Breakfast on the Beach

John 21: 7 – 17 (NIV): When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep."

The disciples had seen Jesus twice since he rose again, but they must have been just beginning to understand what it all meant. Peter undoubtedly felt like a failure. He had denied knowing Jesus when Jesus needed him the most. He simply went home to Galilee and went back to work. He took his buddies and went back to his old job, fishing. It wasn't going well, though – they had fished all night and hadn't caught anything.
Then, at daylight, Jesus appeared again. He was standing on the shore. He told them to cast one more time, and when they did they caught 153 large fish. Next he prepared breakfast for them on the shoreline.
Jesus had told Peter he was going to build the church on him in Matthew 16:18 and he hadn't changed his mind. But he knew Peter needed to be reinstated. Peter denied Jesus three times, so Jesus asked him three times if he loved him. Jesus was letting Peter know that all was forgiven and he still had a job for him to do. In a few days, at Pentecost, Peter would preach a sermon that would kick-start the church and usher in the church age.
Know that when you feel like you have let God down, he can still use you. He will finish the work he began in you even if there are setbacks and roadblocks. He will forgive you when you deny him, and he will reinstate you after you make mistakes and bad choices. Be honest with him and let him forgive you.