Thursday, April 12, 2018
Back fishing
John 21:3
Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.”
When things around us become uncertain we very quickly return to the familiar. The disciples had come to the end at Calvary. Then, suddenly, Jesus appeared again, resurrected and was very present among them. The difference this time is that His physical presence was not continuous. There was a lot of time for them to get disillusioned. And they did.
When Peter and his friends became fulltime disciples of Jesus they had left the fishing business altogether, or so it seemed at the time. “Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” Luke 5:10,11
After this, for about three years, they were on a fascinating journey. They were with Jesus, a popular Jewish Rabbi, He was growing in popularity, He was performing miracles, for a while at least the thought Him to be the promised Jewish Messiah. But He was suddenly cut down and hung is a scenario that left Him in direct conflict with the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman occupiers.
It was unspeakable that the so-called Jewish Messiah, the one who should liberate the Jewish people, was cut down by the very people against whom he should have waged a war of liberation and won.
The outcome seemed to be following the pattern of other self-proclaimed messiahs. Gamaliel later referred to these so-called liberators saying, “some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.” Acts 5:36,37.
It was beginning to look the same for Jesus of Nazareth, he rose up, a large number of people followed Him, He was crucified and buried, and now the dispersal was in full operation. The distant followers are nowhere to be seen, and the inner core, former fishermen, headed back to the sea.
The couple of appearances put in so far by the resurrected Jesus was not enough to hold them together as a group and to keep them committed to the cause. We have no idea of what discussions they might have had, and the Apostle’s who wrote gave no insight into their thinking at the time. What we do know is that the impulsive Peter was going back to fishing and His brother and friends were going with him.
The resurrection, however, changed everything. The resurrected Jesus was not going to be an occasional visitor. He was actually going to leave the realm physically but not before they really understood that following Jesus was not going to be a function of His physical presence with them in the natural world but a function of His spirit with them in both realms.
The scene that played out that day the disciples returned to the fishing grounds was eerily similar to the scene on the day that they had first abandoned the fishing business to follow him. That time they were out all night and caught nothing. “But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Luke 5:5. This time they were out all night and caught nothing. “They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.” John 21:3b.
That time Jesus told them where to let down the nets for a catch. ““Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Luke 5:4. This time Jesus told them where to let down the nets for a catch. “And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” John 21:6.
And on both occasions, the results were the same the catch was huge. “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.” Luke 5:6. “And He said to them, “So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.” John 21:6
Many of us are like the Apostle Peter. We are often ready to give up and return to where we were or to the way things were. Others believe God but always feel the urge to have to help Him out sometimes.
There is a young man who sat before me to explain the actions that he was going to be taking to provide for his needs and those of his family. He still believed the word of God he said, and he still believes that God has a call on his life for ministry. However, the needs he had were immediate, here and now. According to him, he was going to go fishing, at least for a while, If you know what I mean.
The resurrected Jesus comes for His own and finds them, even if it is down by the beach. Jesus had an early morning beach barbeque going and invited them for breakfast. This encounter with the resurrected Lord was different. This time when He said “Follow Me” they really left everything and truly gave up their lives for Him.
Think on these things:
- Have ever been a backslider?
- What events or experiences ever caused you to waver in your walk with God?
- Are you secure in your walk with Jesus now or are there still things that cause you to waver?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would have a life-changing experience with the resurrected Jesus.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex