Are you an excitable person? Do you get excited to see a loved one you haven’t seen in quite a long while? Do you rush to get to them? Do you wrap your arms around them, give them a hug, and let them know you have missed them?
When I think of someone being excited to see a loved, I often think of movie scenes at the airport. Perhaps it is a military homecoming. It may be a return of a person whom the other thought had left forever. But there is always happiness and sometimes tears of joy.
The Apostle Peter is known as a reactive, impulsive, and excitable person. So, when Jesus showed up at the edge of the Sea of Galilee while they were fishing early one morning, his excitement overcame him, and he swam to shore. The boat was going to be too slow.
When we stitch together the gospel accounts, sequencing events can be a little challenging. Especially for the days immediately following the resurrection. However, it is very possible this is the first time Peter has seen Jesus after He rose from the grave. That merely increases Peter’s excitement and makes it all the more understandable.
I often ask myself, and I’ll ask you now, am I excited to see Jesus? It is highly unlikely we will see Him face-to-face in our lifetime. But we can see Him in others. Do we even look for Him in others? Do we listen for His voice? Just as Jesus called the apostles and other disciples while He walked this earth, He continues to call people today. Are we listening? Will we answer the call? Are we excited to see Him? Serve Him?
I pray we all are excited to see Jesus. I pray we look for Him every day in others we meet. I pray each one of us are listening for His call and are willing to answer it with a resounding, “Yes.” Be excited about Jesus. Look for Him every day. Listen for His call. Answer His call. Rush to meet Him. Willingly serve Him.
John 21:7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
Marty Pressey 