heard a voice
saying to them,

"Children, have ye any meat?" They answered "No," and then the clear
voice came across the water saying,

"Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find." This
they did, and so heavy did the net become with fishes that they were
not able to draw it. Perhaps John remembered another day on the Lake
when the nets broke with the weight of the fishes, and looking at the
figure standing on the shore in the sunrise, he said to Peter,

"It is the Lord!"

Peter did not wait to reply, but tying his fisher's coat around him he
threw himself into the Lake to swim towards His Master on the shore.
The others followed in the ship dragging the net with them, and when
they had landed they found a fire of coals there, with fish laid upon
it and bread, and the Lord Himself standing there as one who served.

"Bring of the fish ye have now caught," He said. And Peter, first to
obey, drew the net to land full of great fishes--one hundred and
fifty-three--and the net was not broken. While they were silent for
joy and wonder, knowing that it was the Lord, and yet not daring to
question Him, He said, "Come and dine." And there upon the sands the
Lord for the third time since He rose from the dead, broke bread with
his disciples. John, the beloved disciple was there, but it is not
recorded that Jesus spoke to him personally. His heart was wholly with
his Lord, and he did not need the loving help that was given to
doubting Thomas, and self-confident, wavering Peter. To Simon Peter He
said after they had finished their simple meal,

"Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?"

Peter must have remembered that he had vehemently declared, "Although
all shall be offended, yet will not I. If I should die with Thee yet I
will not deny Thee in any wise," and had straightway forsaken and
denied Him. Now he said simply and humbly,

"Yea, Lord: Thou knowest that I love Thee." And the Lord answered,
"Feed my lambs."

Again the Lord asked him the same question, and Peter gave the same
reply. And the Lord said, "Feed my sheep."

When the Lord had asked this question the third time, Peter, full of
love and grief cried,

"Lord, Thou knowest all things: Thou knowest that I love thee." And
the Lord answered again, "Feed my sheep."

By this Peter knew that the Lord trusted him to be an apostle, and
teach the gospel of the kingdom to all men, but that he must have a
steadfast lov