Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.(14) And if this come to the
governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. (15) So they took the money, and did as they were
taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (16) Then the eleven disciples
went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.‖
In the Gospel accounts, we see the disciples assembling once more in the Galilee at the request of Y‘shua.
Where else but at the old fishing hole would Peter probably decide to go fishing once again? After all, he had
denied Y‘shua three times; and in his apparent discouragement, he seemed to be returning to his old
occupation once again. However, during the night of fishing, Peter and the disciples who joined him caught
nothing.
In the morning, they were amazed to see their risen Master on the beach. He had already prepared a meal of
fish and bread for them. He then directed the tired fishermen to cast their nets once more on the other side of
the boat. In so doing, they caught a great number of fish – a hundred and fifty three in all. With this, Peter
seems to have permanently forsaken any idea of fishing. From that point on, he would become a true "fisher
of men".
There were several miracles that morning in the Galilee. It was a miracle that Y‘shua was risen from the
dead and present again with the disciples. It was a miracle that He had prepared a breakfast for them. It was
also a miracle that they suddenly caught so many fish after fishing empty-handed all night. It was another
miracle that the nets didn't break with so many fish in them. Lastly, it was a miracle that the fish couldn't see
the nets in the daytime. In ancient times, with the absence of synthetic fibers, fish could see nets in the light
of day and it was thus necessary to fish at night. Traditions abound that all these miracles happened at
Tabgha.
The reinstatement of PeterIt was at Tabgha where Y‘shua reinstated the disciple Peter (John 21:1-24). He had denied Y‘shua three
times, and it is interesting that Y‘shua also tested his love and devotion three times as explained below.
Y‘shua then walked away from the area with a renewed and restored Peter following close behind him.
Is it not interesting that ̳seven‘ were present here at the sea where they were fishing. It was also Y‘shua‘s
seventh appearance since his resurrection. Let‘s now see how Y‘shua tested Peter.
Peter‘s love testedAfter they had eaten, Y‘shua asks Simon Peter:
―Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?‖ (John 21:15)
His reply was that he loved Him and Y‘shua said:
―...feed my lambs‖ (also in verse 15).
The word ―lovest‖ here in verses 15 and 16 is the Greek verb ̳agapao‘, which means: Supremely or perfectly.
Simon‘s reply in verses 15 and 16 is, ―I love thee.‖ And here the Greek verb ̳phileo‘ for ―love‖ is used
meaning: To like, to be fond of, or friendship.
Y‘shua answered Peter ―feed my lambs‖ (in verse 15). The Greek word for feed in ―feed my lambs‖ is ̳bosko,‘
meaning: Tend to the ̳flock‘, take care of, guide, lead, and defend. Y‘shua also used the Hebrew word ̳taleh‘
(he was speaking Hebrew, not Greek) for lamb, which means baby lamb.
In verse 16 the Greek wording is changed when Y‘shua says ―feed my sheep‖ and not ―lambs.‖ And ―feed my
sheep‖ can be translated as lost men or saved men. In other words, it could read, ̳and feed the lost men‘.
The third time Y‘shua asks him ―Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?‖ (verse 17), Peter is
becoming confused because of the close questioning; remember he had denied Y‘shua three times just a
few days earlier. Y‘shua is actually making Peter confess three times without his knowing it.
When Y‘shua says ―feed my sheep‖, the English words are identical to verse 16, but the KJV uses the Greek
word ̳bosko‘ for ―feed‖ so it reads: ̳Tend to my sheep‘ or ̳tend to the lost men‘ (verse 17.) And here Y‘shua
lifts Peter up again to continue the good work. He restores him in his ministry.