February 25, 2026

GOD’S WORD FOR TODAY:

“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!”’As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, ‘It is the Lord,’ he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.”

(John 21.7)

TODAY’S REFLECTION ON GOD’S WORD:

I just wanted you to see what a difference authentic discipleship makes in life. As John brings his gospel narrative of the earthly ministry of Jesus to a close, he offers an immersion story. Yesterday, I suggested that our discipleship is being like a net cast into the waters of life to bringing in a great harvest of fish (God’s people.) We are in the hands of Jesus who casts us out into the depths of life. As He lifts us from the water, so, too, does He lift others up with us. Our baptism becomes not just an introduction into the community of faith but a re-enactment of Christ’s resurrection in our own lives. More than that, it is a sign of our belief in the immersion and resurrection of others who will come to believe because of our testimony of faith. Such a story exists in John, chapter 21. And while we are easily distracted by the great volume of fish which are caught, numbering 153, the most impactful part of the story is Peter’s reaction to knowing it was Jesus who still was casting him upon the waters. Some call the whole scene Jesus means of reinstalling and affirming the place of Peter in the scope of ministry. It is not Peter alone, mind you, but all those to whom and on whom the Word of God is cast. Solomon wrote, “Cast your bread upon the waters and in many days, you will find it returned.” (Ecclesiastes 11.1) We do not know when the bread will come back. We are assured it will come back. Similarly is the Parable of the Sower who casts the seed upon the various soils. The belief is in the seed that it will do what it was intended to do: sprout. The volume of harvest is dependent on the type of soils. Yet, let us not be judgmental and assume the harvest is limited to fertile soil. The seed serves many purposes in its various stages of sprouting.

It is here that I am challenged by Peter’s jumping out of the boat and thrashing his way to meet Jesus on the shore. There is no “If it is you ask me to come to you on the water” story and Peter walks on the water until he doesn’t. (Matthew 14) There is no miraculous catch of fish after fishing unsuccessfully all night and then Peter accepts the call to “Follow Me.” (Matthew 4; Luke 5) No, in John, Peter and some of the disciples use fishing as an escape from the struggle to make sense of the death and resurrection of Jesus. They are taking measure of what their lives now mean after a three year investment of “time in the Kingdom of God” to be in the world and not of it. The testimony of the resurrection immerses them in a brand new world. There is no talk of miracles and wisdom teaching. The question is of inclusion, meaning and purpose. Jesus has become something far more than what they had come to know from the start. He isn’t just their boyhood friend and compatriot. He isn’t simply someone they went to synagogue with and shared table fellowship. He was just one who commanded waves, wind and wild demons as well as joust with the broken leadership of the Temple, Jerusalem and Israel. Peter’s confession of “You are the Christ, the Son of God” had been overshadowed by “I never knew the man.” He was awash with grief. He was not discipleship material. He was a self-wounded man adrift on the water. Now, in the moment of recognition of days past, the bread of life returns to the shore. Peter doesn’t walk on water. He dives in fully clothed and makes his way to shore. He is lifted out of the water and welcomed back at table fellowship. There was a fire with roasting fish, some bread and a little wine. It was a scene they may have lived out many times before. Now it was new. It wasn’t Jesus. It was the resurrected Lord of lords and King of kings. Peter is humbled. He does not boast. He does not brag. He does not speak out of turn. His spirit has been tamed as surely as the Gaderene demonic. Jesus sees it. The other disciples saw it. Don’t we see it? Authentic discipleship aligns itself with believing in Jesus and not clutching so tightly the fact Jesus believes in us. How many times did Jesus say, “Your faith has made you well”? Jesus gave us a reason to believe. We are supposed to do the same. Are we?

TODAY’S PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING:

Father, in these days we are finding the need to believe even more than ever before. We all have known trouble, some in greater ways than others, but You are offering us the assurance that we will not be consumed by it forever. Regardless of the “time” we are in and the “time” we have been given, we ask for Your Holy Spirit which Jesus asked You to share with us, to lead and guide and direct us in the paths we should go. Teach us what we still need to learn. Empower us to put that learning into action. Bless our actions not as a works righteousness but as righteous works of faith, hope and love in Jesus’ name. AMEN.