How Jesus Reveals Himself

John 21:1 (ESV) After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way.

The words, "in this way" are important for the rest of John 21. Jesus reveals himself to those same men he called out of the fishing business in a way we should appreciate.

These were the men who totally blew it and backslid into their old ways. Yet there He is on the shore and calling out them as "Children." Then He helps them with a miracle catch of 153 fish and greets them ashore with a ready made breakfast ready to eat. 

Amazingly, this is how Jesus chose to reveal Himself to these men.

Then Jesus takes the time to personally bring Peter back into the fold. Giving him three chances to reaffirm his love for Him and the calling He has placed on Peter in service to the body of Christ. It's as if He's saying, "Peter, just has I have loved you enough to stand on the shore, call out to you, care for you and feed you, so you must do with my sheep." 

This is what it means to truly know Jesus. 

If you're judgmental and angry at people all the time, it might not be Jesus you truly know.

If you're impatient and crass with people, it might not be Jesus you know.

If you're always looking down on others for their shortcomings, it might not be Jesus you know.

The Jesus who the disciples met that day reached out, forgave and served those who seemed to be the least desirable to Him at the moment. 

And notice that Jesus goes right from restoration to commission. He says, "Feed my sheep" then in the next sentence Jesus describes Peter's death for the cause of Christ. This is the tension of the Christian life. To know we are forgiven and right with God and then to carry that message on no matter the consequences. For if we are right with the Father, what does it matter if we are wronged by the world?