Peter's Deja Vu

It seems to me I have had Peter's experience in John 21 on my mind a lot lately. Sometime in the last month somebody was reading from John 21, and it hit me that Peter had hit the water before.......alone. I went back and read the Matthew 14 experience, and compared it to the John 21 episode. Wouldn't it be interesting to be able to read Peter's thoughts as he hit the water that second time? Remember, he evidently had not had any words with Jesus since the night of betrayal. I don't think he hit the water with as much enthusiasm or confidence this time, do you? He for sure was not up for making a request to see if the water would hold him up, as he did the first time. Been there, done that. My guess is that this Peter was a lot more humble than the guy we read about in Matthew. I'm thinking he would have felt a lot more comfortable with the algae and snails on the bottom. But you know what I like about this more humble Peter.........he still knew WHO to go towards! He didn't swim away, or try and get the other guys to help him row the boat away in the opposite direction. Nope, the account says as SOON as Peter heard John say "it is the Lord", he hit the water. I gotta think it was a Deja Vu moment for him. He didn't cry out this time "Lord, save me!" , but I gotta think it was in his eyes. Not because he was drowning, but because he felt estranged from the One who can save. He probably remembered Jesus's question from the earlier fiasco......."you of little faith, why did you doubt?" What would be His first words this time? Would he get another scolding? Would he get a look of disappointment? Would he get the exact same words again? I'd give a dollar or two to know what was going on in Peter's mind during this second water experience. Maybe someday I will get the chance to ask him. We don't know if Jesus said anything to him before the others got there, but the first 12 recorded words we have Him saying to Peter are "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" We could get into a discussion about who the "these" were.........and that is a good discussion. But for now, I think it is interesting at the end of this banter back and forth where Jesus is asking Peter how much he loves Him, Jesus ends the discussion with the same words he said to Peter the very first time He ever met him....."Follow me!" Reading between the lines here, you have to hear Jesus saying "yeah, Peter, I know you screwed up........and screwed up bad. But I know you love me, and that's what really counts. Keep following me, trusting me, and believing in me. You are still one of mine, and I love you! You are forgiven! I have big plans for you! So quit worrying about my love for you, it's always there. In turn, take care of my sheep.....the way I took care of you!"

Is there a word in there for you? Gotta say, there is for me. Every year? Every month? Every week? Try every day. Probably every minute. See, I've hit the water before too.