By Robert E. Coleman
Love sums up the Great Commission. Jesus said, "all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments": to love God with all your heart, soul and mind, and to love your neighbor as you love yourself (
Matt. 22:37-40;
Mark 12:28-33; cf.
Matt. 5:43-48;
Luke 6:27-36;
10:27;
Deut. 6:5;
Lev. 19:18). Where such love is the motivation of our labor, the effort cannot be in vain; but where it is not the heartbeat of our life, whatever we do will be wasted energy (
1 Cor. 13:1-13). In its larger context, then, everything about our ministry turns on love.
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This truth runs through Scripture, but it is focused no where more personally by Jesus than in a confrontation with Peter after the resurrection (
John 21:1-23). Some of the disciples had been fishing all night on the sea of Tiberias, and had caught nothing. As the dawn began to break, Jesus appears on the shore, though they do not recognize Him in the mist. Showing an interest in their occupation, He asks about their catch. When they confess their failure, He tells them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. Instinctively, they follow His directions, and almost immediately their nets fill with fish.
The experience recalls an incident a few years before when four of these same disciples, after a night of fishing without success, were told by Jesus to launch out into deeper waters and let down their nets. When they obeyed, the catch of fish was so great that the boat began to sink, and they had to call for help. Afterward, Jesus entreated them to follow Him, and He would make them to become fishers of men (
Mark 1:16-20;
Matt. 4:18-22;
Luke 5:1-11).
As the disciples struggle to bring in the nets, the similarity with the other experience cannot be mistaken, and John exclaims: "It is the Lord!" (
John 21:7). At this, Peter - unable to restrain his excitement -- dives into the water and swims ashore.
When the disciples get their boat to land, Jesus has a fire kindled and some fish frying over it. He asks them to bring over some of their fish and join Him for breakfast.