Four lessons from a Great Fisherman
I have my friend, Zale Hechter to thank for this post. He shared the scripture on which this blog is based as an offering message at our church last night, and it set me thinking. So, thanks Zale.
The Bible passage is from John 21 verses 1-14. Please take time to read it.
The four lessons that I'd like to highlight from this encounter of the resurrected Jesus with his disciples are as follows:
God won't give up on you, until the job is done
In the story recounted in this passage, it says that Jesus appeared again to his disciples. We are told in verse 14 that this was the 3rd time that he was appearing to them. The Apostle Paul recounts several other appearances of the Lord to his disciples. It seems that Jesus kept showing up to people after he rose from death to assure them that his resurrection was true and by implication, their faith was also real. He kept showing up until they got it! He'll keep showing up in your life with the same message until you get it. He never gives up.
There is a right (and wrong) step to take in the face of pressing opportunity
Jesus asked his struggling fishermen disciples if they had caught any fish all night long, to which they replied in the negative. Then Jesus told them, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." He could have told them to throw the net on any side of the perimeter of the boat. I believe he said to throw the net on the right side for this reason: When you've labored hard and have had no results, when you've past your prime in life and things have not worked for you, when the logical thing to do is to pack up and shut down, there is still a way forward for you, if you don't quit, but take the right step. The joy of it is that the disciples did not do anything different than they had been doing fruitlessly all night. The difference was that this time, they cast their net in obedience to the Lord's voice, and in faith that this time, results will come. Are you at the threshold of quitting? Don't give up, do it one more time in obedience and faith, and see what happens.
His blessings are specific and measurable
The Bible carefully records that 153 fish were miraculously caught as the Lord intervened in his disciples' struggling fishing expedition. I'm not sure if there is any significance to the numerology of the number 153, and I really don't believe that we ought to tie any significance to this number. What impresses me rather is that a specific, real, physical number is recorded of the amount of fish caught as a result of Jesus' miracle. God's dealings with us are not at all nebulous and mysterious. They are fixed to dates, times, figures and real-life measurable events. Yes God is interested in numbers. The kind that they are so good and are so many that your capacity to handle them is seriously challenged!
God asks from you so that he may give back to you
In our story, as soon as the disciples manage to haul their catch to shore and to catch their breath (pun intended), Jesus asks them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." This is one remarkable habit of the Lord that I have noticed. He blesses you with things, then he asks you for some of those things back! But did you notice in the story that before the disciples get ashore, Jesus already has a fire going, with some chunky hake fillets Mexican bake, served with hot rolls ready! He didn't need their fish! He is the Master of the universe. All created things are from him and for him. He doesn't need our stuff. Why then does he ask us to give stuff to church work, or the needy and poor. Well, it is so that in doing so, we affirm our trust in him and refuse to hold tightly to material things or be defined by them. In giving stuff to God, through these means, we are obeying him and demonstrating our life of faith. And you know what, God gives them right back to us. In verse 13 of our text it is written, "Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish." We give away fish, but we get fish and bread in return. We get back from him more than we give to him. Now isn't that wonderful?
Be blessed today.
The Bible passage is from John 21 verses 1-14. Please take time to read it.
The four lessons that I'd like to highlight from this encounter of the resurrected Jesus with his disciples are as follows:
God won't give up on you, until the job is done
In the story recounted in this passage, it says that Jesus appeared again to his disciples. We are told in verse 14 that this was the 3rd time that he was appearing to them. The Apostle Paul recounts several other appearances of the Lord to his disciples. It seems that Jesus kept showing up to people after he rose from death to assure them that his resurrection was true and by implication, their faith was also real. He kept showing up until they got it! He'll keep showing up in your life with the same message until you get it. He never gives up.
There is a right (and wrong) step to take in the face of pressing opportunity
Jesus asked his struggling fishermen disciples if they had caught any fish all night long, to which they replied in the negative. Then Jesus told them, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." He could have told them to throw the net on any side of the perimeter of the boat. I believe he said to throw the net on the right side for this reason: When you've labored hard and have had no results, when you've past your prime in life and things have not worked for you, when the logical thing to do is to pack up and shut down, there is still a way forward for you, if you don't quit, but take the right step. The joy of it is that the disciples did not do anything different than they had been doing fruitlessly all night. The difference was that this time, they cast their net in obedience to the Lord's voice, and in faith that this time, results will come. Are you at the threshold of quitting? Don't give up, do it one more time in obedience and faith, and see what happens.
His blessings are specific and measurable
The Bible carefully records that 153 fish were miraculously caught as the Lord intervened in his disciples' struggling fishing expedition. I'm not sure if there is any significance to the numerology of the number 153, and I really don't believe that we ought to tie any significance to this number. What impresses me rather is that a specific, real, physical number is recorded of the amount of fish caught as a result of Jesus' miracle. God's dealings with us are not at all nebulous and mysterious. They are fixed to dates, times, figures and real-life measurable events. Yes God is interested in numbers. The kind that they are so good and are so many that your capacity to handle them is seriously challenged!
God asks from you so that he may give back to you
In our story, as soon as the disciples manage to haul their catch to shore and to catch their breath (pun intended), Jesus asks them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught." This is one remarkable habit of the Lord that I have noticed. He blesses you with things, then he asks you for some of those things back! But did you notice in the story that before the disciples get ashore, Jesus already has a fire going, with some chunky hake fillets Mexican bake, served with hot rolls ready! He didn't need their fish! He is the Master of the universe. All created things are from him and for him. He doesn't need our stuff. Why then does he ask us to give stuff to church work, or the needy and poor. Well, it is so that in doing so, we affirm our trust in him and refuse to hold tightly to material things or be defined by them. In giving stuff to God, through these means, we are obeying him and demonstrating our life of faith. And you know what, God gives them right back to us. In verse 13 of our text it is written, "Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish." We give away fish, but we get fish and bread in return. We get back from him more than we give to him. Now isn't that wonderful?
Be blessed today.
posted by Shegs at 12:45 AM
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