A group of students will experience what it must have been like for the disciples of Jesus to be on the sea of Galilee

15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you [f]love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [g]love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.” 16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you [h]love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I [i]love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” 17 He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you [j]love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you [k]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I [l]love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep. John 21

In Minnesota, taking a boat out to the middle of the lake isn't any big deal. I have memories of doing this with my dad when I was a child and with my kids when they were younger. I also have memories of sitting in a boat and coming back to shore empty handed,  Every family has at least a couple of pictures of their small kids with a little sunfish on the end of the fishing hook. There are even the real diehards who have pictures of trophy size fish for their kids to proudly display.

I consider what the students from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul are doing Sunday morning an even bigger deal when they get the chance to ride on a boat in the middle of the sea of Galilee, this same body of water Jesus walked and spoke in his days of public ministry. I remember those words from John 21.

Jesus announced to his disciples that he was going fishing. Many of his disciples joined him and that night they caught nothing.When the day was now breaking Jesus appeared on the beach, yet his disciples didn't know it was Jesus.5 

So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

Later, Jesus taught this life lesson in this dialog with Simon Peter: So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.”  He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”  He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you ]love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.

 In a world that believes in self-worship, God reminds us that people mean more to Him than our wealth, possessions and our accolades. He reminds us that he wants to have a personal relationship with Him, to speak words of wisdom and to help us in our time of suffering, our time of sorrow, and our time of emotional pain.

 When we ask Jesus Christ into our hearts, God comes into our lives and gives us new meaning and new desires. Instead of pursuing wealth, he gives us the desire to love people and share the good news of hope with them. No matter how painful our-our life journey has been, God wants to use our stories to bring salvation to others still searching.

Yes, I have a feeling that the boat ride on the sea of Galilee will leave a profound impact on the lives of these students- something they will remember the rest of their lives.