THINK TOGETHER.
Have you ever felt like Jesus couldn’t forgive you?
READ TOGETHER.
John 21:4-8. 4Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
On day 16, we read about the day that Jesus went fishing. Do you remember that story? The disciples had been out all night trying to catch fish, but without any luck. Then Jesus came along. Do you remember what Jesus told them to do? He said, cast your nets one more time and you will catch fish. Reluctantly, they did what Jesus said, and did they catch any fish? Yes, they caught more fish than they could haul in.
Peter’s reaction was very important on that day. He looked at Jesus and said “depart from me because I am a sinful man.” Yes, Peter was sinful, and so are we. But Jesus didn’t leave Peter. Instead he told Peter that he would make him a fisher of men.
Today’s story sounds very similar, doesn’t it? Jesus. The disciples. Fishing. A huge catch of fish.
But there is something very different in this story too. Peter. Peter is different. How did Peter respond to Jesus the first time there was a great catch of fish? He told Jesus to get away from him. But how did Peter respond at this second great catch of fish? He jumped out of the boat and swam to Jesus – he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
Now what you may or may not remember is that Peter just committed one of the worst sins ever. On the night Jesus was crucified, Peter denied Jesus three times. Three times he lied and said that he didn’t know Jesus. When Jesus needed him the most, Peter wasn’t there for Jesus.
But Jesus is always there for us, even when we sin. Jesus always comes looking for us, even when we are off fishing trying to hide from him. And knowing that Jesus will always love us, and always forgive us, and always come after us should make us want to run to him (or swim to him) like Peter did. Even in his worst moment, Peter didn’t want Jesus to leave; he wanted to be with Jesus more than anything.
Have you had a bad moment recently? Don’t tell Jesus to leave. Run to Jesus, instead. He will never trun you away.
Because of Jesus we are always forgiven by God.
With Jesus we are always allowed to run to him, even at our worst moments.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Act it out. Read today’s scripture again and have your family act it out together. Have fun, but also talk about what it would feel like to swim to Jesus.
PRAY TOGETHER
Father, I am forgiven through Jesus, even for my worst sins. Help me to want to run to Jesus even when I mess up, especially when I mess up. Amen.
TLICfamily 