1315J ohn 2 0 : 3 0TABGHAStarting Overwith GodJOHN 21CapernaumTabghaMediterraneanSeaNazarethSea ofGalileeJordanRiverISRAELHebronJerusalemBethlehemDead JORDANSeaThe Church of the Primacy of St. Peter was built on the shore of theSea of Galilee at the location where Jesus is traditionally thoughtto have made breakfast for His disciples after His resurrection.THE NEW TESTAMENT records that after Jesus’ resurrection, He met Peter and someof the other disciples by the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23). Tradition identifies the site as Tabgha, known as Heptapegon in Greek, a name that means “a placeof seven springs.” For centuries, fish have gathered at these springs. According totradition, the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter marks the spot in Tabgha where Jesusreinstated Peter after his denial of Jesus during the trial in Jerusalem.At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, beside these same w aters—near where theChurch of the Primacy of St. Peter stands today—an astonished Peter had fallen atJesus’ feet after hauling in a miraculous catch of fish (Luke 5:1-8). Now, three yearslater, another miraculous catch occurred. Afterward, Jesus invited Peter and hiscompanions to enjoy a breakfast of broiled fish, which the Lord had cooked over acharcoal fire. The Greek term for “charcoal fire” appears only one other time in theBible—in the scene in which Peter denies Christ (John 18:18; 21:9).Starting over with God often begins with awkward reminders. The miraculouscatch. The charcoal fire. The roosters that would have crowed at sunrise. Peter haddenied Jesus three times, and three times the resurrected Christ asked Peter, “Do youlove me?”(John 21:15-17). When we start over after messing up, we need to remindourselves that the essence of our relationship with Jesus is found in His question toPeter: “Do you love me?”On occasion, we may feel like we’ve blown it so badly that God will toss us asideand start over with somebody else. But Jesus showed Peter—and us—that instead ofstarting over with someone else, God wants to start over with us.
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