John 21:1-14
Jesus later appeared to his
disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas the
Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John,
were there, together with two other disciples. 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.
Early
the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not
realize who he was. Jesus shouted, “Friends, have you caught anything?”
“No!” they answered.
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.
Jesus'
favorite disciple told Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon heard that it
was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was
working. Then he jumped into the water. The boat was only about a
hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and
dragged in the net full of fish.
When the disciples got out of
the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. Jesus
told his disciples, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” Simon
Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were
one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.
Jesus
said, “Come and eat!” But none of the disciples dared ask who he was.
They knew he was the Lord. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave
some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. This was the
third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised
from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This
morning, I got an e-mail from a dear friend who has always been
something of a “big sister” influence. She wanted to let me know that
she was thinking of me. Having lost her own mother a few years ago, she
said she knew that this was probably about the time that reality was
beginning to set in that Mother is truly gone…and I might need a little
note from someone who understood. I responded to her that God always
knows what – and WHO – I need at just the right time…and today, she was
that person!
Now I don’t mean to imply that this “sister” is God.
But I do believe that Jesus sometimes comes to us through various
people and situations. Do we recognize Him? Are we attuned enough to
know that He sent this person – or that word for us? I don’t believe
there are coincidences. I believe that everything is orchestrated by
God…which is why fisherman could fish for a whole night and catch
nothing – and then set their nets on the other side of the boat and drag
153 large fish to shore, where Someone was waiting to cook a few of
them for breakfast.
How deep is our faith? Do we trust God – and
know Him well enough – to believe that He is involved in every aspect
of our lives…even to the point of prompting a friend to send an e-mail
message of encouragement on a specific day? Do we really “see” Jesus
and live with confidence that He is in complete control…that He can –
and will – meet our every need when we call on Him? Will this be the
day that you “step out of the boat and wade to shore to share a meal
with the Lord?” Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
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