THAT SOUNDS FAMILIAR

 

April 13, 2023

JOHN 21:1-8

 

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5  “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered. 6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. 7 The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea. 8 Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish. The whole scene had to be familiar to Peter, the sons of Zebedee, and the other disciples.

 

This Gospel reading is similar to the moment at least three of the Disciples were first called to be Jesus’ disciples in Matthew 4:18-22. They were fishing when Jesus said to them, “Follow me.” You may recall they just dropped their nets and followed. It was no small thing for these fishermen to drop their nets.

For fishermen, to drop their nets was to drop their means of making a living and take a huge step of faith to follow Jesus. In John 21, though, we are told that they pick up their nets and go back to the things they were doing before they met Jesus. It leaves us with the impression that it was almost as though Jesus’ ministry had never happened. That the things they had heard and seen had become a faded memory.

I wonder, does that sound like your life right now?

Have you picked back up the things you first put down to follow Jesus? It happens in tough, painful moments in life doesn’t it? We return to what we know, what has helped us cope in the past.

Like Peter, drop all “your nets” once more.

Like Peter, swim the length of a football field (vv. 7-8) just to be with Jesus again.

Here is what I know. Jesus loves you. He has plans to restore you. Thanks be to God!!