What will I ask when I get to Heaven?
Will we be able to talk with others after we pass through heavens gates? If we can talk with others, who can we talk with? Will we be able to ask questions of anyone from any time period? I don’t see why not.
The following are questions I have about the last miracle recorded in the gospel of John. I have concluded that some questions will not be answered until we get to heaven.
What numbers in the bible are just numbers and which ones have additional meanings?
The bible has reoccurring numbers that tie things together. Certain repeating numbers seem to have more significance than others such as 3, 7, 10, and 40. But how much searching for secret meanings within biblical numbers is too much searching?
How much number crunching is too much number crunching for an engineer? We love numbers. The circle and p are fascinating. God created crazy complex math and fascinating science that screams the existence of an intelligence designer.
What is the significance of 153?
Jesus told the disciples to cast the net on the other side of the boat. They did so, and a large number of fish was caught; 153 to be exact.
This last miracle of Jesus Christ seems to have created a wild-goose chase that has perplexed many scholars for many years. A quick web search will reveal that there are many conflicting explanations given for possible deeper meanings for the153 fish. Many are very interesting, but most don’t fit very well with what was likely happening inside of Peter at the time of this miracle.
Below is work that Archimedes (287-212BC) did on the “Measurement of the fish”. A fish is formed when two overlapping circles are drawn so that the edge of one circle passes through the center of the other. Many of his calculations contained the number 153 and Greeks at the time of Jesus or John would have been familiar with the Archimedes’ work (Archimedes-measurement-of-a-circle). That is interesting, but does it relate to Peter?
The most popular view these days seems to be that the reference to 153 was an arbitrary, unimportant large number with no significance. Well…that may be right, but, personally, I’m not satisfied or convinced it has no deeper meaning when this view comes from people who don’t use numbers to make a living. There are other interesting facts about 153.
Augustine of Hippo apparently saw the connection to the number 17 as a triangular number (17+16+15+…2+1=153). He was no light weight in the arena of theology. He further noted that there were 7 gifts of the holy spirit and 10 commandments (7+10=17).
Does the number nine have significance?
1+5+3 = 9
There are 9 sign miracles in the Book of John.
There are 9 “I am…..” statements in the book of John
John 4:26 - “I am he” (the messiah)
John 6:35 - “I am the bread of life”
John 8:12 “I am the light of the world”
John 8:58 “before Abraham was born, I am"
John 10:7 “I am the door of the sheep”
John 10:11 "I am the good shepherd.
John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life.”
John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”
John 15:1 “I am the vine; you are the branches”
There are 9 Beatitudes - (Matthew 5) - the 9th is for association with Jesus. Some combine the last two, but it looks like 9 to me.
The 9th Plague of Egypt - (Exodus 10:10) - The 9th plague was 3 days of darkness. After the darkness, God came to Egypt. Judgement came.
The 9th hour - (Mark 15:33) - Jesus died on the cross for our sins. Darkness covered the earth. 3 days later he arose.
The 9th miracle in the Book of John - (Matthew 28:1-7) The resurrection.
The 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit - (Galatians 5:22)
With the wide range of explanations on the number 153, it appears we will not know for sure of its significance until we get to heaven. However, there is no harm in searching it out as long as it doesn’t divide or produce thoughts or actions that are contrary to scriptures.
Is the last miracle really about a math trick or was it about Peter?
The last recorded miracle of Jesus was clearly centered around Simon (hearer) called Peter(rock) the son of Jonah (dove).
I feel as though we just don’t know as much about this man as we should. There might even be a mischaracterization of who he was.
Growing up I was impressed with the story of Peter stepping out of the boat and walking on water. Who has done something remotely similar to that? That was awesome!
But that miracle is not popular today. The popular thing to do is talk about Peter as some sort of overly impulsive person that puts his foot in his mouth before thinking things through. To be honest, this attitude toward Peter rubs me the wrong way.
Who was Peter’s Father?
Was it John or Jonah?
Peter’s father was likely named Jonah, after the prophet, who was swallowed by a fish when he went the opposite direction that God wanted him to go.
That might be an interesting comparison to ponder. Are we consumed by fish or are we catching fish? It was not a whale. It was a fish. There were other interesting similarities between Peter and Jonah and what happened in Joppa. Why? Was this on purpose?
How much infilling of the Holy Spirit happened prior to Pentecost?
Jesus breathed on them and said receive the Holy Spirit, yet later HE said unless I go the helper cannot come. There is nothing to support a claim that Jesus and Holy Spirit cannot be present in the same area. They are one. When Jesus was baptized the Spirit descended like a dove.
There are similarities with Moses, Elijah, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Peter. The Holy Spirit surely was present in their lives.
Moses felt inadequate but he still went as God’s messenger. He later needed a veil to hide his face.
Elijah seemed to have a strong connection with the Holy Spirit. Elijah did great signs and it says that Elisha asked for a double portion of his spirit.
Jonah didn’t want go to Nineveh, but he still went with physical signs on his body. Jonah did not orchestrate the events. There was no way Jonah would have survived 3 days in a belly of a fish without God’s intervention. Coming out of a literal belly, was this a reference to being born again? As a minimum it was a second chance at life or a divine redirection in life.
The bible states that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit while in the womb and later preached and baptized out in the wilderness. That was not his idea, was it?
Peter felt discouraged at first, but after this encounter on the beach, the next we hear of Peter is Pentecost. He preached and baptized to a large crowd and 3000 were added to their number. Tradition tells us he was later killed on a cross. How did he do these things if not by the Holy Spirit of God?
Each were called to be God’s messenger in very special ways and God completed in them what He wanted by the Holy Spirit. The bible tells us that no one has seen the Father. The working of God through these men was of the Holy Spirit.
Their meaning of their names are interesting:
- Moses - extracted - 1400 BC
- Elijah - my God is Yahweh - 900 BC
- Jonah - dove - 800 BC
- John - YHWH is gracious, YHWH is gracious
- Peter - Rock
The meanings of the names seems to follow the path of redemption. As a minimum, I am convinced that nothing of anything significance gets accomplished without the involvement and direction of the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to be on any other path than the one with the Holy Spirit.
What was the sign of Jonah?
Is there a reason the meaning of the name Jonah is dove. Dove had been a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Jews would not have a sign given to them except for the sign of Jonah. What did that mean? They saw signs when Jesus performed several miracles.
Some say Jonah’s sign was that he was in a fish for 3 days. But a sign is not a sign unless someone sees it. Who saw it? No one. Then what was the “sign of Jonah” He did no miracle.
Jonah’s sign; his only evidence of a miracle, was his acid bleached body from being in a fish for 3 days. He did not have to hold a sign or perform a sign. He was the sign. I’m sure people were staring at him. He probably did not have to say much or speak very loudly to be convincing. Was it painful?
Jonah might have been dead in that fish then brought back to life when the fish spit him out. How much air does a person need to breathe for three days. Fish do not have air in their bellies.
Did he have PTSD? Is that why he asked to die? Was he afraid to enter into that violent Assyrian society and peach repentance to people that might kill him. Which was a worst place to be; a belly of a fish, or walking into a violent nation that hated the Jews?
It is interesting that the story of Jonah is re-read every year by the Jewish community on Yom Kipper, the Day of Atonement. As Christians, maybe it would do us well to read the story of Jonah every year as well and understand it better.
Is there a way to better understand the cross without being emotionally scared?
We don’t have real life images in our minds of crucifixion. Peter did.
It appears that Peter was emotionally troubled prior to this encounter with God on the beach that morning. I know I would have been troubled. Was he struggling with fear? I would think so. He was not superhuman. He was just a man. Did he have PTSD of the crucifixion?
Jesus’s earthly ministry had ended. Peter apparently didn’t know what to do next. One evening he decided to go fishing. Fishing was his profession. Was he returning to his old way of life? Was he going to be consumed with working to catch food that spoils rather than working for food that does not spoil? Maybe. Maybe not.
He had a family to take care of and support. Was this a temporary thing, or did he continue to work to support his family and do ministry as well? Did he have kids? How did his marriage end up? How did he make it financially at this point in time?
Was Peter going the opposite way that the Lord wanted him to go like Jonah who was literally consumed by a fish or was he in a transitional time of waiting because the Holy Spirit had not yet come? I’m not sure. It is not clear. Maybe I can ask him someday.
Who else was in the boat?
Six disciples followed Peter that night. He was a natural leader. They went out fishing in a single boat and caught nothing. Two were unnamed. Who were they? Why are they not named? Maybe I can ask Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John, or Jesus someday. Are we to assume they sat around waiting for people to feed them and their families? I would think not.
What did the 6 others in the boat do?
That must have been frustrating to catch nothing. They saw and heard a man on the shore in the morning but they did not know it was Jesus at first. Later on, the disciples saw that Jesus had prepared coals with bread and fish.
It takes time to produce hot coals. In the darkness, Jesus would have needed to start a fire on the shore. The disciples must have seen it from the boat; a light shining in the dark. Did they see a fire from the lake? Did Jesus have instructions for the others?
Why did they cast the net on the other side of the boat at the direction of a stranger?
God prepared bread for Elijah when he needed strengthening. Now Jesus had prepared food for 7 disciples.
They came close enough to hear Jesus call out asking if they had caught any fish. They hadn’t caught any fish. He told them to cast the net on the other side of the boat. They did as he said. Why?
They didn’t recognize him at that point. I wonder if they smelt fish or bread cooking. Fishermen are always asking each other even today “hey, where are they biting?” or “where did you catch your fish?” What was their motivation to cast the net again?
What did the 6 think who stayed in the boat?
After casting the net, the disciples immediately caught a big catch of fish. This catch resembled the first catch of fish 3.5 years before, and John recognized it. John also recognized that the man on the shore was the resurrected Jesus. Did the other hear or recognize anything?
Let’s be honest, it’s not really a big deal to net a bunch of fish. We could probably do that or even better today on the very same lake with today’s technology.
If a miracle can be easily reproduced, is it really a miracle? The focus of this miracle might not be the large catch of fish as much as the specific number counted. Try catching fish all night then cast a net and catch a specific predetermined number of 153 fish. That would be amazing.
Was the miracle that they caught a big catch of fish or that it numbered exactly 153?
Was the miracle that God provided? Were they praying for food and money for human needs? That’s not a bad thing to pray for; daily needs.
It reads that “as soon as Simon Peter heard” or using the meaning of his names “as soon as hearing rock heard”, he jumped into the water. I don’t think he cared about the fish.
Peter, in his excitement, jumped into the water and swam to shore to meet the Lord as soon as possible. He was excited before he counted the fish. Had the Good Shepard come to rescue Peter? He needed to swim about 100 yards, the length of a football field. How cold was the water?
They were remarkably close to the Lord considering the lake was 13 miles N-to-S and 7 miles E-to-W.
This was not a chance meeting. The Lord searched them out. He came to them, but He also orchestrated that they were in a certain spot in the morning to see and hear Him. The story is more about an encounter with Peter and Jesus than with a number of fish.
Why did Jesus ask for Fish?
The Lord had prepared fish and bread on coals. He invited the disciples to have breakfast with Him. Jesus asked Peter for more fish to add to what he had on the coals. Why? Why was Jesus short on Fish? That was odd. Did God in flesh underestimate how much food was needed for this simple breakfast? Surely not. He was not short on bread. Is there symbolism that we need to catch fish and bring them to Jesus who is never short on Bread?
So, Peter went back to the boat, pulled in the net, and counted the number of fish. Why? Why didn’t he just run and grab a few fish and run back to be in the presence of the risen Jesus? How many fish did he bring back to Jesus? Who were the two other disciples? Were they unimportant? Where were the other disciples?
The number of fish in the net was recorded to be 153. What did they do with the rest of the fish? This number (153) seems to be a very specific number to record when the Son of God was right there wanting to have breakfast with them. It was an odd detail to record. Who cares how many fish there were. I would have been more interested in recording the words of Jesus. Unless the number of fish was the main teaching the Lord wanted to convey to Peter at this moment in time.
What happened at the other appearances?
It reads that this was the 3rd time Jesus had appeared to the disciples. Again, with the number 3. Why? Is that an important fact? Or is the number 3 an important number? Is it God using numbers just because he can? The number 3 in the bible clearly refers to God as 3 in 1. The ring below is made up of 3 separate but inseparable rings. They are interconnected to each other to make one unique ring. It is an interesting analogy of God being 3 in 1.
Who or what influenced Peter as a child?
Was Peter the son of Jonah or the son of John?
They say we take on traits of our father. People will say “You look like your dad when he was your age” or “you act like your father.” We are told that an apple does not fall far from a tree. Who influenced Peter in his formative years?
We know what Jonah did. He was not a great example to follow. He didn’t start out strong nor did he finish well. But Jonah has his own book it the Old Testament recorded for millions to read over and over for centuries.
John the Baptist was bigger than life. He was a man’s man. Jesus called him “the greatest of those born of women.” He lived off the grid in the wilderness. I don’t think anyone messed with him.
3 time Jesus calls Peter, “Simon son of John.” Was Peter a follower of John prior to meeting Jesus? That would suggest that John was a spiritual father figure to Peter.
The Hebrew meaning of the name John is “YHWH is Merciful” or “YHWH is Gracious”
Jesus was basically saying three times, “I see you as a son of John. You’re not a Jonah.” John the Baptist was unbelievable bold, and he did lose his life because of it. But not in vain. He prepared the way of the Lord. John was compared to Elijah. Peter was compared to John. Therefore, Peter was compared to Elijah.
Was the 153 fish a reference to Elijah?
There is a rule to “Let the Bible interpret itself”.
Fish, on several occasions in the New Testament, have symbolically represented people to be caught. So, logical, the 153 fish most likely would refer to 153 people.
So, we should look in the bible for a group of 153 people, and not look to human philosophy, mathematics, or Greek gematria to understand the meaning of the 153.
We must ask, “Is there another time in the Bible where a reference is made to 153 people?”
Answer: yes, 2 Kings 1
Peter would have been familiar with the story. He knew the scriptures well.
What can we learn from 2 Kings 1? Elijah had just experienced a life of incomparable interaction with God as a significant prophet of God in a time of unprecedented wickedness. His life’s message to Israel was “If the Lord is God, follow him, if Baal is God, follow him”
Elijah’s ministry was coming to an end and he knew it.
If asked, many would acknowledge Elijah as one of greatest prophets of all time next to Moses. Why? His miracles were spectacular.
Even so, Elijah was overtaken by fear on one occasion. While being pursued by a wicked queen that vowed to take his life, Elijah sat down and concluded that he wanted to die.
I can relate to that. When in extreme distress, the human mind will look for relief. The human mind will consider all options, even ending life, to gain relief.
What do we know of Elijah at the time of 2 Kings 1:
- Elijah had done bold, remarkable, unpopular, life threatening things by listening and doing what God told him to do.
- Elijah raised a dead boy back to life. This established Elijah as a Man of God.
- Elijah had a long fight with the wicked king and queen, Ahab and Jezebel. They both came to a terrible end that was foretold by Elijah. Their son had taken over the rule of the nation.
- Elijah had just interfered with the command of the new King, the son of Ahab. He spoke death unto the young king. The king sent 51 men to retrieve Elijah. Was this payback time? Elijah may have thought out loud, if I am a Man of God may fire come down like it did at Mt. Carmel. He may have just wanted God to intervene because he was overwhelmed. Some think Elijah called down fire on them, but that might not be correct. He asked for Heaven to do something specific.
- The king sent a 2nd group of 51 men. They died the same way. They didn’t have cell phones. There must have been a considerable amount of time between the groups of men.
- The king send a 3rd group of 51 men. The king was not stopping in his pursuit. The commander of the 3rd group asked nicely for Elijah to come down and be escorted to the king. Was Elijah fearful? Likely. Why else would God say “do not be afraid to go down to him” when the third commander asked him to come to the king.
- God miraculously protected Elijah from 3 groups of 51 men totaling 153 men. 102 were killed. The last group of 51 men asked Elijah nicely to go to the King without harming him. There was a bounty on his head made by the dead queen, the mother of the current King. Were there still people around that would have been willing to end his life based on the dead queen’s order? Was this stressful? Yes! Did the 3rd group of men that was meant to bring doom on Elijah turn into a group of personal bodyguards to provide safe escort to the evil King? It appears so.
I’d like to hear more from Peter
I bet he had some stories to tell. But he did not tell them. He had the opportunity to tell us more. He wrote us what he wanted us to know in two letters.
The message of 1st and 2nd Peter is to be holy, love one another, live godly lives in front of pagans, submit to authority, do good, be able to give a reason for your hope, live for the will of God, not human desires, pray, be hospitable, rejoice in sufferings, and look forward to Jesus’s return.
What do we know of Peter up to the time of the last miracle?
- Peter was a successful fisherman that knew the craft and must have understood what it took to balance faith, family life, and business at the time of the wicked Roman rule in Israel.
- Peter was a leader. He was also quick thinker, one prone to action, a doer. He was a bold, strong, faithful Jew in a time of unprecedented evil Roman occupation of Israel. He was actively looking for the Jewish messiah. He wanted change. He was willing to speak his mind. Ready to die for his people. Peter was a Jewish man that knew his scripture. He was looking for a political takeover to end Roman occupation.
- Then along came Jesus, and He stepped into his boat. Did He ask? It doesn’t say that He did. But it changed Peter’s life drastically.
- Peter had just experienced 3 1/2 years of incomparable interaction with the second person of the one and only Triune God, the Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ.
- Peter was 1 of 3 disciples that witnessed the transfiguration where Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah.
- Peter witnesses the miracles of Jesus.
- Peter did miracles himself.
- Peter witnessed the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
- But more than these things, Peter was personally taught by Christ for 3 1/2 years. Some was recorded, but so much was not recorded. We shouldn’t pretend to know Peter from the very limited information given about him. We certainly should not belittle him or brand him as a loudmouth fool which seems to be a common thing for non-Catholics. He was clearly a Man of God. He later raised a child from the dead just like Elijah.
- It must have burned in his memory that Jesus had told him to come follow me I will make you a fisher of men.
- The earthly life of Jesus had come to an end.
“Now what am I going to do?” Peter must have asked himself. Jesus was gone.
Peter had proven to himself and others that he did not have what it took to follow the Lord. He denied him 3 times publicly at the time of Jesus’s arrest. Based on his verbal pledges he must have been devastated.
Peter didn’t know that the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus was not the time for Him. He thought it was his time to do something. It was not Peter’s time.
I doubt Peter would have known the numerical equivalent of Greek words and phrases that equal 153. That would have had no practical meaning to a hardworking Hebrew fisherman.
Do we arrogantly think that the 153 fish is a secret message to us and stupid Peter was just mindlessly counting fish while the Savior of the world was doing something else.
Peter was in the very presence of God. He was clearly chosen by Christ. He was likely in a very low place. Jumping into the lake and swimming to shore was a hint of the desperation he was feeling. He boldly desired fellowship with God. I’m sure there was a very unique personal meeting that took place on the shore that day when Peter met face-to-face with the risen Lord. We are told that at some point Jesus directed Peter back to the fish.
How does our faith compare to Peter’s faith?
It might be a good idea to compare our Christianity with the very beginning of the church. Are we doing what Christ asked Peter to do? Are we doing what Peter asked us to do?
Are we comfortable and well fed? Do we have our Christianity in our back pocket? Does our religion complement our goals, dreams, and to-do lists? Is our Christianity a private matter? Do we sit around and evaluate if all our needs are met? What are we praying for from day to day? Is it our lists that need to get done or are we listening and obeying our savior?
- Will Jesus say to us:
- “Why were there so many people staving around you, and you did nothing?”
- “Why were there so many homeless in your city and you walked by them to get to where you wanted to go?”
- “Where is the Church?”
- “Where is the boldness of Peter?”
Are people aware that we know Jesus or are we socially smart and don’t bring up politics or religion. And when the topic of religion does come up are we careful not to say anything remotely narrow minded such as Jesus is the only way?
Can we even look at this picture and contemplate the emotions of the 1st century Christians.
Jesus said these things:
“I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat”
“Depart from me for you are cursed”
“Repent and do the things you did at first”
“You have a reputation of being alive but you are dead”
“I am about to spit you out of my mouth”
Jesus also said, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Are we ready?
Is the number 153 a symbol of 3 truths?
Back to the catch of 153 fish:
Looking at this meeting on the beach from Jesus’s perspective, what would be the last best teaching moment for Peter, the leader of the group of men chosen to start the new religious movement called “The Way” (Christianity) that would overtake the world? This was not an unimportant meeting between Jesus and Peter.
Could it be that the details in this miracle were preplanned for Peter. The time had come for Peter to follow Christ.
Could it be that the catch of 153 fish was a purposeful event direct from God to the leader of the early church.
Could it be that the catch of 153 fish was a picture put in Peter’s mind that he would never forget and could easily be remembered.
Who is the greatest in Heaven?
Are we still asking that question based on human classifications?
During Jesus’s earthly ministry there was a reoccurring discussion among the disciples. They would argue about who would be the greatest in this long-awaited kingdom to come. The disciples were hoping to have a prominent position. It surely would not be a woman, a non-Jew, or a child. Maybe it was Moses or Elijah.
At point in time, after the cross, Peter knew the true cost of following Christ. He understood what it meant to follow Christ and take up his cross. He knew he would die for the cause of Christ. He saw men crucified. It was a terrible way to die. I am sure it was terrifying for Peter to contemplate.
Later, on the shore that morning, Jesus even reminded Peter about the way he would die.
He knew he was not going to be saved like Elijah was miraculously protected. At one point when people were not hospitable to the disciples, the disciples specifically asked Jesus if they should call down fire like Elijah. Jesus rebuked them.
The message to Elijah from God was verbal. “Do not be afraid but go.” Was this the same message given to Peter? “Do not be afraid but go” as I told you in spite of what is going to happen.
Peter was likely overwhelmed.
- His calling was way too big for him to do in his own strength.
- His heart was right.
- He was willing.
- He loved the Lord, but his flesh was weak and he knew personally the frustration of having a desire to do something big for God but failing in the moment when the time came to do it. Fear came.
- He needed restoration.
- He needed Holy Spirit power.
- He needed clear specific directions.
What were Jesus final words to Peter?
Was Jesus telling Peter, “You got this...I’ll be with you”
What three things did Jesus want Peter to remember as he was sent out to start the Church? What three things were radically new and different about Christianity compared to the Jewish faith, or radically different about any other previous religion?
Hebrew numbers are not positional. Old numbers are not represented as having a 1-9 place, 10’s place, and 100’s place.
Should we look for meaning in 3 separate numbers?
Hebrew numbers are additive symbols. When combined the total summation equal the number. The number 153 is the combination of three symbols that reflect three numbers when added together equal 153.
Greek numbers are additive symbols as well
Maybe we need to look for meaning of three numbers rather than the meaning of one number.
What is God telling us with the number 100?
100 - the story of the 100 sheep was the answer Jesus gave in response to the disciple’s question of who would be the greatest in the kingdom. The story is hard to understand in our culture today, but the message is clear.
Could 100 mean, “Don’t pass over anyone” because the Father doesn’t.
The gift of salvation was not for a specific isolated elite group of holy people. The gift of salvation was for everyone, male, female, young, old, Jew, non-Jew. No one was excluded. Why? Because God loves everyone.
The Father loves the person who feels they are the least, the left out, the overlooked, the insignificant, the dispensable, the person that feels like a lost lamb left for dead.
The Father loves the person who thinks they are not worth the time of the Shepard. There is a good reason that the beatitudes start off with blessed are the meek, blessed are the poor in spirit.
We don’t need to tell people they are not worthy. The CDC tells us that as much as 60% of people struggle with depression, anxiety, and low self-worth. People need to know that God so loved the world (everyone) that he gave his son so that whosoever would believe will have life. The gospel is good news for everyone. Repent, yes!! Everyone can repent and be saved. But repenting is more than just turning from sin. It is turning to the one true God that Loves us and searches us out.
The number 100 could be a reference to being loved by God the Father in a way that most have not understood. The person who never heard the Gospel does not understand the love of God. No other religion teaches that God loves them. God searches out the lost soul. It’s a message that goes to the heart of unsaved souls (fish). A light goes on in the human soul when they ponder “can this be true?
The God of all creation cares about little old me” Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. He is also the light of the world. The I Am. The good Shepard. The gate. The resurrection and the Life. And He is 100% in love with every human soul. He desires that all come to saving faith.
What is God telling us with the number 50?
50 - there are 50 days between the Jewish feast of first fruits and the Feast of Weeks. The Jews understood repentance, the 10 commandment, the command to love God, and love your neighbor.
All of Jewish history did not understand the Holy Spirit indwelling. Many didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit. Jesus was crucified on Passover and rose on the feast if first fruits. 50 days after the resurrection (Easter) came the Holy Spirit (Pentecost). The Christian life can’t be lived successfully without the Holy Spirit. Perfect Love casts out all fear. I wonder if Peter was thinking of what Elijah said? If I’m a Man of God, may fire of Heaven come down. If I am a man of God, may God step in and show himself.
Fire was on the way. Holy Spirit Fire. Conversion. Life changing POWER of God. Fire was lit in the dark on the shore that morning.
The number 50 could be a direct reference to the need of a human to receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the vine and we are the branches. Life flows through Him by being connected to Him. The very same power of God as displayed in every miracle of the Bible is closer to us than a brother. It’s like we have a spring of water flowing up inside of us to overflowing.
What is God telling us with the number 3
3 - The Good News of the Gospel makes no sense without understanding God as 3 in 1. Peter saw the number three in several different places in his life. I wonder what he thought when he saw a net let down three times in a dream. Or when 3 people knocked on his door. He went to Joppa where Jonah (Dove) has been in a fish for 3 days because he didn’t want to preach to non-Jews. And yet, it was there where Peter would preach to non-Jews telling them that God raised Jesus on the 3rd day.
A study of 3’s in the Bible is fascinating.
Are the 3 commands for the church or for Peter
Jesus continues with his instruction to Peter on the beach that morning using the same metaphor of people as sheep with 3 commands:
- Feed my lambs
- Take care of my sheep
- Feed my sheep
Feed them what? Fish? Fish and bread? Maybe, but surely feed them Bread.
How could Peter have forgotten the two days when 5000 and 4000 were feed from very little food. But food was not the point.
Bread from Heaven was the point. Peter fed people bread from heaven one day and 3000 were added.
Jesus’s 3 and final commands to Peter were to feed the young, feed the old, and take care of them.
Jesus Christ is the bread come down from Heaven. He is real food for the soul. Bread gives life to our body. Jesus gives life to our soul.
The Big Message vs The Big Catch of Fish vs A Big Unsolved Riddle
The count of exactly 153 fish seems more amazing than netting an arbitrary big catch of fish. Try reproducing that. Take a net and pull out 153 fish in one scoop after a full night of no fish. The big message of the New Testament might be summarized in 3 radical new teachings that can be easily remembered with the number 153.
Tradition tells us that Peter died more like a John than like a Jonah. Peter was the only one in the New Testament to raise someone from the dead much like Elijah and Elisha. Peter was a Man of God. He lived out his nickname “rock” and his given name “hearer.” He resemble his spiritual father John more than his earthly father Jonah.
I think there is a lot we can learn by studying Peter in light of the facts and not jumping to a simple conclusion that he acted or spoke foolishly.
Maybe after a few thousand years, I’ll get the opportunity to actually meet him and ask him some of the missing details of that morning on the beach.
What will I ask him?
“Peter, sir, …”
Or will I be speechless?
Whatever I ask him, I imagine he will point me to look at our Savior.