“Cast the net on the right side of the boat and ye shall find,” came the answer.
“Perchance he sees the ripple of a shoal,” muttered Peter, and heaved the great net for another cast.
And now the net sank with its weight of struggling fish. Two of the men leaped hastily into the small boat to [pg 187]secure the catch, but Peter and John were gazing past the heaving net at that solitary figure upon the shore.
“It is the Lord,” whispered John. And Peter, with a smothered cry of love and longing, girt his fisher’s coat about him and flung himself into the water.
Upon the shore burned a fire of coals, and upon it sputtered a great fish, giving forth appetizing odors to the cool morning air. Beside the fire were piled loaves such as the common people were wont to use with this broiled fish. It was all quite homely and natural, yet the hands that busied themselves with that simple, satisfying meal bore the mark of the nails.
The fishermen stood with bowed heads, no one daring to ask the question which trembled on every lip.
“Come and break your fast,” said [pg 188]their mysterious host, smiling upon their awe-stricken silence. And he took the bread and the fish and gave them to eat.
So when they had broken their fast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these?”
Peter answered in a half whisper, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”