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November 15th

The bible reading today is in Luke 24, and John 20 and 21.

Jesus had died on a cross just as he said. Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb just as it was prophesied. And Jesus rose from the dead on the third day just as Christ told his disciples. And over the next 40 days, Jesus showed himself alive to his disciples...to his disciples “only”.

In the last chapter of John, the Spirit used the apostle to tell the story of one of those post-resurrection appearances of Christ. One of my favorites.

Peter takes the lead again.

“Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.”

‭‭John‬ ‭21:2-3‬

Jesus had promised his friends that after his death and resurrection that they would be receiving the Holy Spirit. And they were waiting.

These young fishermen were trained to wait. Their very livelihood depended upon their “being able” to wait for the next catch of fish.

Peter thought of a way to wait.

“Let’s go fishing.” And Thomas and Nathaniel and James and John and two others of the original bunch followed Peter to the boats on the sea of Galilee. They fished all night and caught nothing. And they began to make their way back to shore.

The resurrected Jesus was standing on the shore beside a fire and breakfast for the fisherman. But none of the 7 disciples recognized Jesus.

Jesus was their closest friend. They spent three years walking with him, eating with him, laughing with him, serving the Father with him. And yet they didn't recognize him.

Was it unbelief? I don't think so. I believe that his glorified presence, even in the flesh, was just different enough to make them do a double-take on his voice and his face and his mannerisms as he communicated with them from shore.

So what did the resurrected Jesus do? A miracle is what he did. Saying...“Throw your nets on the other side of the boat”... as they got close to shore. So what was the miracle?

First, it was daylight. Any fisherman worth his profession knew that the kind of fishing they did happened at dusk and during the night season...not early in the morning. But they did it. Maybe they did it out of respect for an older fisherman...or maybe there was something about the stranger that tugged on their heart to believe.

Fishermen knew that only bait was caught in those shallows. But The disciples threw their nets anyway...one more time...and immediately great fish, not minnows, great fish-filled their nets...so much so, that they needed help getting the catch to the shore.

By then a few of the disciples said to Peter and the rest, “Isn't that Jesus?”

I've wondered what it was about Jesus that opened their eyes to his presence onshore? Was it the catch? It most certainly could have played a part. Was it the voice? Could have been.

But I want to say that it was the way that Jesus called them “children”. “Children...Come and dine with me.”

Then, Peter recognized Jesus and did what impetuous Peter did. He jumped out of the boat first and made his way as fast as he could to his living Lord.

Perhaps Peter heard Jesus praying on the cross...”Father, forgive them...”

I have to think that even though Jesus was referring primarily to his Jewish kindred, quite possibly Peter applied those words of forgiveness to himself for his denial of Christ on the night that Jesus was arrested.

And if he did, that love and mercy from Jesus would have been extra motivation for Peter to run toward his Savior, Jesus.

Have a great day