“After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and He showed himself in this way. 2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3 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.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after He was raised from the dead”
John 21: 1-14.
By and large most believe the Gospel of John ended with chapter 20 and that these stories in chapter 21 represented a collection of stories and early appearances of the resurrected Jesus that were circulated orally and then added in later to the Gospel by a redactor — or an editor — at a later time. The earliest manuscripts find them included before the publication of the Gospel. In this initial story there are 7 disciples fishing, or perhaps five if the sons of Zebedee were the two other disciples. We know John was there because he is identified again as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” in verse 7. The scene is dramatic. After meeting Jesus in Jerusalem in a room with the door closed and locked, the disciples have still not fully understood what Jesus’ resurrection means for them — they do not know what Jesus meant when He earlier commissioned them to be sent into the world just as His Father had sent Him. So they return home to the familiar, to the seemingly safe environment of fishing, their former career and occupation. But they do not recognize Jesus when He challenges them with the words: Have you any fish? Here Jesus is challenging them to evaluate how their life is faring living by their own definitions and expectations. When they try to do life on their own terms, have they caught any fish? The answer is No! Indeed that is the same answer to our futile and self-centered attempts to live life based on our own definitions.
The specific number of 153 fish has always been an intriguing source of speculation. Perhaps the most attractive one is that the Greeks had identified at that time 153 different kinds of fish, and when Jesus earlier promised to make the disciples “fishers of men and women” Jesus here was helping them catch every type of fish in their nets. They are now to go out into the world and spread the Good News to every kind of human being and culture in the world. Jesus is God — for everyone!
Take time to be in prayer about whether you are following the path of the disciples who have returned to their seemingly safe home living life under their own priorities. Do you hear Jesus saying to you, “How’s that working out for you, living life without Me? Have you any fish?”
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
With Your grace bring me to live life as YOU define and plan for me to live life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
From the Bible:
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” 1 Peter 2:21.
“Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” Matthew 16:24.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” John 8:12.
“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me”
Luke 18:22.
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