Jesus Comes When We Need Him
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of the 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. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus....He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some [fish]." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes...and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. John 21:1-8, RSV.
Why had they gone fishing? I can't say for sure. But I do know that when I am discouraged I like to just get away from it all, to find some peace and quiet. One of my escapes is to read beside a fast-running stream. Another is to go fishing.
But these seven disciples may have had a deeper reason. The Crucifixion had destroyed their world. And while it is true that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to them twice already, they weren't altogether sure what to make out of life. They were still in a fog of confusion. And for Peter there was still that business of his denial that continued to trouble him day and night.
Without any sure guidance for the future, perhaps the best thing to do was to get on with life. The world they knew was fishing. Seemed strange, going back, but they had families to feed. Perhaps they should settle down and do something sensible for a change. Like earning money.
Good idea. But it didn't work. They fished all night with no results. But at dawn this "guy" shows up on the beach and starts asking them questions. They don't recognize Him at first. But as soon as He tells them where to get the fish and they get enough to feed the whole village with one cast of their net, they know exactly who He is.
The troubled Peter immediately jumps into the water and swims to shore, even though he knew full well that he was abandoning his share of the work of getting the boat and its catch back to his six friends.
Why? Because Peter was a tormented man who had sinned grievously and could hardly sleep at night. He needed healing but didn't know what to do about it. And then Jesus came.
But then He always comes. No matter what you and I have done, Jesus makes Himself available to us for our healing and restoration. That is a part of His resurrection ministry. The good news is that He comes to us when we need Him.
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he revealed himself in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of the 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. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus....He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some [fish]." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, for the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his clothes...and sprang into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. John 21:1-8, RSV.
Why had they gone fishing? I can't say for sure. But I do know that when I am discouraged I like to just get away from it all, to find some peace and quiet. One of my escapes is to read beside a fast-running stream. Another is to go fishing.
But these seven disciples may have had a deeper reason. The Crucifixion had destroyed their world. And while it is true that the resurrected Jesus had appeared to them twice already, they weren't altogether sure what to make out of life. They were still in a fog of confusion. And for Peter there was still that business of his denial that continued to trouble him day and night.
Without any sure guidance for the future, perhaps the best thing to do was to get on with life. The world they knew was fishing. Seemed strange, going back, but they had families to feed. Perhaps they should settle down and do something sensible for a change. Like earning money.
Good idea. But it didn't work. They fished all night with no results. But at dawn this "guy" shows up on the beach and starts asking them questions. They don't recognize Him at first. But as soon as He tells them where to get the fish and they get enough to feed the whole village with one cast of their net, they know exactly who He is.
The troubled Peter immediately jumps into the water and swims to shore, even though he knew full well that he was abandoning his share of the work of getting the boat and its catch back to his six friends.
Why? Because Peter was a tormented man who had sinned grievously and could hardly sleep at night. He needed healing but didn't know what to do about it. And then Jesus came.
But then He always comes. No matter what you and I have done, Jesus makes Himself available to us for our healing and restoration. That is a part of His resurrection ministry. The good news is that He comes to us when we need Him.
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