"1-3 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”
3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.
5 Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”
They answered, “No.”
6 He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”
They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.
7-9 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”
When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.
10-11 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.
12 Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.
13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.
Do You Love Me?
15 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”
20-21 Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?”
22-23 Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.” That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you?”
-John 21:1-23 MSG
I really relate to Peter in this story. Earlier in the chapter he jumped out of a boat and waded through the water to meet the newly risen Jesus on the shore. Then Jesus starts pestering him with the same question over and over while he's trying to enjoy his breakfast. And then Jesus tells Peter he's going to die a tragic death in the name of God while John is skipping along beside them calling himself "Jesus' beloved" every five seconds. We get it John, Jesus loves you.
But Jesus also loved Peter.
Peter was initially overjoyed at the sight of Jesus. He dove into the sea the minute he realized Jesus was waiting for him on the shore. He didn't care that he was getting wet or that everyone else would get first dibs on the fish. He just needed to get to Jesus no matter what.
But when Peter was faced with some bad news, when Jesus told Peter he would face great trials and persecution, Peter looked at John and said..."But what about him?" When Peter faced a difficult situation he looked at John instead of Jesus.
When we face tribulation, we are so tempted to look at the people around us who are seemingly better off and ask, "But what about them?" "Aren't they going to go through something bad too?" Why am I having to struggle while this person gets a promotion and dancing lobsters?"
When we compare our lives to others we will always be dissatisfied. Because the only way we would be satisfied in this mindset would be to have the exact same circumstances as them, and that will never happen. Therefore we will be left with dissatisfaction for all eternity.
Or...
We look to Jesus instead. We close off that road of comparison and redeem the comfort offered to us through His assuring voice and will. When we look to Jesus and only Jesus, and stop looking in our peripheral vision of comparison, we have a pinpointed focus on Jesus. And in that focus we find His direction and guidance through our trials rather than the self-doubt and envy found in our peripherals. We will still face trials, just like Peter, but we won't fill our minds with unnecessary worry regarding what everyone else is doing. Worrying about the agendas of others only takes away from the attention that could be focused on developing our relationship with Jesus.
Look to Jesus, only Jesus, and be in awe of His vision for you.