An Unexpected Blessing

Even if you are not an avid fisherman, there is something attractive about an invitation to go fishing. Perhaps it’s the thrill of the hunt. It could be the anticipation of a good catch. For some it’s the opportunity to be refreshed as they experience the wind and the water.

On the other hand, some folks look forward to a fishing excursion as a time to get away. They are hoping for some peace and quiet. Hours spent in still and quiet are a tonic for their soul. It’s a chance to escape from the press of their everyday life. They are fairly confident that nobody is going to ask them to do anything more challenging that to pass them a cold one.

A few days after the resurrection, seven of Jesus’ disciples were together when Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” The others said, “We’ll go with you.” It’s not clear why they thought this was a good idea. Their reasons may have been as different as anyone’s reasons for going fishing today might be.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John had all been fishermen when Jesus invited them to follow him. They knew the routine: handling the boat and the nets. A night spent out on the water would have felt very familiar. It was a return to what they were used to.

The other three may have enjoyed the few boat rides they had taken while Jesus was with them—all except that one when the storm almost sunk their boat. A few hours spent out on the water seemed like a whole lot better option than sitting around looking at one another; worried that some unfriendly face might show up to arrest them.

After a whole night of casting the net and dragging it back into the boat empty time after time had taken the fun out of it for all of them. As the sun was coming up, they realized they weren't that far from the shore. This could be over pretty quickly. Even with nothing to show, that might be better than a few more hours stuck on the boat.

Just then someone standing on the shore called out, “Have you caught anything?” A mournful chorus replied, “No!”

The man on the shore said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.” They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in.

In a few minutes they were having breakfast with Jesus on the beach. Not what they had expected; but more evidence of Jesus love and care for them. 

Moving Beyond the Doubt

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Every day you hear so many promises from so many people who seem to truly care about your physical, mental, financial, professional and psychological well-being; the problem is you soon discover their “caring” comes at a cost. When you find out how much of your money they want in order to provide you with the peace of mind (and all the other results) they promise, it is only natural to begin to ask questions, show some skepticism, voice your doubt.

“The Lord has risen!” It was the women who had followed Jesus who initially told the disciples the startling news. They didn’t believe the women. They thought their words were nonsense. Even the testimony of the ten disciples who were in the room when Jesus appeared to them did not convince Thomas.

In spite of all the money spent to purchase new clothes, plush stuffed bunnies, and foil-wrapped chocolate eggs, there are still lots of folks who do not believe that “God raised Jesus from the dead, never again to be subjected to death’s decay” (Acts 13:34). And even if they giving a nodding acceptance to this good news they have real doubts that, “just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too can walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).

The Lord has risen indeed! Move beyond the doubt to new life.