The final chapter of John’s Gospel tells us that after the initial exhilaration of discovering that Jesus is alive, the disciples did what Jesus told them to do and returned to Galilee. Then, waiting for what would happen next, some of the disciples filled their time by fishing - night fishing. When events in people’s life aren’t making any sense, many people find comfort doing familiar things, and while that might have been the intention here, they found little comfort and lots of frustration - they couldn’t catch any fish. Read: John 21: 1-14
After a night of working hard with nothing to show for their efforts, Jesus enters into their lives. They didn’t recognise him, perhaps because they weren’t expecting to meet him while they were just doing a familiar, yet demanding job. While Jesus had told them that he would meet them in Galilee, I guess that this was the last thing on their minds after spending so many hours trying to catch fish
Jesus meets with them in this unexpected place and he asks them a very natural question ‘Have you caught any fish?’ When they so ‘no’ he offers advice, telling them to cast their net out on the right side of the boat. People rarely appreciate being given advice about how to do a job are familiar with doing, but something caused these fishermen to do what Jesus instructed - perhaps it was desperation which caused them to do it – thinking, there’s nothing to lose after spending so long fishing with nothing to show for it
Having done what Jesus instructed them to do, there is this huge catch of fish, 153 fish to be precise. Some bible scholars write long explanations about how this number could be significant, while others write that the number 153 was specifically mentioned because that’s the number of fish that were caught that morning - and that’s the explanation I’m going with.
Because they carried out Jesus’ instructions, their situation changes, the disciples are no longer fisherman without any fish, they are fishermen with an abundance of fish, but we need to notice that for this transformation to take place they not only had to carry out Jesus’ instruction, they also had to put in lots of hard work! The fish didn’t just jump into the boat, the disciples had to exert strenuous effort in casting out the net and then hauling in the catch of fish. They would never have experienced how Jesus wanted to meet their needs if they hadn’t been prepared to listen to what he said and then put every effort into carrying it out.
None of us earn a living by catching fish and I’m not aware of any of us having the hobby of fishing - so what can we learn from this incident?
Well, firstly, we learn that we should stay alert to Jesus making his presence known at unexpected times, in unexpected places - in the mundane, routine of life. Much of our life is ordinary and it is easy to not expect to encounter Jesus at such times, perhaps as we are doing something so routine that we can do it without thinking about it. What will we be doing this time tomorrow? At 11o’clock on Monday morning will we be as alert as we are now to Jesus making his presence known to us?
So, today’s bible reading tells us to expect Jesus’ presence in unexpected places, but then, when we are aware of his presence, are we willing to respond to what he says? The disciples would have been tired from fruitlessly casting out their net all through the night, so when they were asked to try once again, it would have been easy for them to have responded by saying “we’ve already done that” - “we’ve tried that before”. They didn’t do that, instead they were willing to try again and by doing what Jesus asked them to do, their needs were fulfilled – abundantly.
But that isn’t he end of our bible reading, after fulfilling the need the disciples knew they had – giving them 153 fish, Jesus then fulfils a need they hadn’t thought about. Jesus gives them breakfast! As Jesus offers them food, they would realise that it was just what they wanted and needed.
So, expect to find Jesus’ presence in the routine (ordinary) parts of life and as we recognise what he asks us to do, it might be hard work, but the results will be worth it, transforming the situation we are in, and meeting needs we haven’t yet realised we have.
Use these words, based on Psalm 23 to renew your commitment to trust God and do whatever he asks us to do:
The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want, He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters, His goodness restores my soul.
He guides my ways in righteousness, And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup it overflows with joy, I feast on His pure delights.
And I will trust in You alone, And I will trust in You alone,
for Your endless mercy follows me, Your goodness will lead me home.
And though I walk the darkest path, I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me and Your rod and staff are the comfort I need to know
And I will trust in You alone, and I will trust in You alone,
for Your endless mercy follows me, Your goodness will lead me home.
(Stuart Townend © 1996 Kingsway's Thank You Music)