Read
Jesus Appears
1Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. 2Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples. 3 Simon Peter said, “I'm going fishing!”
The others said, “We will go with you.” They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.
4Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. 5Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”
“No!” they answered.
6 So he told them, “Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish.”
They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.
7Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, “It's the Lord!” When Simon heard it was the Lord, he put on the clothes he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. 8The boat was only about 100 meters from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.
9When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. 10Jesus told his disciples, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” 11Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were 153 large fish, but still the net did not rip.
12Jesus said, “Come and eat!” But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. 13Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. 14This was the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.
Reflect
“Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
This is one of my favourite lines in the story of the resurrected Jesus and his disciples. Let me tell you why.
The disciples were weary, grief-stricken and confused after Jesus’ crucifixion. Even though he has appeared to them a couple of times, their days have been uncertain. They don’t quite know what to do with themselves. So they do what they know best. They go fishing.
Early in the morning, after a night on the water, they are still disheartened. They have fished all night and caught nothing. The task they’ve practised for years seems to be a fruitless enterprise.
And then they hear a call from the shoreline and a familiar question. “Friends, have you caught anything? Why don’t you try again?”
They do, and their nets come back full. And they then hear Jesus’ invitation: “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
I often wonder why Jesus wanted their fish. He already has fillets smoking on a charcoal fire. He’s already prepared breakfast for his friends. Knowing they must be tired and hungry, he is ready for them.
I’ve also wondered why Jesus doesn’t reprimand them for going back to fishing on water, when he had just spent three years teaching them to fish on land. It was people, not fish, he had been teaching them to catch.
But here is Jesus, a gracious host, an understanding friend, a wise leader. He takes their best effort, at their weakest moment, and turns it into something beyond their expectations.
He waits for them, prepared to serve them. And he invites them to participate, not just to receive, but to add to the feast. “Bring some fish,” he says. I love that line.
But I also love his next line: “Come and eat.”
Again, no reprimand. No long expository lesson. No questions. He simply offers an invitation to be with him, to share in a feast and to satisfy their hunger. He knew exactly what they needed.
Respond
Jesus, I am amazed at how often you know exactly what I need, even when I don’t recognize that myself. When I lose my way, and go back to what I think is best, show me what you know is best for me. Amen.
Geri Rodman
Under Geri’s leadership, Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada is focused on a 10-year goal of Launching 20,000 Extraordinary Kingdom Leaders by 2020. "We believe God will launch youth and students as Kingdom Leaders who are so transformed by Jesus that nothing will stop their enormous zeal for the things of God." Geri was appointed president of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship Canada in 2002, after spending 23 years leading the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA ministry in Northern California and Hawaii. Educated at the University of Toronto and Wheaton College, Geri is currently enrolled in a Doctor of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell. She serves on the boards of, the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and Water Ambassadors Canada.