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Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
As I write this, I’ve just spent the last 30 minutes or so watching night turn to day, and another spectacular sunrise. I love this time of day and the miracle of the birth of a new day. As I watched it this morning, the story of John 21 was my focus…so let’s join 7 of the disciples in the boat on lake Galilee, as in the first light of a new day, they experience a miracle.
By the time John 21 opens, that unforgettable Passover/Easter weekend is at least 2 weeks or more in the past. Jesus’ friends have all returned to their homes from Jerusalem. I think it’s safe to say they were all struggling. They hadn’t seen Jesus since the Sunday evening one week after Easter, when Thomas was with them and Jesus had suddenly appeared and showed them the scars in His hands.
Because Jesus had not told them when or where or even IF He’d appear to them again, as each day dawned I imagine they all wondered… might Jesus show up today? Do you and I live like that…will I see Jesus today? I wonder if each of them was working on specific questions they wanted to be sure to ask the next time they saw the risen Jesus? Can you imagine going through your daily routine each day watching out of the corner of your eye to see if Jesus would show up? And as each day ended without seeing Him, in these weeks following that Passover/Easter, I suppose there was disappointment and more questions.
For all of Jesus’ friends, these weeks may have been much like it has been for you and me with this Coronavirus global shutdown. For Peter it appears the waiting was becoming stressful. He had some important things he needed to talk with Jesus about. But day after day, Jesus was no where to be found. So Simon Peter turned to fishing. For him it was the place where life made sense… out on the Lake where he’d spent most all his life, doing what he loved to do and what would put food on the table, for his family. John tells us in 21:2 that he and five other disciples said to Peter “We’re going with you. So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”
Fishing on Lake Galilee was net fishing and normally done at night with the best fishing in the hours before daylight. It was hard work. Throwing out the net, pulling it in, untangling the net and throwing it out again. Over and over, all night long… with not a single fish to show for their efforts. I’m guessing the enjoyment ran out after the first few minutes, and it wasn’t long before personalities started to rub against each other and disappointment may have grown to frustration and even tension in that boat.
As the first early light began to appear in the east, muscles ached, patience was short, these were tired men, ready to call it a night, and head for home for some rest. Of course they knew their empty nets would disappoint those waiting for their return. But these were experienced fishermen and they’d tried every spot in the lake which normally had fish…nothing. Empty nets and sore backs.
John tells us: ‘Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.” He called out to them, ‘Friends, haven’t you any fish?’ ‘No’ they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” (John 21:4-6) I’m glad the Bible doesn’t always give us all the details, aren’t you? Here’s one of those times. Now put yourself in the boat. How do you suppose these weary guys reacted to a voice coming from a stranger standing on the shoreline giving them advice about where to throw the nets, after they’ve been out and at it all night?
Perhaps it was Thomas who said something like “well, what have we got to loose? We all know there’s no fish here, but so we can tell that guy on the shore to mind his own business, why not throw in the net one more time?”
John remembers it vividly, he was there… “When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” Can you hear their excitement as they strained to pull in the net with all the flapping fish?
It appears one of them, John, let go of the net, turn to look over the side of the boat, starring at the man on the shoreline. This was no coincidence, not just good luck… it had to be Him! “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter. “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard John say “It is the Lord”, he wrapped his outer garment around him and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore…” (John 21:7,8)
You’ll remember John refers to himself 5 times in these few chapters as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. Next week we’ll take a day and study those together. For now, I have an important question for us all, as we put ourselves in that boat with 6 disciples straining to pull in the net full of fish, and one leaning over the side looking at the lone figure on the shoreline in the early dawn dim light. WHY was it only John who recognized Jesus? They all experienced exactly the same thing, at the same time… why only John? What do you think? May I ask you another question? If you had been in the boat, where would you be… pulling in the net, or leaning over the side looking at the man on the shoreline, or in the water, like Peter, swimming to shore? And what would have convinced you it might be the resurrected Jesus?
Ready for another question? Why did Peter release his grip on the net, grab his wraparound and jump into the water? Remember, we have no indication Peter and Jesus have yet had the chance for some private conversation since that Thursday night when Peter denied three times that he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter needed some time, alone time with Jesus. He was desperate to get their relationship restored, if Jesus would be willing to forgive him, don’t you think?
Have you ever dragged a net full of fish, and at the same time tried to row a fishing boat with 6 big men, even a hundred yards or so? I suspect Peter and Jesus had several minutes alone on that shoreline, and I also imagine Peter didn’t beat around the bush… he’d waited many days. He’d worked over and over in his mind what he would say.
John writes: “When they had landed ashore, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it and some bread. Jesus said to them, ‘bring some of the fish you have just caught.’ Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said ‘come, have some breakfast.’ None of the disciples dared asked Him ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord.” (John 21:9-12)
I know there are lots of theories about why John specified the exact number of fish. I don’t have the answer, and may I say it’s not nearly as important as what was about to happen as they tired fishermen, disciples who’d been longing to see Jesus again, each grabbed a fish and sat down around the fire with Jesus.
Come on my friends, join the party. Help Peter pull the net full of flapping fish ashore. I know you’re tired, it’s been a long night of frustration, but it’s a new day, you are experiencing a miracle. Feel the adrenaline flowing? Go ahead, Jesus invited us to breakfast, grab a fish or two. Now this, my friends, is the original ‘shore lunch’, if you’ve ever been fishing way up north, as I have. Let’s sit down on the sand and just watch carefully. Now’s your chance… have you’ve been thinking about the questions you’d like to ask the resurrected Jesus if you saw Him again. Here He is and there’s no crowd, just us, His friends. So who’s asking the first question?
What no questions? John doesn’t tell us, but I suspect the men just starred at Jesus and hoped He’d do the talking. They weren’t tired anymore. They weren’t arguing about where to throw the net next. They weren’t frustrated about a whole night of empty nets. Their backs and arms weren’t sore anymore… everything was different now, the resurrected Jesus was sitting on the beach with them having breakfast!
Now when is the last time you did this my friends? Watching a sunrise or sunset, sitting out under the stars on a cloudless, moonless night. Holding a newborn baby or sitting by the bedside of a dear Christ follower preparing to step into eternity? Or watching a person standing waist deep in the water, tell their story of how Jesus has changed their life, and then be baptized? Or watching two people who’ve been angry at each other, extend to each other forgiveness and then in tears embrace and reconcile? When was the last time you personally saw the Presence and power of the resurrected Jesus at work in your life and relationships?
Have you experienced this miracle my friends: when you sense the Presence of God, the power and majesty of God, everything becomes clearer. When that happens, everything else seems to shrink into insignificance, doesn’t it? Listen to this powerful truth: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” (Ps. 111:10) It’s true, when you and I are simply awed, overwhelmed by the majesty of God, it’s the beginning of wisdom. Of seeing life much more clearly.
John doesn’t tell us what was discussed around that breakfast fire on the beach… but it was life changing, I’m sure. Tomorrow, we’ll look at the very powerful conversation between Peter and Jesus on that beach. For today, let’s just sit with Jesus and these 7 men and be awed by the moment… What just happened here? What does it mean for you? What would you like to ask Jesus?
Oh Lord Jesus, I thank you for leading John to include this remarkable early morning story in his account of Your life. It has changed my life, and I pray today, that You and many who are hearing my voice will have a life changing, shoreline encounter with You right now. . .
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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