John 21:1-14 NIV84
Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Why do you think these seven disciples decided to go fishing?
For three years the disciples followed Jesus. Now that He was risen, they could not keep track of Him. He appeared and disappeared; clearly they would not be following Him the same way as before His crucifixion. Unsure of what to do they returned to what they did before they met Him. In your relationship with Jesus, does He seem to pop in and out of your life? When it feels like He has gone, do you find yourself returning to your old ways, before you knew Him?
Jesus met them where they were, He returned to the place where He had gathered many of them. Read Luke 5:1-11. What similarities do you see in these two accounts? What do you think Jesus was trying to remind them? How does He remind you of His call on your life?
Jesus, help me to remember that You have called me to a new life. A life of discipleship. Continue to graciously remind me of who You call me to be --- I do not want to keep returning to the place You found me.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV84
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