Because I know that Jesus heals, and am a witness to many healings physically and emotionally, I must praise His healing to our brokenness. Spiritual brokenness is real and only bridged by the bridge builder Jesus. We are to continually look towards Him to heal the scattered parts of our soul. I know He wants us WHOLE.

It is because of Brokenness that we need Jesus, and as God’s love always overcomes brokenness, Jesus’s repair stitches us INTO His Net. His love heals our broken connection. Love gives and IS a net gain of infinite strength. Jesus repairs despair. 

Risen Jesus, on the shore of Galilee, called to the boat of fishing disciples in the sea, fishing for fish like the old days but in new times: “Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.”

The NET was NOT torn, oh how true that Jesus and God’s love is an UNBROKEN NET. Once we have been caught by Jesus, we may fall out of the boat on occasion and we certainly ARE big fish that thrash about, but we will NOT fall out of the unbroken net, for Jesus and God thru the Holy Spirit LOVES to rescue us, pull us in. Their love holds us in. The Savior saves the day. A strong net that will never tear. Their net is always stronger than how evil may fish for you.

After their meal of fish, fish newly caught from the boat as well as some already cooked by Jesus, our flawed friend Peter was specifically called out and reconciled by the Lord. Around the fire, these memories of Peter’s three denials just a few days earlier must have been so strong, those denials to curious crowds that Peter was Jesus’s confidant. 3 denials, 3 crows of the rooster. We now see Peter being readied by Jesus’s mercy to be returned to ministry, to be given a clear and all-encompassing mission as leader to his fellow disciples and all… Peter will even learn about his own future death at old age, but most importantly Peter will learn that despite His shortcomings, He is STILL loved and needed. 

Oh, the GIFT of forgiveness. The knowledge of acceptance. Jesus knows Peter needs this. Peter knows He needs this too.

“Do you love me?” 

“Do you love me?”

“Do you love me?”  

Jesus questions Peter three times with the same question, Peter pleads his love three times, then Jesus answers three times with an all-encompassing meaning, ALL based on ONE command: “FEED MY SHEEP”.

Peter is now us, we are now Peter. All repurposed to original purpose. Restored to be repaired and keep being repaired. All called to strengthen our brothers. If we are surprised by God desiring our repair, we shouldn’t be because it is because of each person’s unique brokenness that God COULD repair each person uniquely. And then the witness of our healing as a sign to all that God heals. As Romans 8:28-29 (a repeated scripture for me this week) avows: “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

In my brokenness, I saw the light of the Lord looking for me.

Brokenness is NOT broken nets, the Lord’s net will hold you. Brokenness of human righteousness allows for Jesus to break curses that stop you, break chains that bind you. Jesus is remembered in broken bread – which is only shareable when broken. Broken souls are for healing.

Brokenness is NOT broken love, God is Love. Brokenness IS breaking blockades, breaking blinders, breaking cycles of sins, breaking pride. Broken souls are for healing. 

Because we have denied Jesus in the past, His LOVE given for reconciling us has been Affirmed. And Reaffirmed. 

Because of weakness in us, we have become restorable using His Strength.

Because we were lost, we have been Found. 

Because we have hungered, we have been Fed.

Because of Jesus, we are One with Him.

Because of brokenness, we are made WHOLE. 

Because Jesus reinstates us, like Peter, we are wholly His.

Amen 

——-

Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish (John 21)

Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

“No,” they answered.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

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. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 

Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Jesus Reinstates Peter:  When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”     Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”   Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”