by aginetha josephat | 18 March 2022 08:46 pm03
“May the Lord Jesus be praised!”
Have you ever carefully reflected on the profound moment when the risen Jesus appeared to His disciples by the Sea of Tiberias? In John 21, we read that Jesus appeared to His disciples in a way they initially did not recognize (John 21:4–7, ESV). They had been fishing all night without success. Jesus instructed them to cast the net on the right side of the boat, and they caught a great number of fish. The disciple whom Jesus loved recognized Him and said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” (John 21:7).
At this revelation, Peter’s response is deeply instructive: he quickly wrapped his outer garment around him, for he was naked, and then jumped into the sea to meet Jesus. This act reveals several spiritual truths.
Theological Reflection: The Importance of Holiness and Reverence
Peter’s awareness of his nakedness symbolizes a recognition of his vulnerability and sinfulness before the holy presence of Christ. In Scripture, nakedness often represents shame and exposure (Genesis 3:7–10). Peter’s immediate desire to cover himself reflects a spiritual sensitivity to God’s holiness and his own unworthiness.
Moreover, Peter’s act of jumping into the water to meet Jesus signifies repentance and eagerness to be restored. After Peter’s earlier denial of Jesus (John 18:15–27), this moment demonstrates his renewed commitment and love for the Lord. Jesus then commissions Peter to “Feed my lambs” and “Tend my sheep” (John 21:15–17), underscoring the call to pastoral care and responsible leadership in the Church.
Respect for the Body as God’s Temple
This passage also teaches us about honoring our bodies, which Scripture calls the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ESV). Peter felt shame to be naked before Jesus, even though Jesus is God incarnate and full of grace. This indicates that reverence before God includes respecting our physical bodies and how we present ourselves.
To the sisters and brothers in Christ today, this message is urgent: modesty and purity in dress are not mere cultural preferences but spiritual disciplines. The Apostle Paul exhorts women to dress modestly and with self-control, reflecting godliness (1 Timothy 2:9–10, ESV). Wearing revealing or provocative clothing can dishonor the body God has created and is contrary to the call of holiness.
Practical and Spiritual Application
Ask yourself honestly: do my clothes reflect respect for my body as God’s temple? Am I honoring God by dressing modestly and humbly? Or am I inadvertently dishonoring Christ by immodesty?
Wearing tight or inappropriate clothing, especially when worshiping, is inconsistent with the reverence due to God. Peter’s example shows that before intimate communion with Christ, there must be an awareness of holiness and proper preparation.
Do Not Love the World
Furthermore, Scripture warns believers not to love the world or anything in it (1 John 2:15, ESV):
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
Worldly fashions that promote lust and pride can draw believers away from God’s love.
The Resurrection of the Body
Lastly, the hope of the believer includes the redemption of the body. The Apostle Paul teaches that our mortal bodies will be transformed and glorified (1 Corinthians 15:53–54, ESV):
“For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’”
Our physical bodies are not discarded but glorified, emphasizing why honoring the body in this life matters.
Conclusion
Peter’s act of covering himself and jumping into the sea is not just a simple reaction—it teaches us to approach Christ with reverence, repentance, and respect for our bodies as His holy temple. Let us strive to honor God in how we present ourselves, fleeing worldly fashions that dishonor Him, and embracing the holiness to which He calls us.
May the Lord grant us wisdom and grace to live in holiness and truth.
Shalom.
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