Sunday, April 10, 2016

A Detail about Peter's "Rehabilitation" That You Might Not Have Noticed

This week's Gospel from John is a favorite.   

The Risen Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him three times - a beautiful scene to counter the Apostle's denial just days earlier.  

We've heard this reading many, many times before.  But there is a small, yet significant, detail in John's writing that I just learned this weekend.

When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with a fish on it and bread.

John made it a point to note the kind of fire that Jesus had set up. 

Do you know the only other time in the entire Bible that a charcoal fire appears?

Peter's denial of Christ.

And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold and they warmed themselves.  And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

What a beautiful detail.  Jesus has returned Peter to the sight - and even the smell - of the event that wounded him so badly.  

And thus, while Our Rock left the first charcoal fire in shame, he leaves the second one a healed Shepherd.  


God Bless you.


3 comments:

Victor S E Moubarak said...

What a wonderful point you make here, Michael. Thank you.

God bless you.

Shirley said...

Oh! Thanks for making that point- it had indeed escaped my notice. How very fitting. How often God heals us by returning us to our actions so that we can make amends accordingly. For example, if you are unkind or rude to a person, even in your thoughts, you may just find yourself at that persons mercy, or find an opportunity to make amends for your rudeness by an act of charity towards them.

Mary N. said...

I wondered about the charcoal fire just today but I didn't understand its significance! Thanks, Michael!