"I'm going fishing ," 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." Jhn:21:3
In the Ancient Church Easter was not thought of as a single observance but a season. Easter Day, or Resurrection Sunday was just the beginning. It was often spoken of as as the Great Fifty Days of Easter that covered several weeks up until Pentecost Sunday.
It was during these weeks in the lives of the Apostles and other Disciples of Jesus that the risen Lord appeared to them and gave them the experience of his resurrected life, they knew without doubt that Jesus lives.
"So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." Jhn:20:19-21
They knew that Jesus is Resurrected, there was now no doubts in their minds.
Going Fishing:Life As It Was
The Disciples had not yet been transformed by the Resurrection, to the Disciples life, they thought, was going to continue as it always had and they seemed perfectly content to return to their old lives even to the point where Peter was going to return to his old profession of fishing and the others went along as well.
"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", Jhn:21:3a
They had not yet come to see that life could not continue as it was after encountering the Resurrected Jesus . Encountering Jesus outside the bounds of death demanded a transformation in their lives, they could not remain as they were , they could not just "go fishing" that is return to life as it had always been. The Disciples lives could and should never be the same.
Caught Nothing
Seven of the Disciples return to Galilee, where they had always lived, and once again returned to the Sea of Galilee and attempt to live their old lives and starting over where they had left off.
"So they went out and got into the boat," (3b)
" but that night they caught nothing." (3c)
Jesus on the Beach
As the Disciples pull in their nets and as the sun rises again, they hear a voice from shore inquiring regarding their catch asking if they had any fish, it is unbeknownst to them Jesus himself , they answer no they have empty nets.
"But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No."…"(4-5)
It is then that their Lord gives them instructions that will give them a full net.
"And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch."(6a)
The Disciples follow the advice, seemingly with out any recorded discussion among themselves , and as a result they have a full catch, so great that their net is nearly rent and the straining Disciples are not able to drag it into the boat. This is all due to the presence of Jesus and his word to them.
"So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.…(6b)
It is the Lord
It is John who realizes that it is Jesus upon the beach and tells Peter.
"Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord."(7a)
Peter then swims to shore followed by the others. There are on the beach Jesus has a meal ready for them and Jesus and they spend a time of fellowship together which brings to clarity to the truth that due to the Resurrection of Jesus their lives and ours can never be the same we need to live an Easter life. They ,and we, can not just "go fishing" ,to live life as it had always been.
Our life can never be the same after we encounter the resurrected Jesus, that is return to life as it was, we are called to live an all new way, an Easter life. A life lived in recognition that Jesus has died and come again from the grave. An all new life. A life transformed.
"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.” So
Simon Peter climbed back into the boat 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."(8-14)
Fishers of Men
The Apostles went back to life as it was but Jesus met them there on the shore to show them there had to be a change. Jesus uses this setting to direct them to the calling that he first announced to them just a few years earlier , they are meant to be fishers of me bringing the catch to Jesus. That was the reason they left all to follow Jesus.Jesus now reminds them of this.
"And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him".…Matt:4:19-20
Jesus had called those Disciples and Disciples, Christians , throughout the ages to be fishers of men, that is to bring the catch of humanity to Jesus Christ and in so doing fulfilling the prophecy found in the Prophet Ezekiel
"Fishermen will stand along the shore; from En Gedi to En Eglaim there will be places for spreading nets. The fish will be of many kinds--like the fish of the Mediterranean Sea."Ezk:47:10
Empty Nets
But this type of catch is only accomplished thru a transformed life, a life lived in recognition that Jesus has risen from the dead, an all new life, an Easter Life. If of lives are not transformed by the truth of the resurrections , then we are like the Disciples who, in the darkness of the night , had only empty nets to show for their efforts.
but that night they caught nothing." Jhn:21:3c
If our lives remain as they had always been then we will have only empty nets, that is none will come to Christ.
It was not until Jesus calls out and they follow his word to cast their nets on the opposite side of the boat that the nets are filled. That is if we are living and Easter life a life transformed by the power of the Resurrection. This is what Paul wrote to the Church at Phillipi Paul was willing and desired to let go of his old life and be transformed and live in full recognition of the Resurrection of Jesus.
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead" Philp:3:7-11
Paul came to understand that our lives can never be the same after encountering the Resurrected Jesus. Jesus' Resurrected Life , and our encounter with him should transform us.
An Easter Life
There on the shores of the Sea of Galilee Peter, and all of us, are given the gentile admonishment that we are to have an Easter Life.
"When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep." Jhn:21:15-17
Our lives should "feed the lambs" , that is, how we live brings the very life of Jesus into the lives of others all thru the truth of the Resurrection. WE can not just "go fishing" that is return to our lives as they had always been.
This should be the primary purpose of our lives that others see the living Jesus in and thru us, we can never be the same after encounter Jesus resurrected our live are lived in and transformed in view of this truth, this is the Easter Life..Amen
Rev. Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania. www.gcfountainoflife.org
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