Anthrakia: The Charcoal Fire and Simon Peter

The Greek word for “charcoal fire” appears only twice in the New Testament, and the second time it appears completely changed how I saw Peter’s restoration.

The word is anthrakia (charcoal fire), and we find it in John 18:18 and John 21:9. Both times center around Jesus and Peter.

It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm.
Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. - John 18:18 NIV

In John 18:18, it is a dark and cold night in the courtyard of the high priest, and Jesus is inside being questioned.
Peter sits outside around a charcoal fire, and there, he denies Jesus three times.

The smell of a charcoal fire is undeniable, isn’t it?
Nothing quite compares to the smell of a BBQ wafting through the air on a summer night.

Science tells us that the connection between scent and memory may be the strongest sensory trigger we have.

So during the weeks following the crucifixion, what did Peter remember every time the scent of charcoal was in the air?
 We can speculate that he likely remembered that night.
The night he betrayed Christ . . . his Messiah . . . his friend.

That smell reminded him of his deepest failure, his cowardice, and his broken promise never to disown Christ. (Matt. 26:35)

Then comes John 21 . . .

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. [10] Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught. - John 21:9-10 NIV

Jesus, now resurrected, is standing on the shore of Galilee. The disciples had been out on the Sea fishing all night.
When Peter steps onto the sand, verse 9 tells us he saw a “charcoal fire” (anthrakia) burning and Jesus standing over breakfast.

Jesus could have cooked that meal over any fire. They could have had bread and raw fish or honey and fruit.
But he deliberately built a charcoal fire.

You see, Jesus didn’t avoid the smell that haunted Peter.  He brought Peter right back to the sensory environment of his betrayal.
Not to humiliate him.
To heal him.

Standing over that fire nights earlier, Peter betrayed Jesus.
Standing over that fire on that morning, Peter announced His love for Jesus.

Standing over that fire nights earlier, Peter denied Christ.
Standing over that fire on that morning, he received his mission for Christ.

Jesus doesn’t drag us back into our past to condemn us.  He steps onto the stage of our life and rearranges the set, and replaces the memory with a new story.

Inscribe John 21:9 in your journal today, and pray about a memory you are afraid to hand to Jesus.  He is there, sitting over your memory, ready to bring healing. 🤎