of the disciples were walking along the Sea of Galilee.  The sea was so peaceful and delightful as they walked along the seashore watching the birds dip into the waves catching fish.  And all of a sudden, Peter said, "Oh there's my boat.  I want to go fishing.  "We will go with you", the six other men said.  So all seven of them climbed into the little boat and they pushed out from the seashore and went out into the big sea.  It was almost evening and the sun was turning a kind of orange color in the sky.  It was getting cool. 

 

      They threw the net into the water, waited and then they pulled it up beside the boat and they kept doing this all night long.  They’d throw the net into the water and then pull it up, and throw it in and pull it up.  They fished all night long.  But they caught nothing.  They didn't even catch one little fish.  Finally, when morning came and the sun was just peeking over the hills and warming the day, they noticed that they had drifted close to shore.  And over the water they heard a voice, “Children.  You don’t have any fish, do you?”  And then they saw a man walking along the seashore wearing a white robe and they weren't sure who he was.  They answered, "No, not a one.  We haven't caught any fish."  And the man said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will catch some fish."  Well, you know the men had been fishing all night and they couldn't believe the fish would be on the other side of the boat.  But they said, "Oh, why not?!"  So they went out again into the sea and they threw the net over on the right side of the boat.  And as soon as they had done it, a strange thing happened.  It began filling up with fish.  John looked out at the net and he saw the fish jumping and splashing in the water.  And it was fuller and fuller and began tugging at the little boat and rocking it. 

 

        Then John looked at the man on the seashore and he knew at once that it was Jesus.  John excitedly told Peter, "Look!  It's Jesus."  And Peter was so excited that he grabbed his coat, he put it on and then he jumped right into the water and swam ashore.  He couldn't even wait.  The other six men tugged at the net and they pulled in all the fish gradually into the boat and they rowed to shore.  When they had gotten back to the seashore and they went up to Jesus and Peter, they saw that Jesus had prepared a nice, hot, roaring fire.  And on that fire he had some fresh fish cooking and bread to eat.  Jesus knew that the men would be hungry and cold after fishing all night long, so he had prepared them a nice breakfast.  And the men came and brought all of the fish.  And they counted them, and they were big fish.  And they had caught a hundred and fifty-three fish.

 

          Jesus said, "Bring some more over.  Let's cook some of your fish for breakfast."  After they had eaten and the men were rested and refreshed and felt so good watching the beautiful new day,  Jesus said to Peter, he said, "Peter, do you love me?"  And Peter answered and said, "Oh yes, Lord, you know that I do."  And then Jesus said, "Take care of my lambs."  And then a second time Jesus asked  Peter, “Do you love me?"  “Oh yes Lord, you know that I love you."  Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."  Then a third time, Jesus asked, "Peter, do you love me?"  Oh, Peter felt very sad that Jesus should ask that question three whole times.  And Peter said, "Lord, you know all things.  You know that I love you."  And Jesus said, "Okay, take care of my sheep." 

 

       The sheep and lambs are all the people who believe in Jesus.  Jesus is the shepherd and we are his sheep.  Are you one of Jesus’ lambs?  You can be.  Just ask Him to be your shepherd and then follow Him.